AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She said it’s important things are not only functional but that they look good.”
Beth scoffs. “She’s good, Tom. But she could be better. We agreed on that. That’s why she’s at the center. That’s what we’re working on.”
“I like the way she looks.”
“I’m sure you do,” Beth tells me. “But you called me. Remember? Which means she isn’t yet functional, is she?”
Speaking of things that weren’t functional…Michael showed up at the office one afternoon. That was the good news. I hadn’t seen my business partner in three days. Thankfully, he was sober. In fact, he looked good. Clear-headed. The bad was that once again, Mark Jones was in tow.
“Tom,” Michael said boisterously. “Mark has presented me with an offer I think you should take a look at.”
Conveniently, he left out the part about where he’d been and why he hadn’t shown up to work. A stack of papers was slid across my desk. “I would like to purchase your house,” Mark Jones informed me. “You can live there rent free so long as you agree to serve as New Hope’s accountant.”
My eyes met his. “How did you know my house was up for sale?”
I’d expected him to say Michael had told him. He didn’t say that. “We pay attention, very close attention, to people of interest.”
“I can assure you I’m not that interesting.”
“On the contrary, we think you would be a good fit for our team. Considering—” He turned to my business partner, “How Michael here has talked you up.”
I pushed the stack of papers away, back in Mark’s direction. “I’m afraid I can’t accept your offer at this time.”
“Tom—” Michael cleared his throat. “They’re helping me get sober. You wouldn’t believe it. I feel better than I have in months.”
“I’m glad.”
“Tom, come on. Don’t be stubborn.”
“I’m not interested.”
Michael furrowed his brow. “I really think you ought to give this some thought.”
“Mr. Anderson,” Mark cut in to help him. “Is something wrong with the offer?”
“It doesn’t solve my business problems.”
“About that—”He opened his suit jacket and pulled from it a piece of paper. “We are prepared to pay you this…as well as offer free tuition for your children to our exceptionally rated private school.”
I glanced at the floor briefly before meeting his eye. I’m aware of the cost of putting two kids through private school, and I’m aware of the cost of having to yank them out. “Your offer is very generous,” I said as I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms across my chest. “But I’m afraid I can’t accept this.”
“I’m almost offended,” Mark said.
“I am offended,” Michael said.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
The following evening I arrived home to find Mark Jones and his wife Beth having coffee in my living room. Iced coffee with milk, like my father drank. June always said she hated it and yet there she sat, glass half empty.
After exchanging pleasantries, I asked my wife to meet me in the kitchen. “Have you spoken with Michael?”
“Who?” She wasn’t expecting me to lead with that. Recognition passed over her face. “God, no. Why?”
I wipe at a smudge on the counter. A perfectly clean house, and still there’s this, one little blemish. “No reason.”
“I really think we should take them up on this offer,” June said, her voice hushed. “The kids will get to go back to private school. We’d get to keep the house…”
I wiped down the rest of the counter just in case. “Define private school. Define keep.”
