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

For months, my heart raced every time I saw that envelope.

I ripped open the envelope while standing next to the mailbox.

Sixty-three dollars stared back at me.

It was precisely where we were before Ray’s grass came alive.

I verified the contents again.

Then I took the paper indoors and slapped it on the fridge.

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