Four

Ivy's Pov

“Deposit?” I whispered, my hands beginning to shake.

“Yes. Once the deposit is received and financial clearance is complete, we can proceed with the transplant.”

My heart pounded. This was the moment I’d been praying for, a matching kidney had finally been found but I no longer had the money.

“I… I’ll get back to you as soon as possible,” I stammered.

“Please do. Time is important. Also, our records show we haven’t received payment for your grandmother’s dialysis session this week. She’ll need dialysis until the transplant takes place.”

“I’ll make sure it’s paid today,” I promised, though I had no idea how.

After the call ended, I began thinking. Then to add to my problem there was a knock on the door. It was my landlord, asking for his rent.

I was four months overdue, because I’d been foolishly sending the money to Joe, hoping to get it back and pay all my debts.

I promised to have his rent by the end of the week. He studied me for a long moment before nodding.

“One week, Ivy. After that, you have to leave.”

After he left I collapsed into my sofa. I badly needed money and had no idea where to get it. After much thought I decide to go back to Joe and beg him to give me some of the money, at least to pay my rent and the dialysis.

It was humiliating but I had no choice. I didn’t tell Tess when she came to check on me that morning because I knew she won’t approve. I quickly got cleaned up and headed to his office. I was told he'd taken time off work. Confused , I went to his place. He wasn’t there either. I logged into social media to get information, and wasn’t surprised to see he and Chloe had blocked me. I decided to check pages of our mutual friends. One had reposted a tweet from Chloe.

Off to Florida for a vacay with my fiance.

Attached was a picture of she and Joe, taken this morning. They were smiling and looking happy.

My heart shattered as I realized my money was gone for good. Dejected, I went back to my apartment. I met Tess about to head out, holding her cat Liam.

“Ivy, what happened? You are back early.” She said.

“I asked to leave, I wasn’t feeling well.” I lied.

“I understand. You should rest. We’ll talk later I’m going shopping now, can you watch Liam?”

I nodded and took the cat to my apartment. I’d barely sat down when my phone beeped with notifications from friends asking why Chloe was now dating Joe. I read them and tears of humiliation stung my eyes. I turned off the phone and threw it besides me. Miserably, I looked out the window. All I needed to do was jump out of it and all my sorrows would be over, I thought. Then I felt Liam rubbing against my leg, meowing softly as if to say, please don’t do it.

Crying softly I picked him up and held him close to my heart.

“You are right Liam. I’m braver than that. I’ll get through this. They won’t win.” I whispered.

That evening I went to work and went to see Eric, our manager. I told him my grandmother’s situation and asked for some money.

“I’ll work here till I pay it off.” I promised.

“I’m sorry about your grandmother,” he said sympathetically, “I’d love to help. But business is really slow this period. I don’t have that kind of money. Let’s see what happens at the end of the month.”

I nodded and thanked him. I went back to work still thinking my next option. Jenny slid up to me.

“What’s up? Your face is as long as a rope.” She asked.

“Joe and I broke up.” I said briefly. Knowing she won’t shut up if I didn’t tell her something.

“Serious? Wow! Sorry but not surprised. Cheer up, I have good news.” She lowered her voice, “that guy from yesterday was here this evening, just before you came in. He was asking about you.”

“What? I hope you didn’t tell him anything?”

“Not much. Just a few basics, like your name.”

“Why? You have no business discussing about me to strangers.” I said angrily.

“Well I had to say something, it would have been stupid to stare when he was asking questions. Besides you should be happy. He is rich and you are single now. Something good can start between you two.”

I turned and walked off because I knew if I stayed I might punch her. I had no intention of dating anyone ever. Men were all scum and I was done with them.

After my shift I walked home, still thinking how to get money to settle all my bills. I was half way when I noticed someone was following me. I couldn’t see their face till we walked under a street light and my heart skipped. It was the man from yesterday. What did he want? Whatever, I wasn’t interested. I began walking faster. He realized I’d made him and hurried after me. I didn’t want him to follow me home so I turned a corner hoping to lose him but it was a dead end.

“Wait, I want to talk to you.” He said coming up behind me.

I turned.

“Stay away from me! I’m not interested in anything you have to say you creep.”

“Even if it’s to help you with Grandma Judy’s medical bills?” He asked.

I gasped.

"How do you know about my grandmother?” I demanded.

“Because I spent the last two days investigating you.”

My blood ran cold.

“What?”

“I know your name is Ivy Carter. You’re twenty-four. You work at Maple Street Diner. Your rent is four months overdue. Your grandmother is waiting for a kidney transplant, and yesterday your boyfriend threw you out in the rain.”

I stared at him. “Who are you?”

“Someone trying to help you solve your problem.”

“By stalking me?”

“It was the only way. Look I know you need alot of money Ivy. And I also know someone that can give it to you.”

“Who?” I asked.

“My employer. Come with me and I’ll take you to see them right now.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Yeah right! You think I’m stupid enough to follow a creepy stranger like you to who-knows-where. No thank you.”

“I am not going to harm you. I want to help you.”

“Why? What’s in it for you?”

“You will find out.”

“Forget it. I’m not going.”

“Maybe this will convince you.” He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to me. I took it cautiously. Inside was a receipt showing Grandma’s dialysis had been paid that afternoon.

My jaw dropped.

“My employer paid it.” He said. “Now can you please come with me and hear my employer out.”

“What if I don’t like the offer?”

“I’ll take you home. No one is going to force you to do anything you don’t want to.”

I considered it. It sounded risky, but for my grandmother I was willing to take any risk.

“Okay,” I sighed. “Take me to your employer.”