Page 99 of Holding On

"Their college tuition," Mike says.

Sherry sighs again. "Not all of it. Just a small portion. And only because Jim had a medical hardship last year and had to use some of the boys' college fund to help pay his bills."

"You paid for their college?" Becca blurts out in a voice so loud that the people at the next table look over.

"Becca, keep your voice down," Sherry scolds.

"I would if I wasn't so damn angry." Becca slams her fork on the table. "You seriously paid tuition for two kids who aren't even yours but wouldn't even offer me a dime for nursing school?"

"You never asked me for help."

"I shouldn't have had to. You knew I had no money. I lived out of my car for almost a month and could barely eat."

She lived out of her car? She never told me that, but that's not surprising. I'm finding Becca's one of those people who rarely complains or feels sorry for herself. Like now, she's stuck working two shitty jobs and yet she never seems down or depressed or talks about how hard she has it. She just keeps going with a smile on her face.

"If you'd asked," Sherry says, "I would've helped you out."

"No you wouldn't," Mike says, shoving his plate aside. "Because Becca doesn't have anything to offer you, at least nothing you want. You gave money to Jim's sons because you wanted him to marry you."

"Stop it, Michael," Sherry bites out. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"And it worked, didn't it?" he asks. "You paid their tuition and got an engagement ring."

"That had nothing to do with it," Jim says. "Sherry was just being kind. I needed some help and she generously offered to contribute to their tuition."

"Yet she didn't offer to help her own daughter. Is that really the type of person you want to marry?"

"Michael!" Sherry throws her napkin on the table.

He looks at his mom. "Why are you even with this guy if he can't afford his kids' tuition? I thought you only dated guys with money. That's why you left Dad, isn't it? Because he wasn't rich enough?"

"Michael, stop it right now! You're being rude and disrespectful."

"Fine." He pushes his chair back. "I'll leave.

"Wait." Becca holds his arm as she says to her mom, "Tell me why. Why would you help two strangers instead of your own daughter?"

"They're not strangers. They're my future stepsons."

"But they're not yours. I'm..." Becca's voice cracks and I see her eyes tearing up.

"Let's go," I tell her as I get up from my chair, grabbing my crutches.

Becca remains seated, talking to her mom. "I'm your daughter. Why wouldn't you help me? You knew how much I struggled after Dad died." A couple tears stream down her cheeks. "I needed you."

Sherry says nothing. Neither does Jim. The two of them just sit there like stone statues, cold and lifeless.

Mike pulls out Becca's chair. "Becca, c'mon."

She nods and finally gets up and the three of us walk back to the hotel entrance. I wave at the taxi driver, signaling him to go. He nods and I follow Becca and Mike to their van. Maybe I shouldn't be going with them. This is a family thing, but Becca's not telling me to go and I don't want to leave her right now.

"I can't fucking believe that," Mike says as he drives away. I'm in the back seat and Becca is up front next to Mike. He reaches over and squeezes her hand. "I'm sorry, Becca. I keep sticking up for Mom, trying to give her a chance to make things right, but then she does this and..." He shakes his head. "It just shows she'll never change."

Becca sniffles. "What school?"

"It doesn't matter," Mike says.

"Just tell me. What school?"

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