That I expected nothing from him in return for allowing his continued existence, let alone that I provided him with supplies to camp on my property rent-free, had been a revelation to him. That’s what family does, I told him, and it was a lie. I wanted it to be true. I knew, for a lucky few, it was. But not for him. Or me. Be that as it may, the person I wanted to become felt that family, blood or chosen, wouldn’t set a price on their help when it was needed the most.
