Back to the Good Fortune Diner Read Online Free Page B

see. Have you tried talking to Daphne about helping out?”
    His lips thinned with distaste. “I’m not getting my hopes up there. Frankly, I’m not sure she could rouse herself to make a trip to the bank.”
    Jane pulled up her cap and wiped the back of her arm across her brow. “You’ve gotta give the woman a chance to say no. That way, she can’t blame you later for not asking her to contribute.”
    She was right about that. He couldn’t cut Daphne out of his son’s life, even if she’d effectively done it herself.
    “But I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves.” Jane propped a hip on the table. “Your problem is that you’re always trying to see the forest instead of the trees. Fact of the matter is, if Simon wants to go to college, he’ll need to bring his GPA up. And to do that, he’s going to have to retake that English course and ace it. Pretty damn clear course of action, if you ask me.”
    It was clear to Chris, at least. But as he went about his day, he couldn’t stop worrying about how he would pay for college. Simon wasn’t likely to get a scholarship; he had to admit that to himself. His son lacked the motivation and drive. Chris had done his best to provide and save money, but it wasn’t going to be enough.
    Fists clenched, he strode into the house. He couldn’t let a little thing like money stand between Simon and his future.
    He picked up the phone and stabbed the number buttons.
    “Daphne. It’s Chris,” he said tersely when she answered the phone.
    “I’m waiting for a call from my decorator. What do you want?”
    How about a few minutes out of your day to discuss our son? He willed the tension to drain from his voice, pushing down the resentment that surfaced whenever he talked to his ex-wife. After all, he was calling her, hat in hand. He led into the matter slowly. “I thought you might want to hear about Simon’s report card. I’m not sure he’d tell you about it himself.” He gave her a brief rundown of his marks.
    “What do you expect me to do?” Daphne asked impatiently when he was done. “It’s not as if I can fly over there to do his homework for him.”
    “So nice to hear you care.”
    “Don’t get sarcastic with me,” she snapped. “Of course I care. He’s my son, too.”
    “You’re right, that was uncalled for. I apologize.” He blew out a breath. “Look, I’ve been thinking a lot about the next couple of years. Simon’s going to head off for college soon and...well, he’s going to need help with tuition.”
    The silence from the other end of the line pressed down on him. “I thought you said you’d take care of all that.”
    “Things on the farm haven’t been easy.”
    “Things on the farm have never been easy. What is it this time? Barn fire? Swine flu? Plague of locusts?”
    “It’s not about the farm—”
    “It’s always about the farm, Chris. You never cared about anything else.”
    “How can you say that? I left school for you.”
    “You could have gotten a job in town.”
    “Doing what? I didn’t have a degree or diploma. We needed money right away, so I had to work on the farm to provide for you and Simon and—” He cut himself off ruthlessly, willing his pulse to stop throbbing inside his skull. He would not rehash this old argument with her. “Please, Daph. Will you help with Simon’s college fund?”
    “You think he’s going to go anywhere with those marks?” The wryness in her voice was tinged with just a hint of bitterness. She’d never done well in school, either. “Besides, I thought you and your father would be happy. You always need help mucking out the stables, right?”
    “Is that what you want for him?”
    “Of course not.” She sighed. “You think your father will even accept money from me?”
    “Forget what my dad thinks. He doesn’t matter.”
    “That’s not what you’ve said in the past.”
    “Daphne. Please,” he implored, barely clinging to the last of his patience, “will you