JP’s face lights up. “Hey, kid! What brings you here?”
She shrugs. “Just thought I’d stop by and say hi.”
“Aw, that’s sweet of you. Let me just go grab Rusty. Be right back.”
“Yeah, sure,” she says, rounding the desk and plopping into the chair. She swivels around in it a few times.
I get the feeling she’s not here to say hi, but I don’t think much of it until JP disappears into the back room. I watch in disbelief as she opens the desk drawer, slips her hand into the petty-cash box, and pulls out a few crumpled bills before tucking them into her bra.
My stomach twists. She doesn’t even notice me watching her. Smoothing the front of her shirt, she hops out of the chair andheads for the door, where she leans casually against the doorframe as if nothing happened.
When her dad returns with Rusty on a short leash, Nikki lies right to his face. “Jazzy just called. She wants to meet at Starbucks. I’ll see you at home,” she chirps, barely glancing at JP before flouncing out the door.
I’m left standing there, heart pounding, unsure what to do. Should I say something? I want to, but I don’t know if it’s any of my business. So I vacillate for the rest of my shift, battling the urge to snitch on Nikki while at the same time ordering myself to mind my own business.
Finally, I can’t take it anymore. Nope. I can’t let this go.
“Um. Mr.James…”
“JP,” he reminds me.
“JP. I, uh, I need to tell you something.”
Concern flickers in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I hesitate, then bite the bullet and blurt it out. “Nikki stole money from petty cash while you were out of the room.”
There’s a beat of silence.
And then he lets out a long, tired sigh. “Yeah,” he says. “I figured.”
I stare at him in shock. “You knew?”
“She’s been doing that for a while now. Not just here, either. She was picked up for shoplifting in Nashville this summer,” he admits, his features strained. “Got off with a slap on the wrist after I spoke to the store manager.”
“Why don’t you stop her?” It doesn’t make sense. When it comes to Nikki, it’s like he lets her get away with everything.
“It’s complicated, Ryan. She hasn’t had an easy life, you know? So I try to have empathy whenever I can. I know I’ve spoiled her, but, well, she’s been through a lot. Losing her mom, growing up without much stability.”
“Doesn’t letting her off the hook make it worse?”
He gently scratches behind Rusty’s ear. “Maybe. But if taking a few bucks from me helps her feel in control of something in her life, I’d rather let it go. It’s not about the money, anyway.”
I don’t know what to say. I understand wanting to protect your child, but watching Nikki steal from her own father feels wrong. “Won’t she just keep doing it?”
He shrugs. “Probably. But I’m hoping one day she’ll grow out of it. She’s angry, and I get that. I’ve made mistakes as a dad, and this is just part of how she’s dealing with it.”
Like he said, it’s clearly complicated, but I can’t shake the feeling that Nikki is headed down a dangerous path. Still, JP doesn’t seem like he’s ready to confront that yet.
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly.
“Don’t be. You did the right thing, telling me. And you did a great job today.” He winks. “The dogs thank you profusely.”
I nod, but my mind is still spinning. I can’t dwell on it because the door suddenly swings open and now it’s Everett who strides in.
I smile despite myself. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
Everett beams at me. “Rescuing you, obviously.”
