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

In a heartbeat, my husband dragged Ray’s green hose into our yard.

Marla’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Ray,” she murmured.

“It’s just a hose, though.”

“Did you make a hole in the fence?”

“I swear, it wasn’t me.”

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