“And you thought selling your guitar would help?”

Julian nodded.

“I knew how much it was worth. And Maya needed help more than I needed another instrument.”

My heart tightened.

He had given up something he treasured to make another child’s daily life easier.

I pulled him into my arms.

“Oh, Julian.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask you first.”

“We’ll talk about that,” I whispered. “But I’m proud that you care so much about someone else.”

I thought that was the end of the story.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Because the following morning, two police officers arrived at our front door.

And one of them said something that made my heart race.

“Mrs. Vance, we need to speak with you about what your son did yesterday.”

I turned toward Julian.

His face had gone pale.

Then the officer added:

“There’s something important you haven’t been told.”