Chapter 23: No Lesson

Jo's POV

I met Wylie on Wednesday at ten, at the table under the SCAM HELP DESK banner.

He had taken off the lanyard.

He stood up when he saw me.

He didn't know what to do with his hands, so he sat down again.

"I got your message," I said. "About the money."

"I meant it."

"I know you did. That's why I'm here."

I put an envelope on the table and slid it across to him.

He didn't touch it.

"That's a receipt," I said. "For every deposit since October. I never spent a dollar of it."

"I don't want it back."

"I'm not giving it back to you."

He looked up.

"The Fairmont library runs a free class for seniors on how not to get robbed," I said.

"The librarian told me last week the budget runs out in June."

"I wrote a cashier's check this morning, in the name of the class."

"Jo."

"Not in yours, and not in mine."

He sat very still.

"I'm only going to say this once, so you don't have to wonder," I said.

"I'm not forgiving you."

"I know."

"I don't mean this week. I don't know if I ever will, and you don't get to wait for it."

"You don't get to be good and sit by the phone."

"I won't."

"You don't get to be the man who fixed it."

"I won't be."

"Then what will you be?"

He thought about it honestly.

"Somebody who stays out of your way," he said, "and is useful if you ever call."

"That's allowed," I said.

His throat moved.

"You were right to go," he said.

"I think I'm only now understanding what you said at the diner. About credit."

"Don't take credit for that either," I said.

For the first time in seven months I saw him laugh, a short surprised breath through his nose.

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