“It’s my favorite,” he said.
“I can understand why.”
Their lunch was delivered, and Maisy eyed the salad like it was a Renoir painting. “This is a work of art. Just look at all that crab so beautifully displayed. It’s almost a shame to eat it. No worries, I intend to savor every bite.” She reached for her fork, dug in, and then closed her eyes in delight.
Chase enjoyed his oysters, too, mainly because he couldn’t help watching Maisy savor each bite of her salad. Most of the women he had dated, and there were only a few that held his attention beyond a few outings, made ordering a simple meal as complicated as explaining compound interest to a first-grader. He swore it often took as long as five minutes to order a salad, and the main course even longer. He hadn’t the patience for such women.
Surprisingly, they didn’t lack conversation. Maisy recalled a time when she was about nine, when the family had taken a trip to the ocean to dig for razor clams. “Mom made the most delicious soup with those clams. It is one of my fondest memories of being with my dad.”
Chase understood. With her father working retail, that likely meant weekends away were rare and treasured times.
After finishing her salad, Maisy leaned back in her chair. “Okay, I’ve waited long enough. Fess up?”
Chase smiled, something he’d found himself doing from the minute he walked into Gallagher Jewels and saw Maisy. “It took a bit of finagling, but I was able to arrange a full-ride scholarship for Laura to finish her schooling.”
Maisy’s mouth sagged open in shock.
Chase continued. “The scholarship includes a substantial living allowance so Laura can quit the two part-time jobs you mentioned.”
Maisy continued to stare at him as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“The stipend will cover an apartment I found for her in a good neighborhood with schools within walking distance.”
He watched Maisy as he went on to explain more of the details, the connections and favors he’d called in to make it all happen.
Maisy listened intently and said nothing.
He hadn’t been sure what response to expect. Gratitude? Certainly surprise. Appreciation? What he hadn’t considered was several unnerving minutes of silence. Before he could ask if there was anything wrong, Maisy burst into tears.
Chase was stunned. He didn’t know how to act, and so he sat stiff and silent until Maisy composed herself.
She used the linen napkin to dry her eyes and then made a desperate search in her purse until she found a tissue to clear her nose. It took her even longer to speak. “That is the most amazing, the most wonderful, the most…most incredible thing.” She paused as her voice wavered. “Thank you.”
He nodded, taking in her words. Tears were the last thing he’d anticipated from her, and yet they left him feeling like he was on top of the world. Maisy had been right. She’d told him he’d experience this euphoria, and he had.
“You were right, you know,” he felt obliged to tell her.
“About what?” she asked, eyeing him above the tissue, which she continued to hold against her nose.
“It felt good knowing that I could help Laura and Bella. You told me I wouldn’t understand until I performed an act of kindness myself. You implied that I’d feel blessed, which I found somewhat amusing. I send money to charities all the time. But this was different. After getting everything set up for Laura, I felt great.”
“What made you decide to help her?” Maisy asked. “I get that you were rude to her, but this is above and beyond anything I’ve ever heard of anyone doing, especially for someone they hardly know.”
“I was rude,” he agreed, although he hated admitting it. “You mentioned her financial struggles, so I decided to help. It must be difficult for her to hold down two jobs, attend classes, and be a single mother.”
“But…that’s so much money.”
“I’m a rich man, Maisy.” He wasn’t bragging, he was simply stating a fact.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and her voice cracked with gratitude. “You couldn’t have found a more deserving woman.”
Maisy returned her tissue to her purse and seemed to gather herself together once again. “I know what you mean, though, about that good feeling. Last night, Mom and I went out with a group of volunteers from church to distribute sandwiches and socks to the homeless living on the streets in Seattle.”
Chase started. “Isn’t that dangerous, especially being out at night like that?”
“Not in the least. Our group has developed relationships with that community, so they look for us and are always so grateful. They never take more than they need. We didn’t get home until after two and I could hardly sleep, wishing there was some way I could do more.”
Chase wanted to groan at his own lack of sympathy and compassion, thinking about how he’d treated the homeless man living in the alley next to the Furst Bank building. Security had forced him to move, but he’d returned a few days later. Chase had intended to get the authorities involved to make sure when he left this time it would be for good. And here were Maisy and her mother caring for the very people Chase had so heartlessly dismissed. He was ashamed of himself.
