Balancing the Scales by Laura Carter

Author:Laura Carter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Drew

I’m roused by the sound of cupboard doors being opened and shut and china being moved around. I pad through the den and into the kitchen, stretching my arms above my head as I yawn. Surprised, given my last thoughts before sleep, that I haven’t woken up stiff.

Millie and Mom are making breakfast. “Morning, big bro. Do you want toast?”

“At this stage, I’m unsure how much more food I can eat this weekend, but I could definitely use coffee.”

Millie pours me a coffee and hands it to me. She reaches up to plant a kiss on my cheek, as I lean back against the kitchen cabinet. “Okay, I’m going to see if the kids have drawn all over Eddie’s face with my lipstick again.”

“She needs to discipline those children,” my mom says. The humor in her voice tells me she wouldn’t manage it in Millie’s shoes either, not when the kids flash their big puppy-dog eyes. “I’m pleased we’re alone.” She moves to the junk drawer by the refrigerator and takes out a white envelope, which she hands to me.

I put down my coffee and open the envelope. Inside is a check for five thousand dollars. “What’s this?”

“Jake put five thousand dollars into my bank account. I told him not to, but you know what he’s like. He wants to start paying us back for his college tuition now he’s working and all.”

“I see.” I put the check back into the envelope, fold it, and move behind my mom to tuck it into the pocket of her robe. “You should keep it. Use it to redecorate my bedroom or for whatever you like.”

“It’s not our money, Drew. It’s yours.”

I rest back against the counter and resume the hold on my mug. “Well, I’d like you to keep it.”

She slams the knife she is using to butter toast against the work surface. Her spine straightens, her shoulders stiffen and rise, and she speaks with her focus on the counter in front of her. “And I’ve told you that you’ve earned every dime of your money and you should keep it. Now, your father and I agreed to let you pay for Jake’s tuition, and we agreed to keep your secret. We won’t accept him paying us back money that we never gave him.” She turns to face me, her eyes full of tears. “Do you hear me?”

Pride. That’s what has her eyes wet. Jake was never planned. Our parents were taken by surprise when he came along ten years after me. When it came to college, our parents had already spent everything they had saved to put me through Columbia and to help Millie and Eddie set up home.

“I wish that we could have paid for him, Drew.”

When her voice breaks, I cross the room and pull her against my chest, wrapping my arms around her. “All right. I’ll take it. I’ll take the money. I’m sorry.”

I press my lips to her hair, and she grips me tighter. When she

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