Page 144 of Instant Karma

I clutch the envelope in both hands and go in search of Mom. She’s in the garage, using a damp towel to dust off a bag of old golf clubs.

“Hey, Mom? This is yours.”

She glances up, surprised. “What is it?” she asks, taking the envelope. Her eyes widen when she sees the money inside.

“I stopped by the pawnshop yesterday morning, looking for something, for a friend… but Clark thought I’d come in to pick up your money. So he gave me this. There’s the receipt, too, so you know what sold and for how much…” I hesitate, before adding, “The silverware hasn’t sold yet, but someone did buy the keyboard.”

She closes the envelope and looks at me, concerned for a moment, before her face softens. “It’s all just old stuff that we’re not using. Stuff we don’t need anymore. You know that, right?”

“Yeah. I know.” I tighten the belt on my robe. “But we also need the money, don’t we?”

She sighs and drapes the rag over one of the clubs. “We’re not desperate, if that’s what you’re wondering. Business has started to pick up at the store, thank heavens for tourist season. We can pay our bills. We’re fine.”

“But?”

She presses her lips together. “You know, things sure do get harder to hide from you kids when you guys get older.”

“Mom.”

She nods, wiping her palms on her jeans. “Lucy wants to sign up for soccer and basketball again this year, but she’ll need new jerseys, new shoes. Penny’s bike isn’t going to last another summer, and of course, there are still music lessons to consider. And Ellie’s preschool teachers mentioned a science-based summer camp coming up next month that she’s of course dying to do…” She looks away. “Your dad and I have always wanted to give you kids every opportunity, every experience we could. But life is expensive. Families are expensive. And as much as we love the store… it is never going to make us rich.”

I bite my lower lip. I know I shouldn’t ask, but… “Mom. Do you ever wish…” I can’t bring myself to say it.

“What?” she asks. “That we didn’t have you kids?”

“That you didn’t have so many of us.”

She laughs. “Easy for the oldest to say, isn’t it?” She tucks the envelope of money into her back pocket, then takes my face into her hands. “Never, Prudence. You and Jude and your sisters bring us more joy than any amount of money ever could. And…” She releases me and glances at the golf clubs. “If I can trade some of our old junk in order to make your childhoods a little brighter, I will in a heartbeat. This is just stuff. But you only get to live your life one time.”

She cocks her head, studying me as if to see if I believe her.

And I think I might.

“I’ll go through my room today,” I tell her. “I’m sure I have some things I can contribute to the cause.”

“Only if you want to,” she says. “I don’t expect you to start giving up all your worldly possessions.”

“I do want to. You’re right. It’s just stuff.” I hesitate, considering. “Also, Mom? I should tell you. I’m planning this gala for the center. Kind of a fancy shindig thing, to raise money. And I’ve been asking local businesses if they can contribute gift baskets to the silent auction. I’d love to have something from Ventures Vinyl, especially because our theme is Yellow Submarine. But I get it if you guys can’t contribute anything.”

Mom’s grin spreads across her face. “Listen to you. I always knew you were going to be my little entrepreneur.”

I roll my eyes. “Mom.”

“I can’t help it, honey. Watching you kids grow up…” She sighs. “Well, maybe you’ll understand someday. Anyway. I don’t know about a gift basket. I’ll have to discuss it with your father. Could be a good opportunity to let more people know about the store. But you’re right. Money is tight, and I don’t know if we’re in a great position to be making charitable contributions.”

“I know. Totally no pressure.But…” I lift my finger. “While we’re on the topic, I’ve actually had some ideas about the store, and Ari has, too. Somethings we can do to drum up new business or at least make the store feel more current. Maybe someday we could sit down and talk about it?”

She fixes me with a thoughtful look, the corners of her lips barely lifted. “I think your dad and I would like that very much.”

I nod. “I’ll start putting together a business proposal.”

She laughs and goes back to cleaning the golf clubs. “You do that.”

My eye catches on a box on a shelf, where Grandma’s old china tea set is settled into a bed of packing peanuts. “Are you getting rid of those teacups?”

Mom follows my look. “I was thinking about it.”

“Okay… but not today.” I grab the box. Mom doesn’t stop me and doesn’t ask what I’m doing as I carry it into the house.

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