Chapter 1

It was a sunny summer Sunday afternoon. I was approached by an older woman after my parent’s funeral. She told me she was an older friend of my mother’s and that she had a proposition for me and my brother that she would like to discuss over lunch. There was only one place that you could really sit down and have a nice meal on a Sunday, and that was Brown’s diner. So, here we are sitting in our town’s quaint little diner, which AC’s is broken and it is sweltering hot.

“So you said you had a deal for my brother and I?” I squinted at her curiously as I took a sip of my iced tea.

“Of course!” she said perkily “I was wondering if you would like to live with me and my family”

I almost choked in surprise and confusion.

“Wow, umm Mrs.….” Heck, I didn’t even know this woman’s name and she wanted us to live with her.

“Ashby, but you can call me Jennifer. Don’t you remember? I went to your sweet sixteenth birthday”

My mind sorted through the small group that showed up that day and then I remember her. She and my mother were staying by each other’s side, laughing and talking during the whole thing, which I found odd because my mother usually prefer to mingle with everyone. I looked away from Mrs. Ashby in embarrassment.

“Uh… yeah I remember you. You bought me and my family tickets to go to Broadway,” I said awkwardly.

“So you do remember!” she said grinning.

Man, she really like smiling doesn’t she. She looked really fancy both times that I have seen her as well. My brother is easily able to adapted to any situation but I don’t think I would really fit in with Mrs. Ashby’s type.

“Yeah I do but…” she cut me off

“That’s great. Look my kids are about your age, so you’ll might be able to make a friend, and the school in our area has a great program that I think you and your brother will like. There are sports, music, robotics, and even art courses that you could take,” My brother eyes lit up when he heard about art classes. “Our house is big, definitely big enough for the two of you. Plus, we have a big backyard and you two seem quite fit, we have gyms within walking distances” I looked at my brother fondly and he smiled at me in support.

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With how much debt our parents’ left us in I was tempted to say yes automatically but I couldn’t. I had to carefully weigh the pro and cons of this situation especially since I was now responsible for my brother. I sighed, for a stranger, she seemed nice but my major issue was just that, she was essentially a stranger to me, one of my mother’s old friends. Yet, she expected me to just move in with her willy-nilly, just like that.

“Look Mrs. Ashby I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t to impose…” She frowned. “Why not?”

“Well…. I mean I can’t just say yes, I mean I have a job here and I really have to pay off this debt,” She brightened again

“That will be no problem at all. From what I recall, you were quite the cook, and my family could always use a maid to clean up around this house,” I bite my lip.

The more positive things she added the more it was making it hard to turn down her offer. Yet, one thing was stop me from agreeing and that was I didn’t really know her enough to go live with her. Her phone rang interrupting my thoughts.

“Breathe, Jodi, breathe. Yes, calm down. Where am I? Oh, darling I’m at a diner. Pretty crazy, right! Uh huh, yep, yes! Alright, have B Team and D team met at the conference room. I’ll text my driver to come pick me up. Yes, I have the spreadsheet on my desk, fax them to him! Okay! Okay! I’ll be there, alright! Goodbye! Bye,” My brother and I both look at her

“Sorry, dears, just some problems at new Ash corps branch in Paris,” My eyes widened while my brother still remained confused.

“You work at Ash corps,” I said in shock.

Ash corps was one of the top multi-money making companies.

She chuckled “I own Ash corps, sweetie. And darling, if you think that’s impress my son…” her phone rang as I sat there shocked. Wow, it all make sense…but why would she want to take in my brother in me. I was worried Mrs. Ashby’s intentions weren’t as pure as she made them seem.

“Look Mrs. Ashby. I’m sorry I need more time…I just can’t make decisions easily anymore. I usually ask my mother about these types of offers, but my mother and my dad aren’t here to help me anymore. Sorry, I have to think about what’s best for not just me but for my brother, too. I need to think this through. Will your offer still be open by the end of the week?” She clasped me hand comforting

“Of course, darling,” I tried to give her a small smile.

“Thank you, I mean just the thought…’I was cut off again for the third time

“Sorry, dear. My phone…. Hello. Yes! Yes! Yes! I’d prefer if it were black and green. Yes, it will be no problem. I’ll have one of my assistants pick it up, thank you. They’ll be named either Clara or John. Yes, no thank you. Alright. Goodbye!” I was more convinced than ever that’s it is a bad idea. I didn’t want me and my brother to be some charity case even if she is as nice as she appears.

“Everything will okay, just think about it alright,” I nodded hesitantly.

“Oh my ride is here. I’ll pay for the bill, here this should be enough right, “She put down a hundred-dollar bill. I almost actually smiled, I bet the waiter is going to be quite the happy camper. She hugged the two us, which was kind of awkward, and left. My brother and I watched her ride off in the back of a big black SUV. We packed our leftovers and drove home.