"Anyway," she starts when we're seated, "my parents would have hated everything I liked and told me to move home. And I just…I don't know, Grey." She pokes her eggs with her fork. "I'm so tired of everybody's opinions. I just wanted to do this one thing for me, you know? But I think I fucked it up."
The sound of a swear word out of her mouth makes me feel some kinda way, but I ignore it.
"You didn't fuck it up, Molly. You might be in over your head, but you didn't fuck up. But I'm not sure how muchDaleis gonna be able to help you with some of this stuff."
Her nose wrinkles, which makes her glasses slide down the bridge. She pushes them up. "Yeah, I know. I don't want to go into some crazy debt, though--I don't make enough to pay it off. I guess I could get a loan or something? So I can hire like…a contractor? Is that who would--"
"Let me help you."
She's already shaking her head. "No, it's too much. And you're already helping me."
"You know I teach shop, right? I have the tools. I know how to do all this stuff. I can--"—
"No, I mean it, Grey. I'll figure it out."
I shovel a load of eggs into my mouth so I don't argue. She's just starting out, doesn't have savings, doesn't have a safety net. Despite my meager salary, I've got plenty of money saved, my house long paid for. I never buy anything I don't need, haven't been on vacation since college spring break 2002. I want to donate to her cause with a fierce determination, but I get not wanting to take handouts. I only wish she knew how good it would make melee to do it.
"I have big plans for this place. Wanna hear?"
Happy that she's smiling, I nod, shoveling another bite in. I don't even know what I'm doing here and should probably go home. But I don't want to. Which is just another reason I should.
"Well, I want to get the fireplace working for sure, that's going to be so cozy. I want to do a clawfoot tub and shower and retile the bathroom, that yellow and green combo I have going on is terrible. But the biggest thing? I want to turn the extra room into a library." The light in her is like a candle, warm andsoft and comforting. "See, I want to do bookshelves around the walls and over the door, but make a window seat where I can read. And I can put a big squishy chair in there, or maybe a hanging one. Or a hammock. I haven't decided. I have a million boxes of books in the attic, but there's just nowhere to put them all. There will still be room so I can get more books though! It won't be full for a bit. Ugh I'd love to get my books out again. I hate that they're up there in boxes where I can't see them. Oh! And I want one of those rails with a ladder, you know? Like in Beauty and the Beast."
My chest is twisting, tight, but I'm smiling. "Yeah, I know the kind. Big list for somebody who won't take help."
She scowls playfully at me. "Not free help."
"You can't afford not-free help."
"This has been established."
I take the last bite of my toast as I stand. "I'm just saying." When I open the trash, it's full, so I dump my trash, put my plate on the counter, and get to work. "You'll never get to your library. Can I tell you how much I hate the thought of that?"
I tie up the bag and reach for the back door's knob, just as she says, "Don't--"
The doorknob comes off in my hand. And now I'm mad.
"Molly."
"What? I don't use that door!"
"Molly."
She does the toothy smile thing, but it doesn't work on me this time.
"Put on some pants. We're going to the hardware store."
Her mouth pops open and her brows draw together. "But--"
"Nope. I'm helping."
"Now, hang on--"
"I'll teach you how to do it all. You can assist me if you want. But the thought of you staying here with it falling apart like this is gonna keep me up at night."
"Then let me pay you."
"No."
