My mom would land in about an hour and fifteen minutes, which happened to give us just enough time to stop by my work first. I’d finally dipped into my “popsicle savings” and wanted to make a small donation to Mrs. Diaz’s funeral fund.
But the second I hurried through the front doors and shot a cursory glance up at the bulletin board, I saw that it had already been paid.
“What?”
I spun back around in a confused circle but was instantly rescued as my supervisor, Lisa, came into view.
“Oh, Becca!” She saw me at the same time and rushed over, a haphazard pile of files spilling awkwardly from her arms. “I’m glad I ran into you. So, I put you back on the schedule the day after tomorrow. Is that going to be too soon—”
“What happened with Mrs. Diaz’s funeral?” I asked. “I was just coming to contribute, but I saw it was already taken care of?”
Lisa faltered. “Well…yes. Marcus Taylor—I mean, your fiancé came by and paid it yesterday afternoon.” She looked confused, almost concerned that I didn’t already know.
Marcus? The sudden image of him undoing another two buttons on his shirt to the delight of a bar full of Koreans flashed through my head, and I shook it quickly to clear it.
“I’m sorry—what? How did he even set it up so quickly?”
I had organized these things myself before. There was paperwork, screening, bank checks. They didn’t just get thrown together.
Lisa sounded surprised. “Well, he’s already in our system. Marcus makes annual donations, and it’s the only way we were able to stay open when the economy crashed. His mother died here—spent her final weeks in the East Wing. He was here every day visiting her.”
Several things clicked at once. Why he was at that coffee shop when his office wasn’t all that close by—it had become his favorite, just like mine. When he said he was familiar with the Westwood facility… It all made sense.
“He didn’t tell you?” Lisa asked, frowning and confused.
I shook my head slightly as I tried to reconcile this new piece of the puzzle.
“No…he didn’t tell me.”
“I’ve known him for years. He’s a good man inside and out. It’s admirable that he chooses to share his blessings. He deserves a big round of applause.”
I smiled.
“Don’t ever let him go,” she continued. “He’s one of the good guys. I’m always amazed how he gives huge sums to charities, scientific research, and other worthy causes each year without blinking an eye.”
“He is amazing.”
“I can see why he settled down with you. He wanted somebody who had a heart as big and compassionate as his.”
“That’s so sweet,” I said, trying to keep a tear from slipping down my cheek.
I’d already seen a different side of him through her eyes.
***
There was no time to ponder the added layer of complexity my conversation with Lisa had revealed. My mother’s flight had landed early and she texted me that she would simply meet us at a restaurant in The Grove. When I told her the news, Amanda raised her eyebrows as she sped through lunchtime traffic.
“That’s fancy for a ‘family meal.’ Thank goodness we wore dresses.”
I was smiling before I could stop myself. Amanda had long since considered herself included in “family affairs.” It had been naturally assumed that she would attend this luncheon with me, and to be frank, I was grateful for the companionship. It would prove a helpful buffer when my mind was reeling with the events of the last twenty-fou
r hours.
“Well, that’s my mom,” I smirked as I texted Marcus the change of address. “She wants to make a good impression on the new son-in-law.”
Amanda chuckled. “I think she wants the son-in-law to pay.”
I laughed.