Chapter 9: Financial Troubles

The first thing that came to my mind was Maddie!

"Mom? Dad? What's going on? Did something happen to Maddie?" I asked, hysterical while I looked down at my wrist watch, checking the time. There was still about two hours before Maddie would return home from school.

Mom looked up at me then, actually surprised to see me.

"Oh, you're home. I didn't hear you come in." Mom said, giving me a smile I knew for sure was forced.

Dad looked up then too, but he didn't pretend to smile, he just stared at me but I knew he wasn't really seeing me.

"What's wrong? Why were you both lost in thought?" I asked with concern.

Mom waved it off.

"We're fine. How was work? Did you have a lot of customers today?"

"Barely."

"I worry for Mr. Sam. We should remember to say a prayer for his business."

"I know, mom. But that's not important right now, I know something is clearly up with you two. I'm asking what it is."

Mom turned away from me to Dad, staring at him as the sad expression returned to her face.

Dad blinked and actually looked at me this time.

"Welcome home, Cindy. You should eat and rest first." He said to me for the first time. I didn't like it, my parents have always been like that, keeping things from me. I could understand why they wouldn't share their troubles with me when I was a kid, but I'm an adult now, I could help.

"And then you'll tell me what's wrong? Is it Maddie?"

"Maddie? She's in school, she's fine." Mom replied.

"Then what is it? My grandparents?"

"Stop worrying about us, we can handle ourselves." Dad said in a dismissive tone, but I was having none of that. I walked over to the sofa close to the couch they sat on, facing them.

"I'm your daughter, it's my duty to worry about my parents. And you keep forgetting I'm no longer a child, you can't keep hiding things from me."

"Cindy..." Dad began.

"Why don't we just tell her? What's the use of hiding it from her, one way or the other, she'll find out soon." Mom said, interrupting Dad.

"It's none of her business, we're her parents, we..."

"The bakery is falling apart and we're on the brink of going bankrupt." Mom blurted out before Dad could finish. He frowned at her, but she kept her eyes on me, not bothered.

"Bankrupt? How? I thought business was going well."

"Business hasn't been going well for a year now, Cindy. If nothing is done, we'll lose the bakery and maybe the house, we're already in debt." Mom said sadly, looking down at her hands.

"No way."

"Stop scaring her, we're not going bankrupt and we won't lose anything. Not the bakery and definitely not our house. I'll find a way."

"But Dad, why didn't you say anything to me? This is really serious."

"I'm the parent here, Cindy. Why should I burden my child with my responsibilities?"

"We're a family and I have a job. I have my savings, I could give it to..."

"Out of the question. I told you I'll handle it and that's what I'll do. You've been saving up for college, there's no way I can take that away from you. I've already failed you by not keeping aside funds for your education and now you want me to take money you've worked so hard for away from you? It's not possible."

"The bakery and our house is far more important than college, I can go to college anytime, but we can't be homeless. I mean, you've had the bakery before I was born, it'll be so heartbreaking if we lose it. You have to take my savings, I insist."

Dad turned to mom, frowning again.

"See why I didn't want to tell her? Now I feel incompetent, having my child offer me her life savings."

"Being your child doesn't mean I can't help out if I'm in a position to. Mom, dad, you've both looked out for me my whole life, what I'm offering is really tiny compared to all that. You know, rather than paying for college, I can apply for online classes, it's cheaper and it means I don't really have to move away from home, dorm and feeding expenses must be a lot. I can take up another part time job to get more income..."

"Not happening, it's bad enough that you have a job, you can't take up another one."

"Argh! Dad, do I have to remind you again that I'm an adult. Would you rather have a freeloader for a daughter?"

"Freeloader? You could be a hundred years old and I still won't mind providing for you. You'll always be my little girl."

"But..."

"Cindy, that's enough. Your father is right." Mom said, cutting me off. "You wanted to know what was wrong and we've confided in you, it doesn't mean we need your help. You don't have to worry about us, keep doing what you're doing, go to college, it is your goal afterall."

"I can still..."

"Enough. Have some faith in us, we'll pull through."

I didn't like it, I didn't like it one bit, but I knew there was no arguing with them, my parents could be really stubborn and guarded when it comes to matters like this. I had to just listen to them and pray that some miracle happens and we don't lose anything.

"Okay, but know that my offer still stands. You can rely on me sometimes, that's what makes us family."

"We know. Also, don't mention any of this to Maddie. If you're insisting so much on giving us your college money, who knows if she'll offer to dropout from school and get a job?" Dad was teasing, but I couldn't find the will to smile.

I was worried, deeply worried. But I didn't know how else to help them. Maybe I should still go ahead with my plan behind their backs? But how? There was no way to anonymously give them the money.

Yes, college was important to me, but my family was more important.

I was conflicted.