Page 103 of Come Apart
"I'm sorry." She chokes back a sob. "I'm a bitch," she says. "I was such a bitch. You should just move on with your life."
"No, Sam..."
"I'm sorry. No, you should have it. It's yours. He was your dad. You're entitled to it. Besides, you deserve the hush money more than I do."
Fuck.
"I need to speak with Alyssa before I can make a decision."
I hate this. It's either I say yes, or I worry that this is the thing that will push her. That she'll try to kill herself again because there's this hole in her heart that's shaped like our house.
She puts me in this position too much.
How long have her requests been veiled threats?Do this for me or else I'll be so miserable. Come see me or I'll be so lonely. And I don't feel safe lonely. Please, Luke. Please, don't leave.
Another wave of dizziness hits me. I know she's manipulating me. She may know it too.
Hell of it is, I still care.
I can hate it as much as I want. I'm not going to abandon her now.
I take a deep breath. This house means a lot to me, but only because it means a lot to Alyssa.
"Alyssa doesn't own the house, Luke."
"This affects her too. I won't give you an answer until I've had a chance to talk to her about it."
That much is non-negotiable.
Samantha's breath slows, until she's calm. "I'm going to figure out exactly how much I owe you."
"I don't care about the money."
"I do. I already can't pay you back for how much you've helped me. I'm not going to be in debt for half a mortgage either."
"We can split it exactly."
"No. He put in for the down payment."
"Why don't you draft a contract? I can look it over while we consider it."
"Alright. Thanks Luke."
I feel utterly drained by the time I hang up.
