"Godfrey's at the age where he should be settling down. His girlfriend's family wants them to buy a place first. The apartment's not expensive. The down payment is only two hundred thousand." She paused. "I really can't come up with that kind of money. Is there any way you could help out?"
"Don't worry. Once Godfrey's on his feet financially, he'll pay you back."
No IOU this time.
I thought about what I needed to say next, digging my nails into my palms, but the stress response hit me anyway.
My body shook uncontrollably. My breathing came faster and faster.
I grabbed my bag and stumbled into the bathroom, turning on the faucet. With trembling hands, I splashed ice-cold water on my face and swallowed a Buspirone.
The face in the mirror was ashen, gaunt, trembling in a way I couldn't stop.
Twenty-seven years old, with the face of a forty-year-old woman.
Once I'd calmed down enough, I walked back out.
I looked at their expectant faces and said:
"I can't come up with two hundred thousand dollars either."
Caroline stared at me, disappointment hardening into anger, her voice rising without pretense:
"The restaurant's doing so well. How can you not come up with two hundred thousand?"