I was tired of hiding and not telling him the truth. Might help to release it. “My mother had a stroke a few years back. She’s never recovered fully and now, she walks with a cane and needs assistance. She needs help that I can’t give her. I have an aide look after her every week, but it’s not enough. I don’t want her to wither away and die in that house. I want her to socialize with other elderly people and not deteriorate. The costs are high for the nursing homes,” I let the words gush out.
Numbers picked up my hand, kissing it. “You’ve been carrying that all alone? No wonder you work so hard.”
The way he spoke to me was like a gentle breeze caressing my cheeks. He seemed to be understanding. Maybe he wasn’t like the other bikers. “Not always, my father looked after my mother. They were good together. It’s just since he went to the other side, it’s been me and her.” Felt good to tell someone. “Thanks for listening.”
“You’re welcome. What is the cost of the new place?” he quizzed me.
I wondered why he was asking me. “Around 25 to 30k a year and I don’t want to put the family home on the market. I want to keep it. I don’t know, it’s like a dream to pass it down to my kids. I grew up there and it was a wonderful house to grow up in,” I added sentimentally as we neared my house.
“I can help. We can sort this out. I can give you what you need for the first year,” he said clearly, with no qualms.
I gasped at his offer, not believing it at first. “You would do that? Why? Something has to be up, why would you offer that?” I thought about Doc and his offer. What that truly meant.
“Why? Because you’re a good person and you need some help. I want to be able to help you. I can set up a monthly payment system with you. Let me know when you find the right place, so you can stop worrying.”
We were at my door and I grabbed both sides of his face, planting a sloppy kiss on his face. “Wow. You are incredible, and I don’t even know what to say. I’m floored by your offer.” My heart was swimming in emotions. His grand gesture was almost too much to take and more guilt was chewing up my stomach knowing what I’d done to him. I couldn’t take it.
His face looked somber. “Say you’ll take it or at least think about it. I’m going to be able to help some kind of way with it. You’re not alone in this, Mia. I owe you one, the way I figure. You stopped me from going to jail,” he posed.
I knew he meant what he said as I placed a hand on his muscled chest. “That’s my job, Numbers and I get paid for that,” I whispered as our eyes locked.
“I don’t care. You didn’t have to do it. I’m here for you, Mia. Let me help.” His hands were holding both sides of my arms.
His touch filled me with a warm glow of happiness. All this time, I could have asked Numbers for assistance and now, I was in this horrendous deal with a Devil.
Funny how life threw these unexpected curveballs.