when he'd gotten married, which had only added to his financial and marital problems. Bill had never been resentful, had only tried to do the best he could with what he had while he balanced family and life-calling.
Gracie was racking her brain trying to think of a response when she heard Aunt Jeanine's voice, even louder than usual. She and Bill turned to watch the commotion.
"C'mon, Charles - you
owe
it to me! I'm your only sister, for God's sake. It's just a little loan, I'll pay you back."
Charles had been on his way to the grill when his sister had caught up to him. Now they stood in the middle of the patio, arguing for everyone to hear.
"Like you paid back all the other loans I made you?" Charles asked nastily.
"
What
loans?" Jeanine asked. "You haven't loaned me any money in
years!"
"Because you never paid me back!" Charles shouted. "I never thought it was a good idea to make you a loan when you couldn't even pay the rent, and I was right. Two months later you were crying for rent-money again. What'd you do with the money? Probably blew it at the bingo hall."
Jeanine looked confused for a minute, clearly having blocked any memory of owing her brother. "Oh, Jesus, Charles. You must be talking about when that son of a bitch left me. You
know
I was broken up about that, I was so upset I lost my job."
Charles glared at her. "They
fired
you, Jeanine, because you couldn't manage to get to work on time. You were so pissed off because you had to support yourself that you lay awake nights plotting your revenge and then over-slept. You couldn't even be bothered to buy an alarm clock."
"But that was a long time ago, Charles," Jeanine whined. "This time I'll pay you back, I promise."
"No you won't," Charles said harshly. "Your car will break down or your A/C will go on the fritz or some other emergency will come along and you'll use the money for
that
and then where will you be? You've never saved a dime in your life!"
"Well, I can't
save
anything when I only make $9.50 a fricking hour," Jeanine yelled. "That's why I need the money, so I can get this training and get a
better
job."
"What happened to the grand you borrowed from your cousin? You were gonna be a court reporter that time, I think. I seem to remember you took three lessons before you dropped that scheme. You never paid him back, either."
"I couldn't help it if I had to have surgery. That scar's never been right, either, still gives me trouble. But this is
different
, this is a great opportunity and I'll be able to make
plenty
of money. I can't pass it up!" Jeanine was beginning to wheedle.
"Tough shit, Jeanine," Charles said in a harsh voice. "It's always 'different', except that it isn't. Get the money someplace else, I won't give it to you."
"But there
isn't
anyplace else," she said desperately. "I really need you to help me."
"You're in my will," Charles said sneeringly. "You can get it when I kick the bucket." Charles walked off before Jeanine could say more. Jeanine hobbled to the table and loaded up another plate, then went back to the corner to sulk and eat.
Gracie and Bill looked at each other and shook their heads. They both knew that Charles wouldn't loan money unless he were sure of making a big profit. And no one in their right mind would give Jeanine a loan, why had she even bothered to ask?
"Looks like we're going to eat soon," Bill said nodding at Charles standing at the grill. "I'm gonna go get another soda, you want anything? Here, I'll toss your plate." Bill walked to the patio, dropped the plate in the trash and rummaged through the cooler. Jim came up and they struck up a conversation.
Gracie watched as Justin and Zack ran across the lawn to the table. They were yelling insults at each other, clearly making it a race. They zipped by on either side of Cindy, nearly knocking her glass from her hand. Zack paused to turn around and say, "Sorry!" before running on. Justin made it to the food first.
Justin was the middle child, eighteen