AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My parents would wish the world for me and more.
But it had taken losing Blake again to realize only I could change my destiny.
I didn’t need to let my past define me; I needed to let it shape me and mold me and push me to go after the things I wanted.
But I needed to do this my way.
Baby steps.
The apartment seemed like a good place to start. Money was in short demand, and moving out wasn’t an option, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t at least try to make the most of the place.
After showering and changing into leggings and a baggy sweater, I texted Marissa to say thank you for stopping by and then grabbed my purse.
Operation egg roll was about to commence.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Penny
Another month came and went,and I replaced lavender with cinnamon and pumpkin.
Thanksgiving was right around the corner, and it was the first year I had bothered to embrace the tradition. An oak wreath hung on the door, not that anyone ever came to visit except Marissa on the odd occasion, and I had the cutest pumpkin display in the window.
She invited me to spend the holidays with her and her family, but I declined. Mary needed extra staff over the weekend, and I was saving up to move out of the apartment.
It was going to take a long time… a really long time until I could afford anything nice, but I wanted more.
I’d been working for Mary for almost three months. Since the black-tie gala dinner at the country club, I only worked at events in Clintonville and the north/northeast areas of the city.
I didn’t run into Blake or Brittany again. But I did find a new friend in Tara. She worked full-time for Mary, and with me picking up all the shifts I could, our paths crossed on a regular basis.
“Penny, wait up,” Tara said as people filtered out of the staff room.
It had been a long shift serving an early Thanksgiving feast to sixty veterans, and I just wanted to get back to the apartment, take a shower, and sleep.
“Mary asked me to ask you if you could cover for Milly tomorrow night. Cody’s sick, and she can’t get a sitter.”
“It’s my only day off all holiday weekend,” I groaned, a painful burn shooting through my feet and into my ankles.
Spending hours on your feet was no joke.
“It’s an easy job out in Powell. There’s a Thanksgiving banquet fundraiser at The Grand.”
“A hotel?” Tara nodded. “Black tie?” I asked, zipping up my parka. The weather had taken a cold turn recently and having to walk everywhere or catch the bus now required layers.
“No.” Tara shook her head as she jammed her hands in her knitted mitts. “It’s a local organization raising money for some charity, I can’t remember the details. But it’s pretty low-key. Nothing you can’t handle.”
I rolled my eyes. Tara knew I wouldn’t say no. Nothing was a deal-breaker unless I heard the words Upper Arlington or West Lake and Associates.
“Okay, I’ll do it. Have Mary text me the details. I need to get back and sleep.”
Tara gave me one of her half-smiles and waved me off. With each step, I winced. My feet were on fire, and I was almost certain that when I removed my shoes there would be gaping holes.
The ice underfoot taunted me as I stepped out onto the sidewalk, and I almost tore off my shoes and walked the short distance home barefoot.
It didn’t take long to reach The Oriental Garden. For once, I was relieved to get back to the apartment. Everything was quieter at this time of year. Students returned home for the holiday weekend, and local businesses, especially the bars, remained empty.
Bernie’s still saw a few regulars pass through its doors, but there wasn’t the usual horde of students overflowing onto the street.
