“Okay,” Calvin said. “I’ll be out in a little while.”
Veronica watched out of the corner of her eye as he left the room, and she let out a puff of air once he was out of the room. She shook her head as she continued to cook. There was no point in worrying herself over whatever it was he had to say to her. All she could do was make dinner and be prepared to listen with an open mind.
Within the next hour, Calvin had gotten out of the shower and dressed in a pair of athletic pants and a white t-shirt. He sat down at the table, and Veronica put down his plate in front of him, then assumed her usual place at their small table.
Calvin picked up a fork, and Veronica followed suit. She had made them a meal of baked chicken and vegetables over a bed of rice. It was one of Calvin’s favorite meals, and she enjoyed as well. For a while, they ate, both of them appreciating the silence that spread between them.
It couldn’t last, though, and at length, Calvin set down his fork and looked across the table at her. Veronica let out a soft sigh and put down her fork as well.
“I know that you love what you do,” Calvin said. “I appreciate that you’re able to make any money at all with what you do.”
Veronica listened silently, giving him a short nod at the conclusion of his statement.
“But you have to admit that the way you do business is not a reliable way to make money,” he continued. “You can’t constantly be cutting people breaks, because then at the end of the day you suffer. I know at the end of the day, between the two of us, we have enough money to get by, and even to do well. But what if something ever happens to me? What would you do then?”
Veronica worked very hard to keep from rolling her eyes.
“We’ve been through all this Calvin,” Veronica said, keeping her tone level. “I’m not going to demand a full amount of money when I know good and well they can’t afford it. They’re barely staying on top of things as it is, and if I rake them over the coals too, their kids are going to suffer. If I lose a couple of bucks, I’ll be okay. Some people don’t have that luxury.”
Veronica felt like this was an elementary concept, and she got annoyed every time she had to explain it to him. However, she could hardly blame him. He had grown up in a moderately well off middle class family, and he had really never wanted for much at any point in his life.
Veronica, however, had not always been so lucky. Growing up, her family often had to go without food, or heat or water for extended periods of time. Veronica knew the true worth of money, and all material possessions. She was grateful for everything she had, and she knew better than to let things go to waste.
She knew that the families she gave a break to really did need it, and that they were in situations just like the one she had been in. For her it was the least she could do, but for them, it definitely made a huge difference.
It seemed that no matter how many times she tried to explain that, though, Calvin just couldn’t wrap his head around the concept.
“Okay,” Calvin said, a look of surrender on his face. “I totally get your need to help people out, okay? I do. I just think that maybe you need to be thinking about yourself a little more.”
Veronica wanted to protest, but she knew it was pointless.
“Whatever you say,” she sighed, just wanting the conversation to end at this point. She picked up her fork and took another few bites of her food.
“Veronica,” Calvin said, and Veronica set down her fork again and looked back up at him.
“Yes?” she replied, her voice sharp and quick.
“I think I have a solution for you,” he said, and Veronica blinked in surprise.
“A solution?” Veronica leaned forward a little, resting her forearms on the table. Calvin hated when she did that, too, but she was honestly at the point where she didn’t care.
/> “Yes,” Calvin said, and a small smile began to form on his face. “You know my friend Jason at the firm?”
Veronica thought for a moment, and finally remembered who the man was.
“Yes,” she finally spoke up.
“Okay,” Calvin’s eyes lit up a little. “He is an assistant to this big-time lawyer, a guy named Frank Davenport.”
Veronica frowned a little, not quite sure where this narrative was headed.
“Well as his assistant, Jason spends a lot of time with him,” Calvin went on. “And Jason tells me that Davenport is looking for a babysitter. A babysitter that he is willing to pay a good deal of money for their services.”
Veronica’s eyebrows raised.
“Is that so?” she asked speculatively.
“Yes,” Calvin confirmed. “And I took the liberty of telling Jason to tell Davenport that I had a wonderful recommendation.”