“Okay, let’s give it a shot. When can you start?”
“Today? I’m dressed for work, if you wanted me to stay?”
She did look sweet in a modest sundress and sandals, with her hair down. I’d not thought she looked like her mother but, as she got older, I could see Delphine in her face more and more.
Poe strolled out of the office, stretching and yawning and looking generally grumpy, as if he’d wakened from a nap.
“Oh, it’s Poe,” Annie said, sounding delighted. “He hasn’t been in the window the last few times I’ve walked by, so I was worried.”
“I’m surprised to hear that. He was sitting on a stack of hardcovers in the display just yesterday.”
Annie knelt to say hello, holding out her hand. “I’ve wondered where you’ve been.”
Poe looked at her for a moment, blinked as if she were boring him, then turned around so his back end was facing her.
“He just pointed his butt at me,” Annie said, laughing.
“He doesn’t have the best taste in people. Or any respect for anyone.”
She got to her feet.
“It’s because you’re a dog,” I said.
“I am?” Annie asked.
“Yes. There are two kinds of people. Those who have the attitude of a cat and those who have the attitude of a dog. You are a dog.”
“Friendly. Easy to please,” Annie said. “I can see that. You’re a dog too.”
“Yep. Which is why Poe has nothing but disdain for me.”
As if he wanted to illustrate that point, he sauntered off, tail in the air, and went to sit in the window.
“See what I mean?” I asked. “He’s doing it just because you said he hadn’t been there for a while.”
“I guess he wants to make sure I know I’m not the boss; he is,” Annie said.
“Anyway, yes, you can start today if you really want to. I had an employee resign via text this morning, so you have good timing.”
“I was coming back from breakfast with Gillian and Grace and baby Leo when I saw the sign in your window. I figured it was meant to be. I could really use the money. I’m saving up for a car.”
“As long as your mom’s okay with you working here, you’re hired.”
“I don’t know why she would object. She likes it when I work hard,” Annie said.
“Great. Come up to the desk and I’ll have you fill out some paperwork, then show you around.”
The two of us headed over to the desk, where my computer was still open to the Second Chance app. She noticed it before I could close the tab. “Are you on the app?” Annie clapped her hands together.
“I just put my profile up,” I said. “Which is kind of embarrassing.”
“No, it’s not. Not at all. That’s how a lot of people meet these days, you know.”
I had to smile. She sounded like a wise old woman instead a girl of fifteen. “It seems to have worked for Lila and Vance.”
“They’re our biggest success story,” Annie said, brightening. “The others kind of happened organically, so to speak.”
“You guys must have gotten in so much trouble when they found out what you’d done.”
