Chapter One
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it Julie…you’re broke,” my accountant Tom says with a frown.
I smile back at him. Tom tells me this every time we meet. I don’t know why he thinks I’ll be shocked by his assessment of my finances.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. But are my taxes done?” I ask.
Tom hands me a small stack of paperwork. “Yes, they are. Tell your brother his are done too.” Tom glances at his computer. “And he only has a few days before they have to be filed.”
I review my tax forms. Pretty sad stuff. I sign my name, Julie Michaels, on the bottom line in blue ink. I hand the paperwork back to Tom and wait as he shuffles the documents around.
I would guess Tom to be around sixty-years-old. He has an awful combover and he wears brown, tweed blazers, but he’s a sweet man and my saving grace.
Tom turns his attention back to me. “Before you leave, let’s talk about your current financial situation.”
Tom has been my accountant for the last ten years. I was only sixteen when he approached me and my brother, Jeremy, at my grandmother’s funeral. As my grandmother’s accountant, Tom knew she left us a small inheritance. He offered to help us, free of charge, to make the money last as long as possible.
“You already told me Tom, I’m broke.”
“Yes, but you’re almost done with law school and you have a few job offers on the table. Any thoughts about what you’ll do after graduation?”
I shrug. “Honestly, I’ve been too busy with work and school to think about it.”
Tom’s forehead wrinkles. “I don’t like you working so much. You have to focus on school.”
I smile. “I need the money Tom. How else am I going to pay off Jeremy’s school debt? The payment for this semester is already past due. They could kick him out any day now.”
Tom wags a finger at me. “Let Jeremy worry about Jeremy. You worry about yourself. Worst case scenario, he delays his graduation a little.”
“No,” I say firmly. “He needs to graduate in a year so he can start law school next fall.”
Tom is unmoved. “Jeremy put himself in this predicament Julie. If he waits until you’re done with law school to finish his undergraduate studies, it would make your life a lot easier.”
I don’t blame Tom for being concerned. My brother and I are complete opposites on the responsibility spectrum. At least we used to be. I worked full-time during college, got excellent grades, and finished a semester early.
Jeremy, on the other hand, flaked out when it came time to start college. He dropped out at least three times and couldn’t hold down a job. But he is back on track. He has one more year of college left and plans on following in my footsteps by going to law school.
I sigh. “Tom, I don’t want to stop his progress.”
Tom’s brow furrows. “Are you worried he’ll fall back into drinking?”
“A little,” I admit. “I have to keep working so we can pay off what he owes the school. They’ve already extended the deadline for us twice. I don’t think they’ll do it again.”
“I understand where you’re coming from Julie, but you need to take care of yourself. Jeremy needs to grow up and handle his own problems.”
“I’m the big sister, remember?” I remind Tom. “It’s my job to look out for him. I’m all he has left.”
Tom’s face softens. “You’ve bent over backwards for your brother. I certainly hope he appreciates it.”
“He does. He’s doing great in school and he’s working full-time. You’ll see when you meet with him. He’s in a much better place.”
Tom heartily disagrees with my decision to bail Jeremy out, but he lets the subject drop. “Fine. Tell your brother to get his butt down here by Friday. In the meantime, I’ll file your taxes.”
“Thanks,” I stand up, then sit back down. “Tom…” I hesitate as he looks up at me. “I just want to say that you have been a lifesaver for the last ten years.” My eyes tear up. “I wouldn’t have made it through of all of this without you.”
Tom’s hazel eyes glisten as he reaches across his desk and pats my hand. “Your grandmother was an amazing person and I enjoyed working with her immensely. Your family has a soft spot in my heart. Helping you and Jeremy has been my pleasure.”
I wipe a tear from my cheek and smile. “Alright, no more mushy stuff. I’m out of here.”
As I stand up, a loud clap of thunder makes me jump.
“Jeez!” I exclaim as I catch my breath. “That scared the crap out of me!”
“It was a loud one,” Tom agrees.
Grabbing my purse, I walk over to Tom’s window and see dark clouds looming above us. Lightening scatters across the sky. It’s going to start pouring any minute.
“Did you park in the underground garage?” Tom asks me.
“Yes. Thank goodness.”
“I heard on the radio this morning we are supposed to get one hell of a storm today. I guess the weatherman was actually right this time.”
I turn back to Tom. “I better get out of here. I have to be to work in forty-five minutes and I’m sure the rain will slow me down.”
Tom walks with me to the elevator. He works for a large CPA firm in downtown Cincinnati. Tom looks a bit out of place in the modern, sleek office, but everyone smiles and says, “Hi” as we pass. I imagine the other accountants see Tom as a mentor. It’s impossible not to like him.
Tom hits the down button for me when we reach the bank of elevators. “Take care of yourself. Your graduation is in what, five weeks?”
“Yep. Graduation is May 19th.”
Tom gives me a side hug. “You’ve worked very hard Julie. The end of your struggles is near.”
I grin. “Can’t come soon enough!”
I step into the elevator and slump against the railing once the doors close. My meetings with Tom are bittersweet. It’s nice to see him, but he reminds me of the life I once had.
My parents died when I was fifteen and my grandmother was our only living relative. She had a strained relationship with my parents, but she didn’t hesitate when Jeremy and I needed her the most. She accepted us into her home with open arms and treated us like we were her own children. A year later, she passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack. When she died, Jeremy and I were on our own.
At the ripe old age of sixteen, I was emancipated and working a full-time job after high school. I’ve been working like crazy ever since. My good grades helped when it came to tuition, but I still had to pay for books and living expenses. My friend Tiffany, my only remaining childhood friend, got me a waitressing job at her dad’s restaurant. The tips are so good, I don’t have to work a second job.
Tom pinched every penny and stretched our money where he could, but the last couple of years have been rough. When I’m done with school, I’ll be good to go. The problem is figuring out how to pay Jeremy’s college tuition bill in the meantime.
Soft music plays in the elevator as it descends from the twentieth floor. It’s a piano medley I’ve heard before, but I don’t know its name. I look at my reflection in the silver doors and run my fingers through my long, blonde hair. I need a haircut, but it’s an expense I can’t afford right now.