AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When a strong chest meets my back and two strong arms bracket me, I fall back into the embrace.
“Where is Mrs. McConnell, Mom?”
“She came over for coffee, and then I sent her home. It’s far too early for company, anyway. Silly woman.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry I’m not there. I’ll be home soon,” I say cautiously.
“Where are you, Scarlett? This isn’t like you.”
Adam presses a gentle kiss to the side of my head when I speak again. “I stayed at a friend’s house, but I’m coming back right now.”
Mom clucks her tongue. “Yes, you are. I’ll see you in a little while, then.”
“See you,” I whisper before hanging up and calling Mrs. McConnell. I don’t allow myself to focus on anything else.
She picks up on the second ring. “Hello?”
“You just left my mom alone?” I ask, my voice louder, more brash than I wanted. She gasps, and instant regret digs deep in my gut.
Adam places his hand over the one holding my phone and gently slips it from my grasp. I let him bring it to his ear and tell my neighbour what’s going on, knowing that I’m nowhere near the right headspace to talk to her.
Placing a hand to my chest, I close my eyes and let Adam’s conversation with the older woman turn to static.
The reality of my mom’s disease is heavier now than ever. She’s been getting worse every day, but this is just another sign that I can’t do this on my own.
She deserves the best help she can get, and I’m beginning to realize that isn’t me. With my job at WIT being the only real source of income we have now that she can’t work anymore—even just helping out at the greenhouse a few hours a day is too much as of late—I can’t afford to quit and stay home with her again.
Shit. How is me working at the rink going to change after what’s happened? I’m going to have to get another job. I can’t keep working for Adam. He can’t be my boss.
My heart feels like it’s cracking. I’ve grown to love my job. I love working with Willow and getting to see her growth with each session. I love my mornings with Adam and the smiles he sends me whenever our paths cross throughout the day. Oh, God.
“What a mess,” I say on an exhale.
Adam, done with the phone call now, moves his hands to my shoulders and squeezes. “Mr. and Mrs. McConnell are going back over to your house now to check on your mom. They’re going to call back after they speak to her.”
I spin around and press my face to his bare chest before slipping my arms around his waist and holding him tight. He blows out a breath and hugs me back.
“I have to go home now.”
“You do. I’ll take you there.”
“My mom keeps getting worse. I need help,” I admit.
Adam rubs my back in slow circles. “Then let me help. Tell me what to do.”
If only it was that easy. I have no doubt Adam would fix anything that dared upset me if given the chance. That’s just the kind of guy he is.
“I have a few meetings planned with some in-home caretakers. I just need to set a day to do it. I need to pick someone as soon as I can.”
“Do you want me to come with you? What day do you need off? I can clear us both,” he offers.
I shake my head. “Don’t do that. As much as I would like you to be there with me, that only brings us to my other problem.”
He stiffens. “What problem?”
“I can’t be your employee anymore, Adam. I can’t be with you and work for you at the same time. It won’t work,” I croak. Emotion stings my eyes, and I blink to try and push it away.
“You barely work for me, Scarlett. You work for Willow and any other skater that comes to WIT needing a trainer with your skill set and experience.”
