“I-I don’t know what to say,” Wren says, her voice cracking.
“You say thank you, and when you get back on your feet, and you see someone in need, you help them out. It’s that simple.”
“Thank you for paying for her medication. I can’t tell you what that means to me. And this—” She holds up the white envelope. “This is a gesture too kind and one I will never forget, but I’m sorry, Marshall, I can’t keep it.” She places the envelope on the edge of my desk and lifts her daughter still in her seat from my desk. “Thank you for your generosity. I’ll never forget it.” With that, she walks out of my office.
I stand rooted to my spot. I should run after her, insist that she take the money, but I saw the look in her eyes. Determination and pride both prevent her from taking the gift. I thought I could convince her, but I guess I was wrong.
What’s even more shocking is that she truly didn’t seem to know who we were. Not one ounce of recognition flashed in those big blue eyes when she met my family.
I wish that she would have taken the money. It wasn’t much, but I’m sure it would have given her a little bit of relief. I release a heavy sigh as I sit back at my desk. There is nothing I can do. I gave it my best shot.
It’s barely been ten minutes since she left when a shadow falls over my desk. Glancing up, I see my brother Royce standing in front of my desk.
“What’s up?”
“Wren seems nice.”
“I don’t know. I guess so.”
“How did you meet?” he asks.
I see shadows outside my office door, and I know the rest of my family is out there listening in. “You can all come in,” I call out. One by one, my brothers shuffle into the room. “I don’t know her. I was at the pharmacy last night picking up Mom’s prescription, and she was in front of me in line. She doesn’t have insurance and didn’t have enough money to pay for the baby’s medicine. I stepped up and paid for it for her.”
“Aww.” I hear from the hallway.
“Come on in,” I tell my sisters.
“Marsh.” Layla comes to me and gives me a hug, followed immediately by a hug from Sawyer too.
“You’re one of the good ones,” Sawyer tells me.
“Hey!” Royce snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her into his lap.
“I’m just saying.”
“Anyway,” I start again. “I insisted on paying and told her to pay it forward. It was only fifty dollars.” I shake my head. “My underwear costs more than her baby’s prescription. When the lady handed me back my change, I slipped the fifty and two more hundreds into the bag before handing it to her.” I point to the white envelope that’s still lying on the corner of my desk. “She brought it back to me. Said she can’t accept it.”
“How did she know where to find you?” Owen asks.
“I gave her my name. Apparently, when she told her best friend, she’s heard of our family, much like everyone else in this town, and that led her here today.”
“So the baby?” Grant asks.
I knew this was coming, which is why I throw my head back in laughter. “She’s not mine,” I tell them once my laughter is under control. “Cute as hell, but not mine.”
“She seems nice,” Layla comments.
“Yeah, she’s on hard times. After she left the pharmacy, the woman checking me out said that her husband used to work there. She’s not wearing a wedding ring, so I’m assuming they split. Said it wasn’t her story to tell, so that’s all the intel she was willing to give me.”
“That’s so sad,” Sawyer whispers.
“It is. And I hate it because I can help, you know?” All six of them nod their agreement. “Anyway, she insisted on not taking the money.” Again, I point to the envelope on my desk. “So, that’s it. I did what I could. At least I know I tried to help her.”
“You did help her,” Layla speaks up. “Trust me. That money for the medication was just as hard for her to accept. If it had not been for her daughter, she wouldn’t have accepted that either.”
Layla knows tough times. She had a rough childhood, and into adulthood wasn’t much better. My brother fell in love with her hard and fast, and now she’s one of us. That doesn’t mean that any of us forgets her struggles in life before she came into our lives.
“Yeah,” I agree. “She’s stubborn.”
“Not stubborn,” Layla corrects me. “She’s proud. She’s… I’m sure, busting her ass to work and be a mom, and handouts are hard to take. No matter how desperately you need them.”
“Like shoes,” Owen whispers, kissing her temple.