“I’m sorry to hear that.” I could barely speak over the lump in my throat.
“Will there be anything coming to you? In your father’s will?” Robbie asked.
“Yes. I’m supposed to go to L.A. to meet with the probate attorney. My understanding is that he left my sister and me something. However, I’m not sure how much, and I’m not certain I even want it.”
“Why?” Robbie looked at me, curiosity mixed with confusion in his expression.
“It’s blood money. He earned it from exploiting people. Hurting innocent women. I don’t want anything to do with it.”
Robbie appeared to consider this. “But what if you could use it for something good? Like helping people he hurt? Or helping my mom?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It seems simple to me. You have resources. We need resources. You love my mother.”
“Even if I had money, your mother doesn’t think of me that way,” I said. “We’re just friends.”
“You are mistaken.”
“She’s dating,” I said.
“She went ononedate because she doesn’t understand your feelings for her. I can guarantee you that the doctor guy doesn’t make her light up like you do. No one does.”
I sat back in my chair. Was it possible that Esme felt the same way, or was Robbie merely wishing it to be true?
“I can’t take care of her and you kids,” I said. “Even if she wanted me, I’d be a terrible choice. She needs someone with a real job, who can provide for you guys.”
“You might, depending on your inheritance.”
“What would you do?” I asked. “If you were in my shoes? If it were your father’s money?”
Robbie smiled, clearly tickled by the idea. “He will never have money, unless he wins the lottery, which odds are strongly against. Thus, it’s difficult to picture. However, if I were to imagine that scenario, I would indeed take the money.”
“You would?”
“Yes. As much as I wish it weren’t so, money changes everything,” Robbie said. “It makes things easier. Gives a person freedom to live their life with purpose instead of merely surviving.”
I sat back, looking up at the ceiling. The kid was right. Money could change my life and possibly Esme’s too. If Robbie was right and she shared my feelings, we might have a chance.
“I don’t think money’s the root of all evil,” Robbie said. “Do you?”
“I haven’t seen a lot of evidence to the contrary.”
Robbie nodded. “An individual can be evil whether they’re poor or rich. A person can be good whether they’re rich or poor. We all get to decide how we want to be in the world. Mother calls it being the hero of your own story. You’re a good person, Grady. Everyone who knows you knows that. Money doesn’t corrupt unless we allow it to. Accepting your inheritance andsubsequently doing good with it is the perfect antidote to your father’s misdeeds.”
“You may have a point.” This kid was way too smart.
“I’m glad you think so.” Robbie stood and brought his plate and bowl to the sink. “Thank you for the grilled cheese. It was perfect.”
“I’m glad.”
He rinsed his dishes and set them in the rack to dry. “Do you want to know what I think?”
“Always.”
“I think you should go to L.A. and hear the details of what your father left you and decide which direction you want to go. And then come back and tell my mom the truth about how you feel about her.”
Trevor thumped his tail in agreement, as if he’d reached the same conclusion.
