I stood there, speechless.
“I can’t accept this.”
“Yes, you can,” he said firmly. “You could’ve kept that money. No one would’ve known. But you didn’t.”
“I was just doing what anyone should do.”
“But most people don’t.”
My mom placed her hand on my shoulder.
One officer smiled. “Your kids are lucky.”
Matt handed me an envelope. “Gift cards—for groceries and gas.”
“I—”
“Don’t refuse,” he said gently. “My dad would be heartbroken.”
For illustrative purposes only
After they left, I sat on the couch surrounded by boxes and cried.
My mom was already sorting through clothes.
“These are brand new, Evan… they’ll fit perfectly.”
I nodded, overwhelmed.
My daughter came downstairs.
“Daddy, what’s all this?”
“It’s a gift, sweetheart.”
She picked up a pink coat. “Is this mine?”
“Yes, baby.”
She hugged it, smiling.
That afternoon, I drove back to Gary’s house.
He opened the door, smiling.
“I had a feeling you’d come back.”
“I just wanted to thank you. You didn’t have to do all that.”
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