Chapter 5

Before school started, I took Grandma to the address on the note.

It was a cozy little place used for restoration at the end of an old street, with a faded wooden sign hanging above the entrance: "Newton Art Restoration Studio."

As I pushed the door open, an old man in a gray shirt looked up from inside.

He saw me, and the tweezers in his hand slipped onto the table. His eyes widened. "You look exactly like her."

Grandma instantly stepped in front of me, protective. "Who are you?"

The old man bent down to pick up the tweezers, his voice hoarse. "I'm Kaysen Newton. Your mother learned mounting from me when she was young."

I pulled the letter out of my bag. "Is this from you?"

"I didn't write it," Kaysen said, pointing to the back room. "Your mother left it here over ten years ago. She said if you chose the path of restoration, I should give it to you."

I opened the letter. There were only a few lines inside.

[Lottie, don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, don't worry about taking it slow, and don't listen to anyone who says it's pointless.

[If you can piece torn paper back together, you can piece yourself back together too.]

I stared at those words without saying a word for a long time.

Grandma turned away to wipe her eyes, but her voice was still tough. "Gone far too soon, yet she still found a way to leave us with these tear-jerkers."

Kaysen opened a cabinet and took out a long box. "These are the tools she left behind. If you want to learn, I'll teach you. If not, I'll keep them safe for her until the day I die."

I reached out and took the box. When I opened it, I saw a set of brushes, a cutter, a ruler, and an old seal, all neatly arranged inside.

Grandma asked, "Are these worth anything?"

Kaysen laughed. "To those who understand, they're worth a lot. But to most folks, they're some old wood and knives, nothing but junk."

Someone approached the door, footsteps echoing. "Mr. Newton, I'm here to pick up my artwork."

It was Melissa. She froze when she saw me.

She walked in, with Andrew following close behind.

Andrew's brows knitted when he saw the box in my hands. "What are you doing here?"

I closed the box. "Just passing by."

Melissa quickly put on a smile. "Charlotte, you like old stuff too? What a coincidence. My competition piece is being mounted here."

Kaysen's expression turned a bit cooler. "Miss Hughes, your painting's on the table. Please settle the balance."

Melissa paused mid-motion, her hand hovering over her bag.

Andrew immediately pulled out his phone. "I'll pay."

Kaysen refused. "Whoever brought it pays. I don't let people pay for others here."

Melissa's face fell. "Mr. Newton, I forgot to bring money today. I'll pay you next time."

Kaysen pointed at the sign by the door. "No credit here; pay as you go. That's how small businesses work."

Andrew's voice turned cold. "How much is it? I'll pay."

Kaysen looked up at him. "Young man, didn't you hear me?"

Grandma coughed, clearly trying not to laugh.

Melissa's face turned bright red.

She dug through her bag for ages before finally pulling out a few crumpled bills. "I'm short by one hundred dollars. I'll bring it tomorrow."

Kaysen took the painting and put it back on the shelf. "Then come back tomorrow to pick it up."

Melissa got anxious. "No, I have to submit my artwork tomorrow."

Andrew turned to me. "Charlotte, got any cash? Can you help her out?"

I looked at him. He always expected me to help him. I said, "Nope."

Andrew wasn't convinced. "Didn't your grandma just withdraw your tuition money for you?"

Grandma's expression changed instantly. "Andrew, why are you keeping tabs on our money?"

Andrew looked awkward. "I didn't mean it like that."

Melissa gently tugged at his arm. "Forget it. If Charlotte doesn't want to, let's drop it."

I turned to Kaysen. "Mr. Newton, I'll take the tools with me and come back to learn another day."

Kaysen nodded. Andrew stepped in front of me. "Come on, it's just a hundred dollars. Do you have to make such a fuss?"

I shot back, "You two are adults and can't scrape together a hundred dollars, and I'm the one making a fuss?"

The guy sanding a wooden frame in the shop couldn't help but snicker quietly.

Melissa was getting desperate and began frantically calling her classmates for a loan.

She kept calling, but nobody answered.

Kaysen sat back down at his desk. "Miss Hughes, settle up before sunset, or you'll have to come back tomorrow for your painting."

Andrew looked at me like I was the bad guy. "Charlotte, you weren't like this before."

I hugged the box and headed for the door. "I used to be blind."

Grandma chimed in, "But she's not blind anymore."

Andrew's face turned stormy.

As I walked out of the old street, I heard Melissa softly sobbing inside the shop, saying she didn't mean to come up short.

Kaysen's voice was calm. "Crying won't pay off your debt."

That was a great comeback.

In my previous life, I shed countless tears over Andrew and Melissa, but not a single tear ever settled a debt.

In this life, everyone would have to pay their own way. I was done carrying their debts.