“Yes.”
“And then you lost him?”
“Yes.”
Leah's expression softened.
“That's sad.”
Ray looked down.
“Yes.”
Sarah suddenly became defensive.
“How did you find us?”
“I didn't.”
Ray held up the brass tag.
“She dropped it.”
Sarah looked at the tag.
Then at her daughter.
“Leah, you still carry that everywhere?”
The girl nodded.
“It's Dad's.”
Sarah's eyes became wet.
She turned away.
Ray understood.
He had no intention of making this harder.
Instead, he asked:
“How are you doing?”
Sarah immediately answered:
“Fine.”
Ray glanced at the old Toyota.
Then at Leah's worn sneakers.
Then at the tired woman standing in front of him.
“Okay.”
Sarah knew he didn't believe her.
She folded her arms.
“We're managing.”
“What do you need?”
“Nothing.”
“Sarah.”
“Nothing.”
Ray nodded.
He knew stubbornness.
Tom had been stubborn too.
So he changed the question.
“What would Tom do?”
Sarah looked at him.
“What?”
“If he were standing here.”
She didn't answer.
Ray continued.
“He wouldn't hand you money.”
Sarah's expression softened.
“No.”
“He'd fix something.”
“Yes.”
“So let me do that.”
Sarah stared at him.
“I don't want charity.”
“Neither do I.”
“I don't want a fundraiser.”
“Neither do I.”
“No social media.”
“Absolutely not.”
“And I don't want Leah turned into some sad story.”
Ray's face became serious.
“Never.”
That answer mattered.
Sarah could hear the difference between someone trying to impress her and someone who actually understood.
Finally she sighed.
“The water heater is broken.”
Ray nodded.
“The car needs brakes.”
He nodded again.
“The rent is late.”
Another nod.
“And there isn't much food.”
Ray looked toward Leah.
The girl had gone very still.
“That's enough,” he said.
Sarah shook her head.
“You don't owe us.”
“Maybe I don't.”
“Then why?”
Ray looked at the brass tag.
“Because your husband once stopped on a road when everyone else drove past.”
Sarah's eyes filled.
“He didn't do it for a reward.”
“I know.”
“He would hate you paying him back.”
“I'm not paying him back.”
Ray looked at Leah.
“I'm doing what he told me to do.”
“What did he tell you?”