Chapter 50
MY WHOLE UNIVERSE
Someone To Stay by Vancouver Sleep Clinic
Holden
You’d think someone who barely slept last night would be up bright and early this morning, ready to meet the woman he’s fighting for at her bookstore like he said he would.
Instead, I’m running late, because when I finally closed my eyes, I succumbed to my dreams—all of which were filled with Natalie.
Memories with Natalie flashed behind my eyelids as I closed them gently.
Hopes with them too, of what a future would look like, and then, it morphed into a nightmare.
A nightmare in which she tells me I’m not enough for her, that I was just a rebound.
One in which I lost all three of them, and I could barely breathe.
How did I go from living alone in my home and being fine in solitude to waking up gasping for air at the thought of losing all of them?
How did this happen?
I rush to the store to see how I can help, but I run into Jerry instead. “Oh, hey.”
“Hi, son.”
“How are things going over there?” I gesture with my chin to the store, but he shakes his head, my heart dropping to my feet. “What happened?”
“It’s worse than we thought, but it’s salvageable. The good news is, her insurance approved everything, and the team we’re working with all agreed to go with insurance. She already paid the deductible, and the repairs are underway.”
Then why does he look somber? “Then what’s the problem?”
He shrugs. “I’m not sure. I’m not her friend or someone she trusts, so she said nothing.
She just started crying when I told her the store had to be closed for two to three weeks.
Her flooring needs replacement, and so does her ceiling.
And that’s after we’re able to dry everything.
There were some electrical mishaps too.”
Three weeks? In the grand scheme of things, that’s nothing, but for a business that relies on people shopping every day, this can be devastating.
“Three weeks might be too long for her to go without income,” I tell him, understanding flashing across his face.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I have money if she needs it,” he says, surprising me.
“From where?”
“I was a partner at work when everything went to shit. When I came back, they bought me out, but my portion was significant. I worked with a financial advisor, and we set some money aside in an investment account. Let’s just say it has grown a lot.
And that’s not taking into consideration the other investments I’ve made. ”
“What are you saying, Dad?”
“I’ve got money, that’s all. If she needs money for whatever, I’m happy to help.”
I mean, I have money too, but Natalie would never take it. That’s not the question here, though. Why is this man trying to give money to a practical stranger? “Are you trying to give her money so she’ll give you a kidney?”
He chuckles as if I’m telling a joke.
“That was a serious question.”
“No. That would make me a shitty person, right?” At least we agree on something. “Because anyone who makes you happy is someone deserving in my book. She’s the woman you love, right?”
I furrow my brow. We’ve talked about her briefly, but nothing major, and definitely nothing was said about me loving her.
“I could see it in your eyes, son. The way you were looking at her yesterday…it’s the way I used to look at your mother before liquor.”
“How?”
“Like she not only hung the moon and the stars, but like she’s the sun you orbit, the moon that moves your tides, and every shooting star personified. She’s your universe, isn’t she?”
Well, that’s a way to put it. I’m kicking myself for not coming up with the words to describe it sooner. She is my universe. All three of them are, so I nod, letting him know he’s spot on.
“So it’s easy. She needs it and deserves it, and I have it.”
“She’d never take it.” I know how much she struggles with non-monetary help, or even jewelry, let alone money to pay for things, from me or from him.
“We’ll figure something out. Let me know how I can help.
” He exhales. “I want to help her. I don’t know if you know, but that location, where her shop is, holds more ghosts than you could ever imagine.
” He pats my shoulder. “We can talk about that another time. Now go; she was pretty sad, and I bet she could use a shoulder to cry on. There’s so much sorrow behind her eyes. ”
Got it. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Ah, before you go.” His words stop me in my tracks. “Thank you for calling me yesterday. I know I’ve never been front and center in your mind, that I’ve never been reliable, but it meant everything that you trusted me with this. I won’t let you down.”
“I know.” I mean it too. His progress and efforts to improve are obvious. I see hope in his eyes again. “See you around?”
“See you soon, son. Call me if you figure out how I can help your, um, friend. You know where to find me.”