Chapter 13 - WHAT WE OWED EACH OTHER
Matthew arrived at noon with a grocery-store bouquet and a face that told me he hadn’t slept.
“I didn’t know if you’d be cooking,” he said.
“Louise brought enough food for six people.”
“That sounds like Aunt Louise.”
She met him in the kitchen and hugged him. Then she handed him a dish towel and put him to work. It was the kindest way she knew to keep everyone from standing around in pain.
We ate roast chicken, potatoes, and pie. Nobody pretended the last few days hadn’t happened. We talked about Louise’s recovery and the year Matthew had glued his science project to our dining table. He laughed when I showed him the mark still underneath.
After lunch, Louise went upstairs to rest. Matthew and I cleared the plates.
“I owe you $8,400,” he said.
“Yes.”
“I’ve applied for another job. I can start paying you back next month.”
“We’ll put the plan in writing with Helen.”
He nodded. “I figured.”
“You also need to speak to the bank about what happened.”
“I will. I’ll give them the records.”
He dried one plate for a long time. “Jess says I made her look like the bad one.”
“You both made choices.”
“I know. But I let her answer for me every time you asked a question. I’ve been doing that for years.”
I put down the sponge. “Why?”
“She was always louder. I thought keeping things calm was helping.”
“It kept things calm for you.”
He met my eyes. “You’re right.”
That mattered more than a speech about how sorry he was.
“I should have told you my hours were cut,” he said. “I should have asked for help. And when Jess took your things down, I should have put them back.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to fix all of it.”
“Start by telling the truth the first time.”
He looked toward the doorway where George had marked his height. “Dad would be ashamed of me.”
“I don’t know what your father would feel. I know he’d expect you to do better now.”
I showed him the photograph from George’s jacket and read the words on the back. Matthew stood very still.
Then my phone rang. It was Helen.
“I’m sorry to call on Christmas,” she said. “I wanted you to hear this from me. The bank has completed its initial review of the transfer.”
I stepped into the hall.
“The money went to an account held jointly by Matthew and Jessica,” Helen said. “But the bank also found an attempted second transfer.”
“How much?”
“Twenty-seven thousand dollars.”
I looked back at my son in the kitchen.
May you like
“When?” I asked.
“Yesterday morning.”
