I Paid His Down Payment, But My Son Thanked His Stepmom Instead Chapter 06

I could hear car horns blaring in the background, along with his heavy breathing.

“Tamsin said she borrowed the eight hundred thousand from her family.”

“She said she didn’t want you to feel bad, so she told me not to mention it.”

“Last month… I even signed an IOU for her.”

I held the phone without saying a word.

So that was it.

My house had become her kindness.

My money had become my son’s debt to her.

I tried to smile, but my mouth wouldn’t move.

“The money was mine to give. Once I gave it to you, it was yours.”

“Doesn’t matter who arranged it.”

“Mom!” His voice shot up. “Where are you?”

I hesitated, but in the end, I gave him the address.

He arrived at ten that night.

He was still in yesterday’s wedding suit-one button still done up wrong.

Junie opened the door. The moment she saw him, her expression hardened.

“Ms. Marchetti’s resting.”

“I’m her son.”

“Oh.” Junie folded her arms. “That’s a first.”

He didn’t argue with her. He just turned sideways and squeezed past her into the room.

It was tiny, with a bed, a cabinet, and an old desk.

He stood in the doorway for a long time without moving.

His eyes moved from the narrow bed to the five boxes in the corner, then settled on the desk.

The bracelet box was open.

He walked over and picked it up, running his thumb over the bracelet again and again.

“I meant to give it to you yesterday.”

“Someday, when you have a kid, you can put it on them.”

He closed his hand around the bracelet, his throat tightening.

“Mom, why didn’t you tell me?”

“The house, the money-why didn’t you say a word?”

I looked at him and remembered what he’d told me when he was five, lying across my lap.

“When you were little, you said you’d buy me a big house someday.”

“You said I’d live on the top floor, where I could see the stars.”

He froze.

“I’m on the first floor now. There’s a crepe myrtle tree outside my window.”

“It’s nice enough.”

He turned away, shoulders shaking.

A long time passed before he spoke, his voice hoarse.

“Mom, come home with me.”

“There’s an empty bedroom in the new house. I’ll get it ready tomorrow.”

“I’ll talk to Tamsin. And I’ll get to the bottom of that IOU.”

“It’s just… Dad’s blood pressure’s been high. When you come home, could you not get into it with Tamsin?”

He spoke so carefully, like he was asking a favor.

I knew he meant it. He really did want me to come home.

And he really didn’t want me to make things difficult for Tamsin.

“No. I’m good.”

“‘s nice here. They cook for me, and there’s always someone to talk to.”