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The empties she’d just grabbed slid through her fingers. She clutched them before they crashed to the floor. “Sure.”
Was this it? Was she losing her job? She had two weeks left on her singing contract. If Abby let her go, she would be paid, but there wouldn’t be any tips or bartending pay. Her hands shook. What if there was a clause in the contract that let Abby fire her because of the globe?
She’d barely had time to look for another job. Maybe people would be hiring for Christmas, but she had no idea how she and her mother would live until then.
“What’s the forecast on Hurricane Lawrence?” the man at the counter asked the guy next to him.
“Predicted to miss us,” the other man said.
“I hope they’re right,” the first man said.
Carolina stiffened. She hadn’t paid attention to the weather. She leaned over to Naomi. “Since Ella’s not playing tonight, can we change the channel to weather?”
“Sure.” Naomi shrugged. “When the basketball game comes on, we might have to turn it back.”
“Of course.”
Carolina flipped the channel to the weather, then kept her eye on her customers and the screen. When they showed the possible storm paths, she shivered. One took it over Tybee.
Please don’t hit Tybee. If they had to evacuate, where would they go?
She couldn’t deal with more bad news.
“Can you stay?” Naomi asked. “This crowd is not going home.”
“Is it all right with Abby?” she asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Let me check with the aide.” Carolina sent her a text and the aide got right back to her. Apparently, Mamá was already in bed. “I’m good for as long as you need me.”
And working behind the bar put off talking to Abby.
She cleaned glasses. Made drinks. Kept up a happy exterior, but she wanted to cry.
“Thanks for staying,” Naomi said. “I think we’re clear now.”
“I need to talk to Abby. I’ll check how you’re doing before I leave.” Unless she was escorted out of the building.
When Carolina walked into the kitchen, Abby was working at the multi-burner range.
“I’ll be right with you,” Abby said. “You can…wait in my office.”
Carolina nodded, afraid her voice would crack.
In Abby’s office, she paced, but the room was only five steps wide. She sat in the spare chair, and tapped her fingers on her thigh.
“We needed to catch up on orders.” Abby took her seat behind the desk. “How’s your mother?”
“We’re taking it day by day.” She didn’t want to talk about her mother. Or how she was getting more bizarre each day.
Abby steepled her fingers. “I’m sorry. I’m going to let you go after your contract is done. Both the singing and the bartending.”
The words hit her like bricks pounding on her chest. Her breath rushed in and out. How would she and Mamá survive?
“I need this job.” Carolina tried to make her voice strong but it creaked like an unoiled door. “I’m begging you, don’t do this.”
Abby closed her eyes. “I have to.”
“Can’t you…wait until—” tears flooded down her face “—until Mamá’s gone?”
Until she was truly alone in the world. Just like she’d always feared.
“I can’t do that to my family.” Abby covered her mouth.
“Family? What about mine?” Carolina’s hand shook as she brushed away the tears. She didn’t want to beg, but had no choice. “We’re family.”
“No, we’re not. I didn’t know about you until a week ago.” Abby shook her head. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
Carolina grabbed her things. No way could she go back through the restaurant. “Not too sorry to fire me.”
She shoved open the door. As she got to her car, she dropped the keys. Leaning down, her fingers snagged metal and her keys rattled as she pulled them to her. That’s what she had to do. Pull herself together.
Carolina slumped into the driver’s seat. Her breath rasped in and out. Oh, God. She’d been fired.
She wanted to curl into a ball and hide from the world. Instead she took a deep breath.
Step one—drive home.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ON THURSDAY, SAGE flipped through the hurricane coverage on the TV. Didn’t look good. A number of the models had Hurricane Lawrence heading this way.
His phone announced a video chat. He muted the TV.
“Hi, Mom.”
“How are you?” She blew him a kiss. “How’s working part-time been?”
“Weird. I was exhausted Monday, but after four days, that’s improved.”
