Chapter 10 - Consequences Aren't Confetti
Brent worked for a property management company.
That fact had always amused Grandma.
"Man can't manage his own temper," she'd once said, "but apparently he can manage apartments."
By noon, Brent was gone in the SUV.
He came back three hours later alone.
Melissa sat on their front steps with her face in her hands.
Grandma watched through the blinds.
"Don't," I said.
"I'm not doing anything."
"You're peeking."
"I pay taxes on this window."
Later, we learned Brent had been suspended pending review.
Not because of Halloween decorations.
Because the company's name badge was visible in one of the clips where he argued with the reporter, and because several tenants had apparently complained about his behavior before.
Grandma didn't celebrate.
That surprised me.
"I thought you'd be happy."
She kept sorting candy into bowls.
"I wanted him to pay for what he broke. I didn't ask to run his whole life."
"He did that himself."
"Maybe. Doesn't mean I have to clap."
That night, someone placed an envelope under Grandma's mat.
No stamp.
Inside was $300 cash.
And a note.
FOR THE DECORATIONS. LET THIS END.
No signature.
Grandma stared at it.
"That's Brent."
"Probably."
She counted the money once.
Then put it back in the envelope.
"What are you going to do?"
"Return it."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want mystery money."
She crossed the yard.
I followed despite her telling me not to.
Before she reached the Lawsons' porch, their front door opened.
Melissa stood there crying.
"Please," she said. "Just take it."
Grandma stopped.
Melissa looked over her shoulder.
"He doesn't know I gave it to you."
And suddenly the story wasn't as simple as it had been ten seconds earlier.
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