Chapter 12 - Jude Made Sasha Earn the Apology
Renee finally came to our house.
She brought the $2,200 cashier’s check.
Jude sat at the kitchen table.
His savings notebook was beside him.
Renee began:
“I’m sorry everything got so out of hand.”
Jude looked at me.
I said nothing.
He looked back at her.
“What are you sorry for?”
Renee blinked.
“For the bike.”
“What about it?”
I nearly intervened.
Then stopped.
This was his conversation.
Renee swallowed.
“I took it without asking.”
“And?”
“I let Sasha ride it.”
“And?”
“I told her to do the wheelie.”
Sasha sat beside her mother.
Eyes down.
Renee continued.
“And when it crashed, I acted like it didn’t matter.”
Jude looked at the check.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why didn’t it matter?”
Renee struggled.
Finally:
“Because I was thinking about Sasha.”
“That doesn’t answer it.”
No, it didn’t.
Renee looked toward me.
I refused to rescue her.
Then she said:
“Because I thought your aunt would forgive me.”
Jude frowned.
“My mom.”
“Yes.”
“You thought Mom would forgive you, so my stuff didn’t matter?”
Renee’s face broke.
“That’s what I acted like.”
Jude nodded.
Then accepted the check.
No hug.
No:
It’s okay.
Because it wasn’t.
Sasha spoke next.
“I’m sorry too.”
Jude looked at her.
“I know.”
She seemed surprised.
“I shouldn’t have ridden it.”
“No.”
“I shouldn’t have done the wheelie.”
“No.”
“I’m going to work and pay Mom back for part of the repair.”
Jude shook his head.
“Aunt Renee paid.”
“I know.”
“Then save your money.”
Sasha stared.
“For what?”
“Your own bike.”
Everyone laughed except Renee.
Jude didn’t.
“I’m serious.”
Then:
“Don’t touch mine again.”
Sasha nodded.
May you like
“Deal.”
It was the first boundary in this family nobody negotiated.
