Page 11 of The Other Half

“Anytime, I guess.”

“Anytime? Really? You don’t have a bunch of other jobs I need to schedule around?”

I shook my head.

“Then you’re hired.”

“What?” I nearly choked out the words. This was all it took to get a job in the real world? With great tips? Thoughts of organic blueberries and full tanks of gas danced through my head.

“Seasons about to hit full swing and I need a body. Let’s try you and see how you do. As long as you can tap a beer and take money, I can use you.”

“Okay,” I answered, but wondered if I could tap a beer. Taking money? Now that I knew I could handle. Making a note to Google tapping a beer, I took a deep breath. “I’ll take the job.”

“Can you start tomorrow?” Her dark brows rose, and she pursed her full lips into a thin line while she waited.

“Sure, why not.”

“Awesome!” A smile lit up her face. “Then get here at three. It will give us a little time to train you before the locals come in for happy hour at five.”

“Great. I’ll be here. Do I need anything?”

“Just bring your ID and I’ll have you fill out the forms then you can start.”

An ID? Shit. I’d given her a fake name. “Perfect. I’ll see you then.”

Struggling to get out of the odd chair, I smiled at her and finally made it to the ground. Another look around the bar and I wondered what I’d gotten myself into. But a glance at my purse and knowing how little money was in there, I knew this was what I needed to do.

I climbed back into my car and Poppy was still snoring away. Even though I didn’t want to break the rules and call Grandpa for help, there was one thing I knew I couldn’t fix this fast. Pressing his number on the phone, I sat back against the torn orange fabric of my seat.

“Hi Grandpa, it’s me.”

“Giving up already?” he asked, condemnation thick in his voice.

“No. The opposite in fact. I got a job.”

“You did?” Pride swelled in his voice and it flooded me with the resolution to keep going down this path.

“I did, but I do need something from you.”

“Oh,” he said, the condemnation returning. “What is it?”

“I need an ID. You told me I couldn’t use my real name, so I lied when I took the job, but they need an ID tomorrow. Can you help me?”

There was a moment of pause and then he answered, the judgement now absent. “Of course, Cassandra. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll have one delivered to you tomorrow morning. Do you need anything else?”

Even though I wanted to scream out a list of things I wanted, I knew it was a test. “No Grandpa, just the ID. Then I promise I’m on my own.”

“I’m proud of you, Cassandra.”

Pride swelled inside me to hear those words. “Thank you, Grandpa. I’m learning a lot.”

“Good. Now, what name do you need for the fake ID?”

Pausing to fight the lump returning to my throat, I took a breath. “Cassie Sinclair.”

Silence hung in the air and then I heard a soft sigh on the other side. “Your parents would be proud.”

“Thanks, Grandpa. I’m trying.”