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Chuckling, she shook her head. “Oh, Brax. What am I going to do with you?”
“Can’t answer that. I don’t even know what to do with myself,” I huffed.
With a sigh, Sarah looked at her monitor, assessing something. “I can’t count your payment as complete until the entire amount is received, and being late two months in a row is not good. I’d have to charge you a penalty.”
Shit. “I understand. How much would that be?” It sucked but there was nothing I could do. This was my responsibility, so I had to make it happen, whatever it took.
She didn’t answer. Instead, a calculative look entered Sarah’s gaze, and she regarded me for a moment. Turning to the corner of her desk, she took out her purse and pulled a few bills out of her own wallet.
“No.” I stood, stretching out my hand to stop her. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Good thing I’m not asking you for permission,” she reprimanded in a harsh voice, like the one my mom used when I was misbehaving as a child. “Now shut your mouth and sit down, young man.”
The look she gave me and the tone in her voice said she meant business, so I reluctantly sat down, my gut clenching with embarrassment.
“I can’t take that money,” I explained. “I can’t ask you to lend me—”
“And who said this was a loan?” she defied, opening the cash drawer and mixing her bills with mine as she placed the complete amount inside, then locked it.
Uncomfortable and not knowing what to say, I just watched her as she opened my file on the computer and marked it as paid, then turned to face me.
“Besides, if it was a loan, I wouldn’t charge a penalty, but the center does.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I murmured honestly, and her features softened with her smile.
“‘Thank you’would work.”
At that I chuckled. “Thank you.”
She shrugged. “You help others when you can; I’m just doing the same for you. But, don’t you get used to it.” She pointed a finger at me and stood, walking around the desk.
I knew she was playing but I nodded anyway, standing up too. “I won’t, I promise.”
“I know.” Lifting my backpack from the chair, she walked me to the door and patted my back. “No matter how hard life has been for you, you’ve grown into a decent young man, Brax. Just keep going, okay? No matter what happens.”
“Thank you, Sarah. I will.”
“Are you going to see her now?”
I felt terrible about it, but her question made me hesitate, and she noticed.
“I spent some time with her this morning. It’s a good day,” she offered, thinking it would ease my concerns.
It did.
“Where is she?” I asked, accepting the backpack from her and swinging it around my shoulder.
“She is in the garden with her nurse. By the orange trees.”
Hope stirred in my insides, and I nodded. “Thank you.”
My steps were hesitant and eager all at the same time while I moved through the bushes and flowers along the garden. The sweet and tangy smell of oranges was the first thing to reach me as I approached, and then I saw her.
For a moment, it was as though nothing had ever happened. She sat on a blanket at the edge of the orange tree, her eyes closed while she lifted her head to the sky. Her chestnut brown hair, that was much like my own, swayed with the soft breeze as she enjoyed the warmth of the sun rays filtering through the branches.
Mom looked so beautiful and peaceful… just like I remembered.
Grace, her nurse, was the first to notice me when I reached their side. “Look who’s here, Keira. You have a visitor.”
