Chapter 12 - Brian says they needed help
Brian came to Leonard’s house.
I met him on porch.
He looked exhausted.
“Dad, mortgage is due.”
I stared.
“So?”
“We were counting on your household payment.”
“Then perhaps I wasn’t living free.”
“That joke was stupid.”
“It was not only your joke.”
“Melissa pushed it.”
“You brought the bowl.”
He looked away.
Then:
“We got used to you helping.”
There.
Finally.
“Why didn’t you ask?”
“We did.”
“No. You charged.”
He said:
“You knew everything costs more.”
“I knew electricity costs more. I did not know I was paying your property-tax reserve.”
Silence.
“You called me a freeloader while my card paid your mortgage.”
“I didn’t know it was that much.”
That surprised me.
“What?”
“Melissa handles the house.”
“Are you telling me you did not know?”
“I knew you contributed. I didn’t know the breakdown.”
Possible.
Not innocence.
But possibly true.
Then he said:
“Dad, please turn it back on until we sort this out.”
“No.”
His face changed.
May you like
“You’re going to make us miss payments.”
“No. Your bills will make you miss payments.”
