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He stared at me. “If you don’t want me there, Morgan, just tell me.”
“It’s not that,” I said, feeling like a heel. I sat back and closed my eyes. “It just so hard to see her in pain, and to not be able to afford the treatment to help her. That’s why this restaurant has to be a success. I’ve got medical bills that keep piling up, but I can’t give her the one thing that could really make her life easier.” I wasn’t going to cry, but it was work to keep the tears from falling.
“I can afford it. Hell, Beth and Ash can afford it,” he said. “Why haven’t you asked us? Jesus, how much is it? I’ll give it to you right now.”
I turned away knowing I should feel grateful, but instead I felt like a charity case.
“Look, I know you think I’m an insensitive entitled jerk, but for once, my money can be good.”
I turned back to him. “You’re not my piggy bank. I don’t want to be saved by you or anyone.”
“Not even if it means helping your mom?”
Guilt filled my gut. And then anger that he’d challenge me like that.
“I’ll tell you what, Morgan, if someone offered me the chance to fix my mom, I’d have jumped at it. Pride be damned.”
“You don’t understand.”
“No, I don’t.” He stared at me and I could see judgment in his eyes.
“She doesn’t want it.”
“Doesn’t want what?”
I sighed. “She doesn’t want Beth to bail her out. I’d have accepted the help, but she’s a proud woman.”
“She’s not the only one,” he quipped.
The cab was approaching a convenience store that sold pain relievers. “Can you let me out and wait?” I asked him.
“Meter will run.”
“I’ll pay you one hundred extra to wait,” Kade said.
“I’ll wait.”
I ran in to the store with Kade behind me. I bought the medicine, not even able to pay because Kade again tossed bills on the counter, not caring about getting his change. He ushered me into the cab, and we were on our way again.
As we neared my apartment, I had some apprehension that Kade was going to see where I lived. How I lived. We didn’t live in squalor, but our place was small. It was clean and tidy, but since we couldn’t afford a lot of nice or new things, it was tired looking. But as I exited the cab, I couldn’t worry about what he’d think about my home. My first concern was helping my mom.
27
Kade — Wednesday
Morgan’s attitude both stunned and hurt me. Why she wouldn’t use any means at her disposal to help her mother baffled me. Was pride really worth enduring pain? But I was also bothered that she didn’t feel she could trust me.
I followed her into her place. Her mother was on the couch, looking like a shell of a woman. She had to be in her late forties or early fifties, but she looked closer to eighty.
“Mom, I’m here.” Morgan rushed to the kitchen to get a glass of water and hurried back to her mother. “Here’s the pain reliever. I’m going to find your medication now, okay?”
Her mother nodded, her tired eyes looking up at me.
“This is Kade, Mom. Do you remember him? He’s Ash’s brother.”
“Can I make you tea?” she asked.
“No Mom, you need to rest.”
“Where are your manners, Morgan,” her mother said.
“I don’t need any tea, Mrs. Andrews. Thank you, though.”
“I’m sorry I look a mess — ”
“Mom, don’t worry about it. Let me find your medication and we’ll get you into bed.” She looked at her mother and then me, like she didn’t want to leave us alone together. Finally she decided she didn’t have a choice, she rushed down a tiny hallway.
“Are you helping her with her restaurant?” her mother asked.
“Yes. She’s going to be very successful.” I’d make sure of it.
“I slow her down.”
“She’s a loving daughter. She’s also strong.”
Her mother smiled. “And strong willed. I suppose she gets that from me. You wouldn’t know it by looking at me now, but I used to be pretty outspoken.”
“I see the fire in your eyes, Mrs. Andrews.”
“Okay Mom, here is your medication,” Morgan rushed into the room, handing her mom a pill. “Why don’t we get you in bed?”
“Can I help?” I asked.
“I’ve got it, thank you,” Morgan said helping her mother up.
“Andrews women can be difficult,” her mother said to me.
“Yes, I see that.”
“You just have to be persistent.”
“Mom!” Morgan rolled her eyes. I watched as Morgan led her mother to the hall.
I smiled, enjoying the exchange. Did her mother see in me that I had feelings for Morgan? Or had Morgan told her about us, whatever us was?
As I looked around her tiny apartment, I realized that she and her mother had been working hard all on their own. I suspected with her mother’s illness, Morgan was having to do double duty on the work front.
