to two grand a month. That’s why she’s three months behind on her mortgage.”
They don’t say anything so I continue.
“My mom didn't tell me any of this until she passed out at the restaurant. Actually, she was hiding it from me. She didn't want me to worry. But now things have gotten a little out of hand. I have some money saved up, but not a lot. Of course, I will save some money by moving in with her, but the treatment will probably be close to $50,000, I don't know for sure. As you, Franklin, and probably you, Aurora, know my salary is $48,000 a year.”
Aurora shakes her head and bites her lower lip.
Franklin and Chelsea exchange a look that I don’t quite understand.
"I know that this seems like a petty problem to you three, but it's a big deal. Please understand, I’m not asking you for anything. This is just something that I'm going through that lots of Americans are going through.”
Franklin tries to say something to make me feel better, but I cut him off.
I don't need his sympathy and I don't need his pity. He asked me what I was going through and I told him.
Now, I don't wanna talk about it anymore. Luckily, Chelsea gets the point and shifts the conversation to something else.
When Chelsea helps Aurora with the dishes, Franklin pulls me aside and asks me to come with him.
Modern and white, the office is empty except for the huge glass table in the center with two enormous computer screens facing a plush swivel chair.
There are floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, looking out onto Manhattan below.
“Wow,” I say. “I have to tell you I was expecting a dark walnut interior with bookcases and the works.”
“I have a library, but it's in another part of the house. Besides I don't like it when it's dark inside and, with the weather like we have here, I wanted it to be as bright as possible.”
“It's beautiful,” I say.
“Listen, the reason I wanted to bring you in here is to give you something."
I give him a nod.
He takes out his phone and presses a few buttons.
“What did you want to give me?” I ask.
My phone dings.
“Why don't you open that?” he suggests. I glance down and see that I have a notification from my banking app.
I click on the notification and my jaw drops open.
26
Henry
I stare at my phone, unable to believe my eyes. Shaking my head, I look up at him.
“No, I can't accept this.”
“You have to. I'm your boss, remember?” he says, tossing his head back with a laugh.
“Seriously, I know that you have a lot of bills and I know that you're going to have a lot of bills in the future. You're my friend and I want you to accept this money… as a gift.”
“Absolutely not,” I say. “If, and that's a big if, I do accept it, it will be a loan.”
Franklin laughs again.
“What's so funny?" I ask.
“I know that this is a lot of money to you, but seriously this is what I make in a couple hours with my investments. It's really not a big deal and I want you to stop worrying about something so… Insignificant.”
“It's $30,000,” I say, looking up at him.
“Exactly,” he says. “It's only thirty grand. I've spent more than that on wine in a month. Just take the money, it's a gift, and don't worry about it.”
I shake my head, staring at my phone.
“What I do want you to worry about is the next story that you're gonna break. You're one of the best investigative journalists that I have working for me and your podcast is doing amazing on the charts, but I want it to be number one every week. That's what I want you to worry about, besides just spending time with your mom.”
I don't know what to say. I thank him over and over again but words don’t seem to be enough.
“If you ever need any more money for medical bills, or a nurse, or whatever, just let me know. It's really not a big deal at all.”
I give him a warm hug and say, “Thank you very much. You will never know how much this means to me.”
I walk Chelsea out after dinner. She drapes her coat over her shoulders but doesn’t put it on and I look at the elongated part of her neck and how beautiful it looks in the twilight.
“I’m sure that that was pretty awkward for you,” Chelsea