Page 258

He pulled the paper back towards him and checked the signature before adding it to the folder.

“So, when will it be paid?”

“I’ll send the funds today. Depending on how quickly the lender posts it, you should see the account current within a few business days.”

“And they’re not going to take the house?” I asked.

“Not if you stay current from here.”

I nodded slowly. That was the part I needed to hear. I had been waking up every morning wondering if somebody was going to knock on my damn door telling me I had to get out. Now I had room to breathe.

“Raya, I’m going to tell you something, and you can take it however you want. The monthly support you receive for Ryleigh is substantial. If you get a job, even something that brings in enough to cover your personal expenses, you can maintain this house. What’s hurting you is trying to make one source of money support both of you at a lifestyle it wasn’t designed for.”

“I know.”

“What?”

“I said, I know. Damn! You ain’t gotta look at me like I just discovered fire.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to admit it.”

“Well, I did. Don’t expect me to keep agreeing with you, though.” I grabbed my purse and stood. “Is that all?”

“That’s all. I’ll email you confirmation once the payment is made.”

I took two steps towards the door before stopping.

“Did Kyenna say anything else?”

“About what?”

“Me.”

“No,” he said, looking at me, confused.

“She didn’t say anything about the fight?”

“All she said was she wasn’t apologizing.”

“Tuh, shit, me either.”

“Raya, all in all. Don’t waste this opportunity.”

“I’m not.”

My entire ride home, I kept thinking about the same thing. Kyenna had paid my damn mortgage out of her own account. I didn’t know how I felt about it. Part of me wanted to be mad because now it felt like she had done something I couldn’t throw back in her face. Another part of me was relieved as hell because I wasn’t about to lose my house. When I pulled into my driveway, Kam was sitting on my porch with Ryleigh beside her, coloring with chalk. That made me check my phone because Ryleigh was supposed to be at school. I saw the missed call from the school and the text from Kam telling me she got Ryleigh.

“I’m sorry I missed that call. Thank you for picking her up for me. She always plays that tummy ache game just to come home and feel just fine.”

“I was close by and didn’t mind grabbing her. What were you doing that you couldn’t pick her up, though?” Kam asked.

“Nothing,” I lied.

“Girl, I know your face. What happened?”

I walked past her and unlocked the door.

“Kyenna’s ass paid my past-due balance on this house.”