I'm a cold-hearted bastard

“Alison,” I murmur softly into her sweet-smelling hair when her sobbing slowly subsides. “I have a suggestion about how we can settle the account for last month’s rent.” It takes her a minute to understand what I’m saying, but when she does she pulls back so she can see my face.”

“You mean it Mr. P?” Her tear-streaked face breaks into the beautiful smile I’ve been missing these past few days. “You mean you’ll give me more time to find a real job?” Alison takes your hand in hers and squeezes it fiercely, “I'll do anything!”

“Good, because I was thinking that there is something you could help me out right here in the house.” Alison nods eagerly, but before I tell her what I have in mind I remind her of my refrain. “I want you to remember that this is a 'no judgement house,' can you do that?”

“Of course, Mr. P” Her eyes are wide with excitement. “But what can I do? You already cook, clean and do your own laundry way better than I ever could.” It is true. I have always been a little compulsive about my home; even before Fran was killed I did almost all the cooking and housework myself.

“There is one thing that I can't do on my own.” I chuckle good-naturedly at her confusion and I take her chin in my hand; it isn't until I gently kiss her soft lips that she finally understands what I am suggesting.

“Mr. Patterson!” She pulls away, her chest heaving. The way her breasts push upward against the thin fabric of her nightgown only adds to my determination to carry through with this plan. “You have no right!” I am breathing hard myself as I reflect on how sweet her lips had felt fluttering in surprise beneath mine.

“Well Alison, I have some right.” I remind her firmly, “You still haven’t given me September’s rent.” She bites her lower lip between her teeth and shakes her head slowly sending making her hair move in soft waves across her shoulders. “And now you are more than a week late with October’s rent.”

“Mr. P, I told you - I’ll get you the money.” She wipes her cheek with the back of her hand and sits up straighter. “I was brought up to believe in paying my debts, and I will, but not like that.”

Instead of arguing with her about how I was going to get paid when she didn’t even have a job, I shift my focus to how much she has to lose if she was kicked out of my house. “I’d hate to be the reason you have to leave Wesleyan and go back to Tennessee.” Instead of kissing her again like I want to, I give her space and time to think. The last thing I need is to have this lovely coed calling the cops on me. “Look Alison, you’re not the only one having trouble making ends meet, I get it. I was trying to find a way out of this mess for both of us, but I want to make sure you understand this is entirely your choice.”

“Thank-you, Mr. Patterson for clarifying your position,” With her doe-eyes and stiff posture Alison looks a little like a rabbit caught in a trap, perhaps because of her fear she falls back on what almost certainly was drilled into her by the nuns. “My body is a sacred temple. I can’t let it be defiled like that.” I am wondering what Dick thinks of this sacred temple of hers and how that lucky shit feels abut defiling it when I realize that she is still speaking “... looking for a waitressing job again tomorrow, and I’ll get you the money I owe - with interest.” I don’t have the heart to tell her that it is not her money that I am after.

“That might take a while if the second wave is as bad as some of the experts are predicting.” I warn gently, despite the desire I have to pull her into my arms again and kiss her until she surrenders I keep my hands at my sides. My warning obviously shakes the sweet girl, and I see the knuckles on her fingers whiten.

“It won’t be that bad, Mr. P?” She asks in a breathy whisper “will it?”

“I hope not, Honey.” This time I do pat her leg lightly, feeling the silky softness of her skin just above her knee but pull my hand away before she can object. “I just think we have to start thinking about practical solutions.” She clearly still nervous but nods her head in agreement. “Would your parents cosign a loan with you?" Her beautiful eyes cloud briefly, and she lowers her gaze to her lap. That's exactly what I thought. From what I've gathered of her family life, Alison's father was not pleased to see her move away, and would like nothing more than to have his little girl come home with her tail between her legs. I'm not surprised when she shakes her head.

“There may be some scholarships you can apply for...” I try to sound like a caring decent person, but Alison shakes her head again.

“I checked Mr. P, they're all for next year.” I take a deep breath and hide the smile that wants to burst from my face. I’m a rotten bastard, I'll admit it, but this is too good to pass up on.

“Then frankly, I don’t see that you have much choice.” I tell her as kindly as I can. “I’m not asking you to make a decision right now, but I think you should at least consider my offer.”