The entire town wrote to the grant asking us to cover any legal expenses related to an incident with your sister, Brooke. We are happy to approve those funds.
But I’d like to go one step further. I heard you had a baby recently, so I’d also like to cover any medical expenses related tothat, plus anything else that may come up. Attached is a check that should cover all of this.
Congratulations to you both.
The STM Grant Founder
My jaw dropped. I had to reread the letter three times to make sure it was real. Once I realized the wordsweren’tchanging, I finally spoke. “Oh my God.”
“Don’t worry about the amount.” Dean was quick to assure me. “I’ll work more and we can do a payment plan?—”
I flipped the letter over and covered my mouth. This was more money than I’d ever seen in mylife.
“Honey, tell us, what’s happening?” Virginia’s voice was soft, but I could hear her worry.
“The town applied for the grant for us to pay for a lawyer to make sure Brooke never bothers us again.”
“The grant. The STM one?” Dean asked. “Did it not cover it?”
I turned the check around. Dean went pale. Virginia gasped.
“Is that a check?” she asked. “A real check?”
“No way did they send that much money,” Dean said as he shook his head.
“I’ve never—I don’t understand.” I looked at it again, flipping over both the letter and the check, looking for some sign it was fake.
Instead, I saw a Post-it stuck on the back.
You of all people deserve this, Grace. Cash the check. The money will go through.
I stared at the handwriting. I dimly recognized it, but the letters were shaky. It was either that they were nervous ...
Or they were older.
“We should cash it,” I found myself saying.
“You really trust this thing?”
“I have doubts, but I think it’s ... someone I know. Someone who cares.”
Dean looked over my shoulder and read the note. “I’ll take it to the bank and try it. Who knows if the money will go through.”
“And if it does?” Virginia asked.
I spoke before Dean could. “Then I think we just found our solution to ...everything.”
DEAN
ONE YEAR LATER
Dad Company (But Sometimes Good Advice)
Justin Holloway:Had a one-night stand and she’s pregnant. How do I make sure we stay friends? I don’t really date, so friends is all we’ll be.
Comments:
Robert Colt:Oh, boy.@Dean Briggs, you wanna weigh in on this? You’re the expert, after all.