My Sponsored Junior Set Me Up

Wendy Lane looked at me. Insatiable greed filled her gaze.

I looked at her with an uneasy sense of unfamiliarity.

Seeing me staring blankly, she stepped closer. “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

“No.” I forced down the rising nausea and turned to touch Xeno Franklin’s head.

The child I had raised for six years turned his head away to avoid my hand. He glanced past Wendy and asked, “Mom, where’s Mr. Carter? Didn’t he say he would come see me?”

He was openly cold and distant with me, but completely warm and affectionate when he mentioned Matthew Carter.

A sharp pang stabbed my heart again.

“He’ll be here soon,” Wendy said with a reassuring smile. She turned to me and got straight to the point. “Honey, about the school district apartment, you…”

My voice was tight. “Even the older apartments near the top elementary school cost 6,000 to 7,000 dollars per square foot. 3,000,000 dollars won’t even cover the down payment. That’s a huge burden.”

“Oh, honey, you have to keep the long-term in mind!” Wendy interrupted me. “Investing in Xeno’s education is the best investment for his future. Why worry about the monthly payment? Isn’t your company still bringing in profit?”

“But—”

“No buts!” Wendy frowned, and her voice grew sharp. “Jason, just answer this. What matters more, Xeno or money? You’re not refusing to spend on Xeno, are you?”

Her words stabbed me like a needle.

For six years, I had given everything to this family and to Xeno. She knew that better than anyone.

She had used these facts to corner me.

I clenched the bedsheet and was about to speak when the door opened again.

Matthew walked in carrying a fruit basket. “How’s Xeno? I was so worried!”

He went straight to the other side of the bed and watched Xeno closely. The concern in his eyes looked even more genuine than mine as a father.

Wendy’s face softened immediately. “The doctor said the surgery went very well. It was really hard on him.”

“Surgery is painful,” Matthew turned to me and said in a matter-of-course tone, “Jason, you need to get him plenty of nice things to help him recover.”

When I did not respond, he continued, “By the way, I think I overheard you talking about a school district apartment at the door.”

Wendy quickly chipped in. “I was just discussing it with Jason. I was thinking we could use his mom’s relocation compensation to buy a place in the district of a top elementary school, but Jason had some concerns.”

Matthew frowned. “Jason, you really need to listen to Wendy. Xeno’s future is the most important factor. He’s so smart. He can’t afford to fall behind right from the start.

“Don’t you agree, Xeno?”

Xeno looked at Matthew and pouted. He whined, “Mr. Carter… it hurts…”