The Candidate's Wife: Primo's best friend also thinks Ted is full of it and cannot be trusted

We go to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving to visit our friends. Sam and Primo have known each other since our first week of college. Sam knew Sly way before I did and agrees with me that Sly was a jerk and we don't know how Primo turned out as nice as he did given his raising and his genes.

Primo: Ted sent me money.

Sam: He wants something.

Primo: No. He could be changing.

Sam: He wants something.

Primo: Maybe he wants a better relationship with me.

Sam: He wants something from you. People like that do not change.

The Candidate's Wife: Ted sends Primo $50 as a campaign contribution and Primo thinks that hell is freezing over and I say Mon ami les léopards ne changent pas leurs taches

Primo: Wow. Ted donated $50 to my campaign.

Me: What? He wants something.

Primo: No. He could change.

Me: Uh huh.

Primo: Maybe he's different now.

Me: Has he apologized for being a jerk before?

Primo: No.

Me: When someone changes, that's how you know he is sincere. He acknowledges his past wrongdoings, he asks for forgiveness, and he promises not to repeat the behavior.

Primo: That's not how it's done in my family.

Me: That's because your family doesn't do it at all.

Primo: Maybe.

Me: If Ted had truly experienced a Damascus moment, he would say, "Primo, I have been a real jerk to you. I yelled at you and have been nasty and mean to you. You did not deserve it. I was wrong. I am sorry. I hope you can forgive me. I promise not to act that way anymore."

Primo: He didn't do that.

Me: I am shocked.

Primo: But he did send me money.

Me: OK. Take it. But don't trust him.

Primo: Maybe he's changed.