It was brief, but it changed the room.
When Lily had finished feeding, Clara burped her gently and laid her in the portable crib. The baby settled beneath a soft blanket printed with little stars.
Clara turned back to Ethan.
“I don’t have the fifty dollars right now,” she said. “But I get paid on Friday. I can send it to you then. Please leave me your name and address.”
“You don’t owe me fifty dollars.”
“I can’t accept something for nothing.”
“Then don’t think of it as something for nothing. Think of it as a kindness that you can pass along when you’re in a position to help someone else.”
Clara shook her head.
“You don’t understand. I’ve already borrowed money from people. I hate owing anyone.”
Ethan looked at the eviction notices on the table.
“Then perhaps we should talk about something more important than fifty dollars.”
Her expression changed.
