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He slid a nondescript piece of white paper across the counter bearing the title “Quitclaim Deed” in bold letters across the top. I turned it and scanned the legal language, picking up my name, then Matthew’s, then the address of a local law firm.
“Nina paid off the mortgage,” Matthew told me. “Not to mention, well, setting me up with enough funds that I could buy the house ten times over if I wanted. I know you just said you don’t want handouts from rich people, but do me a favor and take this one, all right? For my peace of mind, if nothing else.”
It was obvious by the way his shoulders lifted that he wasn’t altogether comfortable with the arrangement. I personally thought it reasonable that Nina support Matthew, at least for a while, anyway. She was rich as high heaven, and his involvement with her had cost him his job and livelihood in the city he loved. The very least she could do was make sure his bank account didn’t suffer.
This, though…
“But the Red Hook house belongs toyou, Mattie,” I blurted out. “You bought it. You fixed it up. You poured your heart and soul into this place, and—”
“And it’syourhome,” he cut in. “Way more than it was ever mine, Frankie. Yours and Sofia’s. You’ve been here all the time while I was either at the office or spending half my nights in beds I had no business sleeping in. You know it’s the truth.”
I swallowed. My brother was selling himself short. That was also nothing new. Just like I knew he wouldn’t let me argue with it either.
“I don’t need it anymore,” he continued with a pat on my hand. “I got something better coming for me. Nina already owns a house in Boston—a real nice one too, in a good neighborhood, close to her daughter’s school. I got a family now too, Frankie. And you deserve better than the upstairs landing. Just sign the fuckin’ paper.”
I stared at the deed, which might as well have been made of porcelain, for how precious it seemed. “I—”
“Sign it, Frankie. I don’t want to leave without knowing you and Sofia are taken care of.”
“Pete,” I said instead.
Matthew frowned at the paper, then at me. “Pete? Something about the basement tenant got your interest?”
I just shook my head. “No, I—what does he pay again in rent? I forget.”
Matthew frowned. “Ah, it’s up to fifteen hundred a month right now, with a ten percent yearly hike to match taxes. You’ll get that money if you want to keep him, but I figured you and Sof might want the extra space—”
But I found myself shaking my head vigorously. “No, I just wanted to know so we could match it. I could afford that. I could pay you and Nina rent. Or maybe a mortgage, if you insist.”
Matthew’s frown deepened. “Frankie, honestly. We don’t need it.”
“I told you, I’m done with handouts,” I said more viciously than I intended. “Mattie, this is so generous. More than I could ever express. But I think…I think it’s time for me to do something on my own. So if you want to sell me the house, fifteen hundred at a time, I’ll agree to that. But that’s all.”
His mouth opened like he wanted to argue, and I prepared myself for a cross-examination.
But instead, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
“All right,” he said, withdrawing the paper. “I’ll draw up the new agreement. Rent to buy. But the whole thing is always on the table if you need it. Don’t forget.”
“I won’t,” I said. “I love you, big brother.”
His green eyes, which matched my own, shone across the yellow counter. “Right back at you, kid.”
* * *
Late that night,I crept into bed on the landing for what would be one of the final times, gazing around this tiny patch of my house. Down the hall, I could hear Matthew murmuring on the phone to Nina, whispering sweet nothings that made my whole body hum with envy and sorrow.
For a few brief seconds, I’d had that. Or at least I thought I had.
I pulled out my phone and turned it on. And, of course, there was a train of messages from the man I had fled just a day earlier, which I had absolutely refused to read other than to send him the one I’d told Matthew about.
Xavier: Georgina told us you went back to London. Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go?
Xavier: Did you make it back all right? The train should have arrived ages ago.
Xavier: Jagger stopped by the house. Said there was no sign of you or Sof. Where the fuck are you???
Xavier: Georgina just mentioned a pap saw you at Liverpool. What the fuck is going on????
