Page 35 of Devotion

When I sit down, he jumps right into it. “So who works in your household? You do, of course.” He jots down the number of monthly credits that get sent home to my family for my role as partner. “And your father and mother both work?”

“Yes. And my grandfather.”

I give him the number of credits each of them earn and also what my uncle used to, and then we go over the rent due on their home and the other standard monthly budget items.

“So you see?” I say when we’ve added everything up. “They’re never going to be able to make it in that house without my uncle’s income.”

Gabriel is shaking his head at the numbers he’s written on the paper. “That’s an unforgivably high rent.”

“It’s a house behind walls in the Capital. It’s the cheapest rent possible here.”

“Yeah. I guess.” He looks vaguely annoyed, but I know him well now. I know that expression isn’t aimed at me. “Well, the easiest thing would be for me to give you a raise. Can I do that?”

“No. You can give me credits to use on purchases, but nothing more than the standard monthly rate can be sent to my family. That’s palace policy.” I’m so touched by the offer I lift a hand to my chest. It feels like my heart is straining toward him.

“Ridiculous. Well then, someone else’s income needs to increase.”

“But there’s no way. My family is labor class, and my dad is already earning the highest he’s allowed for his class. We’re lucky to even be living behind the wall. We never would have been able to do it at all if my uncle hadn’t lived with us.”

“Your father can read and write well. Correct?”

“Yes. He’s the one who taught me.” I’m frowning, confused by the inquiry.

“Can he speak Spanish?”

“Of course. We’ve always lived in the Capital. He’s fluent in both English and Spanish, and he can read and write in both languages.”

“What about math? Is he good with numbers?”

“Yes. They’re not his favorite thing, but he can do the basics plus fractions and percentages and long division and all that. He made me and Carrie learn too.”

“Okay.” Gabriel tears off the page and folds it, tucking it into the small pocket at the front of his notebook. “Let me work on this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me work on this. I’ll figure something out. Your family won’t have to move.” He sounds confident and matter-of-fact.

“But…” I don’t finish the sentence because it’s clear the conversation is over, but I really don’t understand what to think about all this.

Except Gabriel believes he can fix this overwhelming problem, and he doesn’t want me to worry about it anymore.

I don’t believe his claim. I’m not sure what he can possibly do. But it makes me feel better that he wants to try.

He wants to help when there’s absolutely no reason for him to do so.

“Okay,” I say at last, swallowing over a lump of emotion. “Thank you.”

He frowns at me. “All right. Go to bed and try to get some sleep. I’ve got more work to do here.”

“Okay.” I move the chair back into its normal position, go to the bathroom, splash water on my face, and then quietly slip back into my window nook.

“I am sorry about your uncle,” Gabriel says after I’ve settled myself under my blanket.

“Thank you.”

When I close my eyes, exhaustion suddenly washes over me like a flood. I don’t cry anymore, and it’s not long before I fall asleep.

The following day,Gabriel has private meetings all morning and afternoon, which is very unusual for a Sunday.

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