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At the B-word, it was as if she’d pressed a button and barking filled the air.
“What’s got all of you stirred up? No one is getting bath today.” She might as well not have spoken. More barking continued.
“You started this.” Pepper pointed to Miss Adeline. “We’re outta here.”
I shrugged helplessly but followed Pepper to the alley.
“Leave an old woman here with these hooligans,” Miss Adeline hollered as the door shut behind us.
Pepper giggled.
Muffy pawed her again for his treat.
“You are such a good boy,” she said as she fed him a biscuit.
We walked at the pace the dogs set—well, Sadie. It was barely daylight, but the sounds of the awakening city surrounded us.
“How’d it go?” Her face was pinched when she looked at me. Guilt was etched in every line.
“Better with Lincoln and Beau there.” I picked up a discarded soda bottle and deposited it in a nearby dumpster. “It was busy work.” I paused. “That’s not fair. I’m sure the people in the mailroom have it tough, but I’m nearly one hundred percent certain my father invented a lot of what we did tonight to make me miserable.”
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
“I didn’t have a good time, but it was easier when I thought about the end result.”
Sadie stopped to sniff around, so we all stopped.
“I don’t like this.” Pepper frowned. She’d worn her stress from the moment we met, but now it was palpable.
“Hey.” I grazed her cheek with my thumb. “It’s going to be fine. I was out of a job anyway. When one door closes, another opens, right?”
She scowled at my pearl of wisdom. “Are you going to protest your dismissal?”
“I don’t see the point. There’s no expiration date on me working for Hollingsworth Properties. Even if I get reinstated, I can’t go back.”
Pepper kicked at a weed. “You could still have it removed from your record. So maybe you could go back one day if . . .”
That was a big if.
But I didn’t like that I’d been unfairly let go. It would follow me around no matter what ended up happening.
And I’d never backed down from what was right.
“I think I will talk to someone to appeal.” The more the idea took shape, the more I warmed to it.
“Good.” She looked over at me, guilt as prominent as ever. “Are you on the night shift now?”
“I have a feeling I’m pretty much at my father’s beck and call.” I snorted bitterly. “I’m not sure he’s paying me.”
“Teague.” She sounded horrified. “I-I don’t have a lot, but if you need some money . . .” She snapped her mouth closed.
“I’m good. But if I wasn’t, I’d hit up my brother and sister. They have the big bucks.” I tried to make light of it, but somehow my effort fell flat.
“Okay.” Her shoulders seemed to sag in relief.
I’d get another job before I’d ever ask Pepper for a dime. And that went no matter how much money she had. If anything, I wanted to be the one to provide for her. Not that she needed me. She seemed to be doing just fine on her own.
“I didn’t mean to worry you last night.”
