"No, I'm going to do it through a private donation. As a donator, I can designate where I want the money to go."
"We really appreciate donations. We're trying to expand our South wing." His mood suddenly elevated.
"I want the entire amount to cover his medical bills, and the remainder to be designated for any future care like his ongoing oxygen service."
"I just need a name."
Chloe gave him the billing information and waited patiently for his secretary to bring in an itemization of his charges.
"This is quite a large sum of money. I see he's had several trips to the ER and multiple extended stays in our Intensive Care Unit. Pulmonary specialist … The balance is almost four hundred thousand dollars. It says he's uninsured. I do see we have him on a payment plan which has been consistently paid."
"I'm going to make a private donation to the hospital for five hundred thousand. I am to remain anonymous, and I mean that. I want proof that his bills were covered in full and that the rest is for his future care." Chloe made the check out and handed it to him
"Oh, Miss Burlington! Why didn't you say so?"
"Why does it matter who I am? If you don't do as I ask, I can assure you that the large contributions from our family will cease. You are to tell no one who I am or disclose what I look like. I signed in as Mandy. When I leave, I'll still be Mandy. I might be young, but I'm far from ignorant. Where this money came from will forever stay between the two of us. I realize you'll need to document the donation for your books, but that's as far as my name will go. I will forever remain an anonymous donor. Conner's bills will be paid by an anonymous donation."
"By the end of the week, your friend will have a statement showing a zero balance. If you give me a few minutes, I'll have my secretary type something out for you."
As soon as Chloe put her car in gear, her phone rang.
"Babe, I'm trying to get supplies delivered and my truck died and needs a jump."
"Give me directions and I'll be there right away. Besides, I would never pass up an opportunity to jump you."
Matthew smiled and felt enormous relief. He was hoping Chloe wasn't mad at him for getting so angry the night before. He wished he could have stopped by her apartment this morning to apologize, but he was already running forty-five minutes late for work. "Does that mean you'll talk dirty to get me in the car?"
Chloe laughed and told him she loved him. Even though he was being flirty, her mind stayed focused on her next plan. She knew her time was running out.
Finding Matthew wasn't difficult, and after jumping his truck, she headed to the dealership. She'd definitely need someone who'd do anything for a few bucks. Bob.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Chloe scanned the used car lot until she spotted Bob. He was wearing the same suit, only a bit more wrinkled. He was eyeing a young mother up and down while she looked inside of an old car. For God sakes, she's carrying a baby! You're such a pig, Bob. Chloe watched as the young mother shook her head no and walked away. His eyes were glued to her backside. Chloe got out of her car and waved at him. She really wanted to slap him but refrained.
"I remember you! Did you decide to come and buy that gem we looked at?"
"What gem, Bob?"
"Uh, I can't remember, but I show everyone good cars."
"Look, I know you wouldn't mind making some cash on the side, so I'm going to offer you the deal of a lifetime. Can you sell new cars as well?"
"I don't get to work over there that often, but I can. What did you have in mind?"
The pig was all winks and smiles while Chloe gave him the details. He stared at her chest the whole time. She'd feel sorry for Bob if he wasn't such a creeper.
"Let me get this straight. You want me to make up a fake contest, and you're going to buy a truck and this Matthew guy will win it?"
"Yes. You'll still get your commission, and I get to help the guy out. You have to promise to keep this secret. Make up a fake entry form and fake congratulations letter on dealership stationary."
"And I get cash on the side?"
"I'll give you a grand, Bob."
"How about a grand and a little … well you know."
"Do you want a thousand dollars plus commission or not? I'm never touching you … ever."
Chloe sat at Bob's desk while he took off to find leftover entry forms from previous contests. The forms didn't announce the prizes, which was a good thing. He came back twenty minutes later and sold her a brand new Chevy Silverado 2500 HD in Victory Red. Chloe had it fully insured for five years and made sure she had the best warranty. The truck was loaded.
"When do I get my money?"
