Sam's hands began shaking.
“I can't take this.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No.”
He pushed the envelope slightly toward her.
“I made tea.”
Margaret smiled.
“You did more than that.”
“I said something.”
“When everyone around you had a reason to stay silent.”
“That isn't worth a million dollars.”
“No.”
Margaret agreed.
“Kindness doesn't have a market price.”
Sam looked confused.
“Then why?”
“Because I have spent my life making money from hospitality.”
Her voice softened.
“And one employee reminded me what the word means when my own management forgot.”
Sam's eyes filled.
Margaret continued.
“This is not payment for being decent.”
She pointed toward the documents.
“It is me choosing what to do with resources I have.”
Sam swallowed.
“My mom…”
He stopped.
Tried again.
“My mom is going to be okay?”
Margaret would not promise something no money could guarantee.
“She is going to have access to the care her doctors believe she needs without you trying to work seventy hours a week to keep up.”
Sam covered his face.
His shoulders shook.
Daniel looked away to give him privacy.
Margaret waited.
Eventually, Sam lowered his hands.
“I don't know what to say.”
“You don't have to say anything.”
He looked at her.