Our water bill soared to $214, and I discovered my neighbor secretly siphoning from our outdoor faucet, prompting unexpected advice from my husband.

When my heart shattered at your words

Ray turned a blind eye to her presence.

“Whenever I worked by the fence or had something to rinse, I used it. I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

Ben’s eyes bore into him.

“Only occasionally?”

“Now and then.”

Last month, the weight of $214 shook our world.