Chapter 5

The night air had turned cool, and the spider plant on the balcony swayed gently in the breeze.

Edward was in no hurry to answer. He turned and went back inside, brewed a fresh pot of hot tea, and carried it out.

He filled both cups and pushed one, steaming, in front of William.

"Sit down. You can't rush hot tofu into your mouth."

William made himself sit, but his hands wouldn't stop shaking. It was the sign of a man pushed to the edge of his nerves.

"You know, William, when you get to our age and look back, what a kid actually needs isn't much."

Edward lifted his cup and blew softly at the froth.

"You always used to laugh at me. Said I had no ambition, that all I cared about was a wife and kids and a warm house. But you don't know how hard that warm house is to get right."

He set the cup down and looked at William, his gaze deep.

"Money can solve the problem of survival. It can't solve the problem of aliveness. Strictness can enforce the rules. It can't win a heart."

William hung on every word. He felt like he'd almost grasped something, but there was a thin sheet of paper between him and it, and no matter how he tried, he couldn't break through.

"Edward, just tell me straight."

His voice trembled a little, edged with pleading.

"What is it? What does your home have that mine doesn't? If it'll save my son, I'll sell the house. I mean it."

Edward looked at his old friend, once so full of drive, now with defeat written all over his face, and it sat heavy in his own chest.

He leaned in a little and lowered his voice, and there was a weariness and wisdom in his tone that only someone who'd been through it could carry.

"William, selling the house won't do a thing. This isn't something you can buy with money."

"Really, once you say it plainly, there's nothing mysterious about it at all. Whether a kid does well later, whether he makes something of himself, whether he can be happy, it all comes down to three things."

William held his breath. His body tipped forward on its own, his eyes locked on Edward's lips.

"Which three?"

Edward began slowly, and every word landed like a hammer against William's heart.

"The first one is……"