Chapter 21: Her Share Only

I turned around and went back across the street.

I got to the cafe door just as Colson pushed it open, and I stepped in beside him.

The bell jingled twice.

There were four customers at the counter, and the owner stood behind the register with her arms folded.

Toby had frozen in the middle of a pour.

Colson looked from my brother to me, and then he did something I hadn't expected.

He laughed, once, with no joy in it.

"Of course," he said. "Of course you're here."

"You came to my building," I said.

"I came to give you something."

He set the thin envelope on the counter between the napkin holder and a plate of pastries.

"It's a cashier's check for ten thousand two hundred and sixty dollars. It's all the money I have left from the fund."

"I want you to have all of it. And this."

He slid his watch off his wrist, the one I had given him three birthdays ago, and put it on top of the envelope.

Two customers looked up from their phones.

"I'm not asking you to take me back," Colson said, loudly enough that the whole room could hear. "I'm asking you to see that I'm trying."

I looked at the watch.

I looked at his bare wrist, which was pale where the strap had been.

"You owe me eleven thousand seven hundred and sixty dollars," I said.

"Not a dollar over, and not a dollar under."

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