Next arrived the lawyer meeting, my deep embarrassment, and the horrible thought that Mrs. Higgins had absolutely played me. Not merely regarding the cash, but every single moment she pretended to actually love me.
The following morning, somebody banged loudly on my apartment door.
I stood up feeling completely drained and unlocked it.
Mrs. Higgins’s attorney was standing right there gripping a beaten-up tin box.
“What are you here for?” I questioned.
“Mrs. Higgins prepared extra orders. For you exclusively.” He stretched out the tin. “As a matter of fact, she gave you a single item.”
I accepted it simply because I had no clue what else to say. Inside sat a letter with my name scribbled on the front in her wobbly writing, along with a simple steel key.
My fingers began to tremble long before I tore the paper open.
Lucas,
You are most likely furious that I handed you zero cash, but please trust me — the thing I set up for you is going to flip your world upside down.
I realize you initially took our deal simply for the payout, but somewhere in the middle of our grocery trips, ruined meals, and awful TV broadcasts, you turned into the child I finally discovered at the end of my life.
My legs dropped to the rug as a brand new wave of feelings flooded my chest. She really did love me!
I read the remainder while crying, and ultimately realized that Mrs. Higgins handed me something way more precious than pure cash or a property.
You mentioned to me once that you would enjoy staying at the restaurant, so as of right now, a piece of it is officially yours.
Several months back, I spoke with Bo in secret and purchased a chunk of the business. He promised to guide you and teach you the tricks you need to manage a shop. This key goes to the restaurant’s front door.
Properties can drop in worth and crumble, and cash just vanishes, but I truly pray this provides you with a purpose to look forward to.
I cannot recall getting back to my feet.
One second I was sobbing onto that piece of paper on my rug, and the next second I was sprinting right up to the restaurant’s entrance with that key gripped tight in my palm.
The shop was completely dead when I stepped inside. A quiet late-morning break. Bo was waiting right behind the money drawer, topping off the sweet jars.
He glanced up at me. I raised the steel key.
“Is this real?” I questioned.
He placed the glass jar down very slowly. “Yep.”
He reached below the counter and pulled out a paper file.
Inside were official contracts with my name typed right over them. Business stakes. Bank files. Pen strokes. Everything completely real and legal and unbelievable.
I chuckled and bawled simultaneously, which was super embarrassing, but I was way too overwhelmed to even mind.
Bo looked at me closely for a moment. His expression grew gentle in that guarded way tough guys try to avoid showing.
“She felt super proud of you,” he murmured. “You realize that, correct?”
I slapped a palm over my face and just stood right there doing my best not to completely break down right on the shop floor.
After a moment passed, Bo stated, “Okay then, that is plenty of that. We unlock the doors at five tomorrow morning. I hope you are prepared to figure out how to operate a business, co-owner.”
Something deep inside of my chest clicked right then.
It was tiny, yet it rushed through my veins like a shock of electricity.
For the first time in my entire life, I was not stressing about surviving the upcoming days. I was actually picturing a real future.
