“A way for you to quit the mall.”
Marcus looked up slowly.
“What?”
“Just hear me out.”
She opened the folder.
“You’re underpaid.”
“Your company takes most of the value from your labor.”
“You already have clients asking for you.”
“If you start your own HVAC service company, even small at first, you can replace the second job within six months.”
Marcus stared at the pages.
Caroline kept going.
“Truck.”
“Inventory.”
“Licensing.”
“Operating reserve.”
“I even found a lender.”
Marcus lifted a hand.
“Stop.”
She stopped.
His expression frightened her.
“You did all this without talking to me?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“That’s the problem.”
“Marcus—”
“You mapped out my life.”
“No.”
“Job.”
“Money.”
“Debt.”
“Business.”
He tapped the folder.
“You turned me into a project.”
Caroline recoiled.
“That is not what I did.”
“What would you call it?”
“Helping.”
“Did I ask?”
The question landed hard.
“No.”
Marcus stood.
“You looked at me working two jobs and decided the poor single father needed saving.”
Caroline’s face changed.
“That’s unfair.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
Her voice rose.
“I did this because I watch you destroy yourself.”
“I watch you work all day, come home, feed Amara, leave again, come back after midnight, then get up at six.”
“You fall asleep sitting up.”
“She asks why you can’t stay home.”
Marcus looked away.
Caroline continued.
“You are one of the best HVAC technicians in this city.”
“You should be working for yourself.”
“I know.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“I know.”
Marcus leaned both hands on the table.
“I’ve thought about it.”
“A thousand times.”
“Then why haven’t you?”
“Because I’m a father.”
“So?”
“So I don’t gamble with her house.”
His voice sharpened.
“I have steady checks.”
“Benefits.”
“Health insurance.”
“If I borrow fifty thousand dollars, buy a truck, stock parts, and fail, I don’t lose some investment.”
“I lose Amara’s security.”
Caroline felt the argument shift beneath her.
“You’re assuming failure.”
“I’m preparing for it.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is when you’re responsible for a child.”
Caroline opened her mouth.
Marcus spoke first.
“You don’t understand that.”
She froze.
He knew immediately.
Too late.
Marcus looked sick with regret.
Caroline’s voice became quiet.
“No.”
“I suppose I don’t.”
“Caroline—”
“You’re right.”
“No.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
She closed the folder.
“I don’t have a child.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“It’s exactly what you meant.”
Marcus reached toward her.
She stepped back.
Caroline’s eyes were bright.