Page 47 of Day Break

“I understand,” she said a little more softly.

I parked in front of the bank and killed the engine. “Do you need me to come in with you?”

“No,” she answered quickly. “I’ll be just a moment.”

“Take your time. I’m going to head next door to get a few things.” I motioned to the general store next to the bank.

“I’ll meet you over there, after. I have to grab a few things too,” she said.

I waited until she disappeared inside the bank before pulling out my phone and calling my boss. Taking the summer off from work wasn’t an option, but working remotely was. Someone would have to fill in for me at court, but at least I could do all the paperwork myself.

After explaining to my boss that there was a family emergency, Stephine finally agreed that I could work remotely.

Since I was going to be sticking around the island all summer, there were things I would need. I’d only packed for the one weekend, and a lot of the clothes in the closet were too small.

I hung up the phone with my boss and headed to gather what I would need from the store. I grabbed a cart and picked out some socks, underwear, T-shirts, and shorts while I waited for Chloe.

When she came in a half an hour later, I could tell instantly that something was wrong.

“Everything okay?” I asked her when she found me.

“I… they wouldn’t let me open an account. They cashed the check but took ten percent since I didn’t have an account with them,” she answered with a frown.

“Why wouldn’t they open an account? You have enough paperwork to prove who you are.”

“I have no banking history.” Her shoulders slumped. “That and the fact I don’t have a driver’s license…” She shrugged. “At least I got some of my money.” She sighed as she patted her pocket.

“Don’t you have a purse? A wallet?” I asked, stupidly.

She shook her head and glanced around. “Not yet.” She strolled away.

I’d gotten everything I’d needed and had been wasting time looking at some electronics, so I followed her across the store.

She picked out the cheapest purse and wallet she could find and placed them in the top part of the cart. Then she moved over to the clothing section.

Watching her shop and try on clothes was oddly the most entertaining thing I’d witnessed in years.

For all of my life, not a single member of my family had ever looked at the price tag of anything. It had never mattered. We’d never had to put something back because we couldn’t afford it.

Even now, as I looked down at the items that I had tossed in the cart, I realized I’d unwittingly picked the most expensive items I could. I hadn’t looked at the bargain socks or underwear. The shorts and jeans I’d tossed in the cart cost more than the dozen or so items she’d placed in the top section of the cart.

Guilt caused me to swap some of the items out while she was trying on a sundress.

When we walked out of the store, she’d spent a little over half of her paycheck, and I’d easily spent double that amount with far fewer items.

On the way home, I thought about how it had almost appeared as if Chloe was shopping for the very first time in her life. She’d had me go through the checkout line first and when I looked up, I realized she was watching the entire process as if seeing it for the first time.

Much like she’d been watching me print the documents the night before.

I pulled up the driveway and cursed under my breath when I saw my uncle’s car parked by the house.

“Who is that?” Chloe asked.

“My uncle. It appears my cousin isn’t the only one staying on the island for the summer.” I turned to her. “Go, put your things away.” I sighed. “I’ll try to head off my family.

“Lane?” Chloe stopped me from getting out of the car. “Thank you. For today.”

I nodded. “I’ll tell my grandfather to pay you in cash from now on. You shouldn’t have to give ten percent to the bank next time.” I climbed out of the car. “Not when the government takes about that as well.”