“He claims he wants to make up for eight years of neglect.I’m supposed to meet him tomorrow at a place downtown for lunch.”
I didn’t say the restaurant because Mom would know the one, and how expensive and out of reach it was for us to eat at.A restaurant I remembered eating at when I was younger, just after their company went public.
“Are you going?”Mom asked.
“I don’t know.I have some time to think about it.Let’s focus on this first.”I tapped the bills for emphasis.
Rather than spending my morning shopping, I spent it with Mom.We debated the safest way to catch up on all the bills without skipping necessities like food.She reluctantly accepted my deposit bag for an immediate mortgage payment.It wasn’t a full payment, but we both agreed it would look better to put something toward the balance right away rather than waiting until we had the full amount, especially since the timeline was tight.
Once we had a plan in place that would meet the mortgage deadline, Mom started calling the utilities to explain the situation and request extensions, while I got ready for work.Although I’d mentioned borrowing from Uncle Jay, she’d quickly rejected the idea.
“Soph, I don’t like that I even have to depend on you like this.I refuse to involve Jay.”
I understood her stance.Her dependence on Dad burned her too badly ever to want to lean on someone like that again.She accepted my help because I had a vested interest in living here, and she knew I’d walk over hot coals for her, no questions asked.Uncle Jay would do the same, but he was the sibling of the man who hurt her the most.It would be too much of a kick to her pride to go to him.
But I had no problems borrowing from him.So, I headed to the club early.
He was in his office, speaking with a vendor, when I arrived.I went out to the bar, turned on the light, and set up some glasses for a few promotional shots while I waited for him.He joined me not long after.
“You’re here early,” he said.“Bored at home?”
“No, I’m here to sweet-talk you into an advance on my paycheck.”
He waved to the till.“Take what you need.”
“Just my paycheck a few days early.”
He tilted his head, studying me.“Why?What’s going on?”
I debated how much to tell him, then shook my head, knowing that Mom wouldn’t want him to know anything.
“I’m just a girl with some spending needs.”
He chuckled, told me what tonight’s signature drink would be, then let me mix it so he could cut my check right away.The social posts were up when he handed it over.
“You’re the best,” I said.
“You are.I added a bonus for the promotional stuff you’re doing, too.Don’t give me that look.It’s appropriately small.I know how you feel about handouts.”
My frown changed to a grin.“There’s a fine line between handouts and using someone, and I like walking it.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you accept anything from anyone,” he said.“You even refused the cheap, beat-up car I wanted to give you for your sixteenth birthday.”
“Because I wanted to live.And what do you mean, I don’t accept anything?I collect every tip given to me, thank you very much.”
“Yeah, I noticed that twenty last night.Isn’t he the guy you gave my number to?”
“He is.”
“Is he one of the unshakables?Need me to talk to him?”
“No talk is needed yet.He’s not an unshakable.”I thought about Konni and felt a thrill of anticipation.“He’s tempting, which means he's dangerous, but not a danger.You know what I mean?”
Uncle Jay burst out laughing.“You wear a halo and carry a pitch-fork, Sophie-girl.I pity the man who falls hard for you.”
I smacked his arm.“Get to work and stop harassing your employees.”
Still chuckling, he walked away from me, and I took care of stocking the coolers behind the bar.
