“I think I would like to continue working in the restaurant. Maybe have a promotion someday. »
“Bof,” he said, without much conviction. “That’s it already. »
That winter, he offered me a couple of knitted green socks, so ugly that I didn’t know if I should thank him or press charges.
“I made them,” she said, putting them in my arm. “So your feet are not cold. »
At the restaurant, Joe realized he was going into a storm after my service.
“Now you have a girlfriend? »
“I help Mrs. Rhode. »
He almost dropped the coffee machine laughing.
“That old slinder? Helping him with what? »
I told him everything. In the end, he slowly nodded his head.
“Good. It’s weird, though. But she likes you. That’s it already. »
I shrugged like nothing happened, but I thought about it all day. I had no idea what the family could be. Maybe it was like sitting in a hot living room with an old woman laughing at her hairstyle, serving a dirty meatloaf and still remembering her cold feet. Then came the morning when I found him. I had been taking care of her for a little over a year. She didn’t open the door, so I walked in with twice the keys. The TV was still on. A cup of cold tea was placed next to his chair. Mrs. Rhode was sitting. I knew it before I touched his hand, but I still told him his name. Then I asked for help, knelt near his chair and cried as if I hadn’t cried in years.
The funeral was like a bad dream. I stayed deep, feeling illegitimate in my pain. Then came the reading of the will, the humiliation and the horrible conviction that Mrs. Rhode had lied to me, not only about the house and the money, but also about the fact that she was taking care of me. The next morning, we knocked violently at my door. I opened it, half exhausted. Mrs. Rhode’s lawyer was standing there, a metal lunchbox docked by hand.
“What do you want? »
“Mrs. Rhode has left additional instructions,” she said. “For yourself. »
He handed me the box.
“In fact, he left you one thing. »
Part 3
I took the lunchbox, not knowing what else to do. Inside was an envelope with my name written by Mrs. Rhode’s trembling hand and a simple metal key. My hands started shaking even before I opened the letter.
James,
You’re probably angry because you feel like I didn’t leave you anything. But believe me, what I have prepared for you will tell more than a house.
I know you’ve agreed to help me with the money first, and I don’t blame you. But between races, burnt dinners and unbearable TV shows, you became the son I found too late.
My knees touched the ground. She grabbed me. I read the rest crying.
You once told me you wanted to keep running the restaurant. So now, a part of it belongs to you.
A few months ago, I spoke privately with Joe and bought a piece of the restaurant in your name. He agreed to take you under his wing and teach you how to run a business properly. The key is for the restaurant.
A house can collapse. Money can disappear. But I hope this will give you something stronger.
A reason to dream.
