Chapter Thirteen
LILY
Walking away from Apollo was probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Every day that I stand here at my teller station, waiting for the work day to end, just gives me more time to wallow in my regret. Going home doesn’t make it any better. The regret stems from the fact that he hasn’t made another pass at me all week. I took the one chance I had with him and threw it away. For what? A few dollars and a little less guilt for not making someone else cover my shift? For the first time ever, I can honestly say, I wish hadn’t done the right thing. It wasn’t worth it.
At least my idiotic rejection didn’t deter him from his domestic duties. If anything he’s upped his game. The house has never been so clean. He’s found little fix-it jobs to do. Like a loose cabinet door in the kitchen. Unclogged the slow drain in the bathtub. Patched up a hole I put in the hallway wall with the head of a hammer, years ago, when I tried putting up a picture and missed the nail. It’s good to know he’s not bored out of his mind stuck in my house all day. And of course, it’s even better to know he’ll have dinner ready for me when I get home.
My heart about jumps out of my chest every time I walk in the door to another delicious smelling meal and the sight of him neatly dressed standing next to a candlelit place setting.
I’ve had the urge to stop waiting for him to make the move. Just drop my purse, run across the room, and jump into his arms the second I walk in but as much as I’m loving this role reversal thing, I’m still a little old-fashioned. If he wants me, I want him to come after me. Maybe that’s selfish. I don’t know. But I’m also still not sure it’s a good idea to get involved with him. Who knows how long he’ll be here? Or if I’ll have the time? I’d feel worse making a move—a promise I can’t be sure I can keep.
“Hey, Lil,” Charlie says walking up to my station. I’d been so entrenched in my own thoughts I didn’t see her come in. “Looks like you already heard the news.”
“What news?”
“Oh.” Charlie stiffens. “Just... From the forlorn look on your face…” She says like that’s going to help me read her mind.
“Charlie. I don’t know what you’re talking about. What news?” My heart is going a million miles a minute. Does she know something about Apollo? I don’t want to have to lie to her about him staying with me. She’s a lawyer though. If I did tell her, she keeps things confidential for a living. She'd have no problem doing the same for one of her oldest friends. Hell, she kept Blue’s pregnancy a secret well enough. Even from me.
My breath and heart ease a bit. But then she finally tells me, “The city is threatening to condemn Mr. Davis’ house.”
“What? No. They can’t do that. The house isn’t that bad.”
She levels her gaze at me because she knows I know better. Her eyes soften as tears fill mine. “Can we stop it?” I ask.
“They’ve given him a list of repairs. He has until the end of the month to complete them.”
“He can’t afford that. They know he can’t,” I force my voice to whisper as my frustration builds making me want to scream.
“I know, sweetie but it’s the law. And he’s not safe in that house the way it is.”
“He won’t go to a nursing home. He’d rather live on the street.”
Charlie reaches across the counter and holds my hand. “I’m sorry.”
What am I going to do? Even without seeing it, I know the repairs on that list aren’t ones I can do. If they were, I’d have done them by now. They’re beyond my skill and my budget. Especially to hire them done.
I shouldn’t be so concerned. He’s not my family. Not my responsibility but I can’t help myself. I care about Mr. Davis like family. Like I care for many of the people in this town. I can’t just let them take his home away.
“Here,” Charlie says taking out her wallet. “It’s not much but it’s a start. Maybe you can start a collection. I’m sure Luke and Oliver would let you put out a jar at the diner and the bar.” She flips open her checkbook and starts to fill one out. Before my brain can fully comprehend what she’s suggesting, she hands me a check. And it’s not 'not much.'
“Oh, Charlie. I can’t—.”
“Nonsense. Compared to the help you’ve given Mr. Davis, this is nothing.”
“Charlie…”
“I tell you what,” she says with a smile. Obviously trying to brighten the mood as she pushes the check back at me when I try giving it back to her again. “You take a night off, for once, for a girl’s night. Finally initiate Parker. Binge-watch that show you love so much. And we’ll call it even.”
I ignore the ridiculous idea that a girl’s night will make us remotely even for the check she wrote and address the bigger hole in her plan. “You think you’re going to get Blake to give up his girls for an evening? You’re crazy. Their baby girl’s only a week old.”
“A couple more weeks, he’ll be begging for a night out with the boys,” the mother of three says waving off my concern. “Besides, that will give you time to ask for the day off work.”
But it won’t give me time to figure out what to do with Apollo. Of course, he could be gone by then. But what if he isn’t?
God, I hope he isn’t. But if he's not, then I can’t have people over. What’s he going to do? Stay locked in Blue’s room all night? Pee in a pop bottle? I can’t do that to him.
“I’d love to, Charlie but Dickie’s is shorthanded. There’s no one to cover if I take the night off.” It’s not a lie. Not really. Shifts have been tight lately. I’ve been closing by myself. But I could probably manage one night off. I’d definitely feel bad about it though.
