Page 92 of Not That Into You

My heart races. “And?”

“Butterbean...” He sighs. “Your mother didn’t want to tell you.”

I suck in a breath. “What? What’s going on, Dad? Tell me.”

There’s a long pause. “The surgery is too expensive.”

My shoulders droop. “But the money I sent...”

“Still not enough.”

“How... I thought that was enough.”

“It’s a lot of money, Monica, and we’re so grateful, but that’s your money. I know you want to travel.”

“No, Dad. The money was for Mom, not me. That money is for her surgery.”

He blows out a breath. “It’s too much.”

I shake my head, even though I know he can’t see me. “It’s not. I worked an extra job to make that money. If Mom didn’t need surgery, I wouldn’t have taken the job. So the money’s hers. Please.”

“An extra job?” He sounds dubious.

“Yes.”

“What kind of extra job?”

I huff out a laugh. “Nothing illegal. Nothing crazy. Just some extra work I did over a weekend. It just cost me a weekend.”

“Hm.”

“The money is yours. Mom needs the surgery.”

He sighs heavily.

“Please, Dad. Schedule the surgery.”

Another sigh. “We can’t.”

“Dad, you can.”

“No, honey. We still can’t afford it.”

I fall back onto my bed. “I don’t understand.”

“It turns out that with the surgery and physical therapy and missed work...”

“What?”

“The total cost is more than we thought.”

My stomach drops. “How much more?”

“More than we can afford. Even with the money you gave us.”

I close my eyes. “How much more?”

He sighs.

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