away…she shuddered.
She thought of all the times she’d done without, because she didn’t want to break up the even amount. A vacation, maybe. (That was before she had Fibber, when she was younger and would have enjoyed a cruise or a week in a resort.) A new winter coat. Re-covering the couch. And each time she thought about doing something, she decided she’d feel better not doing it but knowing the money was in the bank.
Now…
Of course, she’d probably die with every cent intact, and Danny would get it. That was fine with her. It made her feel good to know how grateful he would be. Although she wouldn’t be around to see it. But what about Charlene? She’d end up spending it on new clothes, or redecorating, or tennis lessons, the way she was doing now. There was always the possibility that Danny would leave her. Oh God, if only that boy would come to his senses. At fifty-seven, he wasn’t really a boy anymore. And they had been married almost twenty-five years. But then if they did get a divorce, Charlene would sue him for alimony and get half of Eileen’s money anyway. The money she had so diligently put away every single week for her entire life. Painstakingly. Dollar by dollar in an envelope, traded in for tens, each hundred deposited. Every thousand reached, a triumph. No matter how hard it was. Of course it wasn’t so hard years ago when she lived with her parents and her expenses were low. It was easy to save then.
Her skin crawled as she imagined Charlene showing off a fur or a piece of jewelry. It would kill her. But how could it kill her if she were already dead? Unconsciously, she smiled at her stupidity and reached out for Mr. McGee. As she squeezed the back of his neck affectionately, she realized the money didn’t matter. Nothing mattered, except her little boy. She would die if anybody touched him. Took him away. Or if they ever considered…no, that was just to scare her.
She was sure. Who would hurt an innocent little animal? They were just trying to show her they meant it. She would do anything, spend anything, to save him.
It could have been worse. They could have made it 50,000 dollars. Or 100,000. Thank God, they didn’t. Then she would have to think about selling some of the stock too. She had every share her father had left her. Never touched it—since 1977! She knew her sister had had to sell most of hers over the years. That was different; she had a mortgage; she had a child to bring up and put through school. There was almost nothing left when she died.
But suppose she got sick? They’d put her in a public hospital in a ward and let her waste away if she couldn’t afford to pay. If she had a stroke or a heart attack, they could send her to one of those state-run nursing homes. Just leave her there in a bed, with festering sores and dirty sheets. Until she died. No, she had to keep that money for her old age. Danny would probably laugh and say, “When do you think you’ll reach old age if you’re seventy-three now?”
Chapter 31
Chris held his glass up and tilted it until the light made a shimmering asterisk in the crystal. The red wine dazzled like a star ruby.
“And then they took the vote, and except for a couple of the old cronies who wanted her , it was almost unanimous.”
Chris laughed and took a sip of wine. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this excited.”
“It’s not that I’m excited,” Jason said, sounding apologetic, “but it just made me so mad, the way everyone was screaming. They needed someone to get it organized. Already, in one night, I got a committee together and floor captains elected. I mean, I think it’s a challenge, don’t you? We shouldn’t run around without knowing what’s going on. I got the names of two lawyers who specialize in tenants’ rights, and two others who handle conversions. I’m going to start calling tomorrow to see if we can get one of them to meet with the committee. If this building does go, I think it
She thought of all the times she’d done without, because she didn’t want to break up the even amount. A vacation, maybe. (That was before she had Fibber, when she was younger and would have enjoyed a cruise or a week in a resort.) A new winter coat. Re-covering the couch. And each time she thought about doing something, she decided she’d feel better not doing it but knowing the money was in the bank.
Now…
Of course, she’d probably die with every cent intact, and Danny would get it. That was fine with her. It made her feel good to know how grateful he would be. Although she wouldn’t be around to see it. But what about Charlene? She’d end up spending it on new clothes, or redecorating, or tennis lessons, the way she was doing now. There was always the possibility that Danny would leave her. Oh God, if only that boy would come to his senses. At fifty-seven, he wasn’t really a boy anymore. And they had been married almost twenty-five years. But then if they did get a divorce, Charlene would sue him for alimony and get half of Eileen’s money anyway. The money she had so diligently put away every single week for her entire life. Painstakingly. Dollar by dollar in an envelope, traded in for tens, each hundred deposited. Every thousand reached, a triumph. No matter how hard it was. Of course it wasn’t so hard years ago when she lived with her parents and her expenses were low. It was easy to save then.
Her skin crawled as she imagined Charlene showing off a fur or a piece of jewelry. It would kill her. But how could it kill her if she were already dead? Unconsciously, she smiled at her stupidity and reached out for Mr. McGee. As she squeezed the back of his neck affectionately, she realized the money didn’t matter. Nothing mattered, except her little boy. She would die if anybody touched him. Took him away. Or if they ever considered…no, that was just to scare her.
She was sure. Who would hurt an innocent little animal? They were just trying to show her they meant it. She would do anything, spend anything, to save him.
It could have been worse. They could have made it 50,000 dollars. Or 100,000. Thank God, they didn’t. Then she would have to think about selling some of the stock too. She had every share her father had left her. Never touched it—since 1977! She knew her sister had had to sell most of hers over the years. That was different; she had a mortgage; she had a child to bring up and put through school. There was almost nothing left when she died.
But suppose she got sick? They’d put her in a public hospital in a ward and let her waste away if she couldn’t afford to pay. If she had a stroke or a heart attack, they could send her to one of those state-run nursing homes. Just leave her there in a bed, with festering sores and dirty sheets. Until she died. No, she had to keep that money for her old age. Danny would probably laugh and say, “When do you think you’ll reach old age if you’re seventy-three now?”
Chapter 31
Chris held his glass up and tilted it until the light made a shimmering asterisk in the crystal. The red wine dazzled like a star ruby.
“And then they took the vote, and except for a couple of the old cronies who wanted her , it was almost unanimous.”
Chris laughed and took a sip of wine. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this excited.”
“It’s not that I’m excited,” Jason said, sounding apologetic, “but it just made me so mad, the way everyone was screaming. They needed someone to get it organized. Already, in one night, I got a committee together and floor captains elected. I mean, I think it’s a challenge, don’t you? We shouldn’t run around without knowing what’s going on. I got the names of two lawyers who specialize in tenants’ rights, and two others who handle conversions. I’m going to start calling tomorrow to see if we can get one of them to meet with the committee. If this building does go, I think it
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