The house was quiet when Thomas slipped through the front door, the new backpack still feeling foreign on his shoulder.

  John Talesky was sprawled on the recliner, TV flickering some old Western, volume low. He muted it the second Thomas stepped into the light.

  John’s eyes flicked from the new clothes to the backpack to the faint red mark on Thomas’s cheek where a baby had drooled in his sleep hours earlier.

  “You know,” John said, voice gruff but not unkind, “I had an interesting conversation about you today. Sounds like you’re getting some kind of reward for something you did.”

  Thomas set the bag down carefully. “That’s what I’ve been told. I’m still not sure why it’s such a big deal.”

  John leaned forward, elbows on knees. “Any money involved?”

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  The question landed blunt, but not cruel. Thomas had heard worse.

  “I’ve still got enough from helping my uncle to cover rent this month,” he said evenly. “Aunt Lisa and I filed for Mom’s death benefit, too. Should be here soon.” He shrugged, the motion small. “Honestly didn’t expect the suit to come through so fast.”

  John studied him for a long moment, something complicated moving behind his eyes—suspicion, curiosity, maybe the tiniest flicker of respect.

  Thomas rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s been a long day. You need anything else? I think I’m gonna lie down.”

  John waved a hand toward the hallway. “Thanks for leaving the note. I’d still like to know more about this reward when you find out.”

  Thomas paused in the doorway, silhouette framed by the dim hall light.

  “Until this morning,” he said quietly, “I didn’t even know I’d done anything worth noticing.”

  He slipped away before John could answer.

  The bedroom door closed with a soft click. In the living room, John stared at the muted television for a long time, the cowboy on screen frozen mid-draw.

  Something in the old man’s chest twisted—guilt, maybe, or the slow realization that the quiet kid sleeping on his couch might be the best thing that had wandered into his house in years.