Jacob stared at him.
“The girl’s name is Elizabeth Thompson.”
Marcus froze.
“Her father worked construction.”
Jacob nodded.
Marcus’s breathing became heavy.
“I’ve spent twenty-three years looking for the man who saved my life.”
Ray slowly whispered, “You think…”
Marcus looked toward Jacob.
“I think the man who saved me was her father.”
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Marcus raised his head.
“Get every chapter on the phone.”
Jacob blinked.
“Marcus?”
The older man’s voice became steel.
“We’re not sending money.”
He looked around the room.
“We’re riding.”
A Mother’s Wisdom
The next day, Liz visited her mother.
Denise Thompson looked smaller in the hospital bed than Liz remembered.
Tubes ran from her arms.
Machines beeped softly.
But her eyes remained sharp.
“Baby girl,” she whispered. “You look tired.”
“I’m fine, Mama.”
Denise smiled faintly.
“Don’t lie to your mama.”
Liz looked away.
Her mother studied her face.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Liz.”
The name alone was enough to nearly break her.
She wanted to tell her everything.
The canceled contracts.
The bank.
The foreclosure.
The people turning away.
Instead, she said:
“Things are just difficult.”
Her mother nodded slowly.
“Your daddy used to look like that.”
Liz swallowed.
“When things got hard.”
Denise reached for her daughter’s hand.
“He always said something. Do you remember?”
Liz knew immediately.
Her throat tightened.
“Do what’s right, even when it costs everything.”
Her mother squeezed her fingers.
“And?”
“And character is worth more than comfort.”
Denise smiled.
“I can tell you did something difficult.”
Liz stared at her.
“Mama, you don’t even know what happened.”
“I know my daughter.”
Liz felt tears rise.
“I’m proud of you.”
That was all it took.
Liz bent over and hugged her mother carefully.
For a moment, she allowed herself to cry.
When she left the hospital, the sun was setting over Memphis.
Her phone showed dozens of missed calls.