Page 8 of Nanny for the Doctor

Mae

As I walk up to my brother and his girlfriend’s house, I’m still self-conscious about how banged up I look. It’s been two days now, and I’m still covered in bruises and there’s a thick scab on my lip from where I split it.

I ring the bell and hear him yell behind the door.

“Coming!”

When Johnny answers the door, his face pinches in a poor attempt to hide a smile, and I roll my eyes.

“Go ahead. Get it out of your system.”

Johnny bursts out laughing but then pulls me in for a hug and closes the door behind me.

“Dude, you look terrible!”

“I’m aware.”

“And it was two kids that did this to you?” His eyebrow raises at me.

“How’d you know that?” I stop short in the entryway, my heart pounding.

“How do you think? Reed told me.” Johnny pulls me away from the door and guides me to the kitchen table.

“Ugh. Fucker.”

“Oh, come on. Reed had to tell me. Besides, he said that ‘Lil Bit’ handled the concussion well, all things considered.”

“Such a dumb nickname. Just cuz I’m smaller and younger than you guys.”

Frowning, I slump down into a chair and smile at Stevie, Johnny’s wife, basically. She smiles apologetically back at me and then goes back to stirring the contents in the pan on the stove.

And yet, my heartbeat picks up as the thought of Reed talking about me rattles through my brain.

“Are you all right? I know they wouldn’t have released you if you weren’t, of course, but you just look so wrecked.”

I sigh. I know my brother is just worried about me. After all, thanks to the age gap, he’s always been more like a second dad, so I let the comment go.

“I’m fine. I’m tougher than I look. Let’s get started.”

Johnny cocks a grin at me and pulls out a folder from his briefcase below the table. The thing is stuffed, and as he fans out all the paperwork into specific piles, my head starts to spin.

“Jesus. There’s a lot in there. Are you sure this is all for me?”

He just laughs. “Yup. I’ve reviewed all your statements and assets and the bills and payment info you sent over. This is all your financials.”

“I’ll remind you I have another bill to add to that stack.” I point to my face, and my brother mirrors that pitying smile I saw on Stevie.

“Insurance covered some of it, right?” He pats my arm.

“Some, not all.”

We sigh, and then Johnny refocuses on the stack of papers, smacking his palms down on the table around them.

“All right, well, first things first. I think you already know this, but after going over everything, I can tell you this, you’re broke.”

“Ha!” The humorless laugh cuts through me. “Yes, I’m aware. Any other insights, Mr. Fancy Financial Advisor?”

“Yes, actually. There’s some spending you could probably cut down or eliminate, but all in all, you’re just not making enough money to take on more debt. But I know you want to go back to school and get your teaching degree, so if you’re willing to work with me on this, I think we can get you there in two years.”

---