That made me pause.
“Mrs. Adele, if anything feels off, knock on my door.”
“Oh, Carmen.” She patted my arm. “You have Oliver, work, groceries, bills… I won’t be another thing for you to carry.”
Oliver looked up at her. “Mom carries heavy bags all the time.”
Mrs. Adele smiled. “I know. That’s why I won’t add another one.”
I should have pushed harder.
Three nights later, Oliver stopped in the hallway with his toothbrush in his hand.
“Mom.”
“Mrs. Adele’s porch light is still off.”
I looked out the window. Her little house sat dark. No porch light, no kitchen lamp.
“She might be sleeping early,” I said, but even I didn’t believe it.
“No.” Oliver disappeared into his room and came back holding his green piggy bank. “She says porch lights help people find their way home.”
I glanced at my own bills beside my coffee.
Oliver saw them. “Are we out of money too?”
