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

You won’t break when others are here for you.

Ben passed him a sheet.

“We analyzed our typical consumption and cross-referenced it with the months when our expenses soared, then matched it with your usage for this week.”

Ray barely glanced at it.

“You have no way to prove each gallon came from me.”

“Perhaps not.”

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