"You'll get it when the truck's delivered. You're going to be the one to deliver it." Chloe wrote down 'Matthew Sharp' on a piece of paper, along with his address. "Here's my number too. You call when the truck comes in."
Chloe picked up the entry form and went back to the apartment. Hopefully Matthew wouldn't learn about his bank account balance before he got his new truck. His old Chevy was a deathtrap, and the last thing she wanted was to have him stranded in this neighborhood. The old truck didn't even have heat, which definitely wasn't good for driving in Michigan winters.
Matthew didn't show up until almost nine that night. He was totally exhausted. Chloe could tell he was struggling to keep his eyes open, but Matthew wanted to thank her.
"That lasagna dinner was great, babe, we really enjoyed it. Thank you so much. I haven't had a meal like that in a long time. Mario's is a fabulous restaurant, but they're very expensive. You didn't need to spend your money like that."
"I just wanted to do something nice." Chloe reached in her purse and pulled out the entry form. "Look what I grabbed at the grocery store. It's an entry form for a contest. You could win a huge truck!"
"What kind? You should enter it yourself, Chloe. You could use a new vehicle too, and besides, I never win anything." Matthew laughed.
"There's no way I'm driving that big of a pickup."
"Damn, I could use a new one of those. I guess it wouldn't hurt to fill it out. Where do I drop the form off at?"
"I forgot to grab something while I was out, so I'll turn it in tomorrow for you."
Matthew took a pen from his front pocket and filled it out. "Could you imagine if I won? They'd hear me howling all the way to Texas. I'm not sure if I could afford to insure it though."
"Let's just see what happens." Chloe's anxiety was rising. Losing him would be so painful, but having him walk away and return everything she'd given him would be unbearable. No one was more deserving than Matthew … no one.
Matthew was working long hours every day trying to make enough money to carry him over until next spring. His friend John worked some hours at a local hardware store when roofing season ended and only got that job because the owner was a relative. Finding employment was difficult. He'd tried on several occasions to find a job like John's, but he couldn't afford to work for minimum wage. Matthew wasn't about to let his father's roofing company go belly up. He was hoping for heavy snowfall this winter, even though plow hours were nasty. Trying to juggle crazy shifts, with caring for his father, wasn't an easy thing to do. Sometimes he worked all night and slept very little. It was grueling, but at least he could catch up on some bills. No matter what it took, Matthew was willing to do anything to take care of his father.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Chloe called Sherry and agreed to start her new job. She didn't know how hard the work would be, but it was a new experience for her. Becky called before her shift was to start.
"You're going to get up every morning at seven-thirty?"
"I get up at seven, but it doesn't bother me. I'm just so excited to actually have a real job!"
"I take it she knows your real name then? Did she agree to keep it quiet?"
"It wasn't much of an application. She doesn't have my real name."
"Chloe, there's a thing called taxes."
"She's paying me cash for just a couple days a week. I won't even make enough money to pay taxes. Besides, Sherry is doing the best she can. She loves her tenants, throws no one out, and works with people. She owns the building, so I'm not worried about it."
"Matthew still hasn't figured out who you are?"
"No, but that'll happen any day now."
"Let me guess, you sent him money?"
"Not quite … " Chloe explained as much as she could with the little time she had left before work.
"I'm proud of you, love. You're such a good person. If and when he does find out, I'll be behind you a hundred percent."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Sherry had a hot cup of coffee in her hand and held it out for Chloe. She gratefully accepted it and sat at the table with her new boss. She wrote down the tasks she had to do, then set off to find the supply closet. Being in the hallway gave her a headache at first, but after a short while she didn't notice the smells. She got to know some of the tenants when they went in and out of their apartments. They were all kind.
While Chloe cleaned, her mind churned. Even though she knew that keeping Matthew wasn't going to be an option once he found out, it hurt her just the same. Preparing herself for such a horrible loss was so hard, and just the thought of it brought her to tears.