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“And I’ll light a fire under his ass and call him too, if needed.”
“Thanks, Duncan. For everything.”
I walked Duncan out of the room and stepped into the hallway to make yet another call. This time to my boss, Stu Rogers.
Stephanie answered and transferred the call. I waited forever, as usual, until he came on the line.
“Hi Grace. Everything okay with Ollie?”
I took a deep breath and decided to just come out with it. “Yes, well, no, I mean nothing has changed. I was just calling to ask about a job posting I found online… you’re not going to fire me, are you?”
There was an uncomfortable silence that left me with a heaviness in my belly.
“Grace… listen, I don’t want to fire you. I know you’re dealing with a lot, and I want you to be there for your boy. I don’t intend to let you go, but in the meantime, I do need to hire someone to take over your shifts…”
“I understand, but I promise, as soon as Ollie gets his transplant and gets better, I will be right back in the office.”
“You do realize that could be months, right, Grace? That even with a transplant, there’s a lot of healing needed. He’s not going to bounce back right away, and I know you want to be there with him.”
“I do, but I need this job too.”
“I just thought it might be better for you to quit, and look into Medicaid, just for now. To give you time with your son.”
“Unemployment isn’t enough to pay our rent though. It’s hardly enough to live off of.” I nearly choked up right then and there, but I held it together. “Please, Dr. Rogers, I need this job… just be patient with me.”
“I am being patient, and you will have a job here as long as you need, but as you know, your paid time off has run out and I can’t afford to pay you and hire someone to replace you. At least with unemployment you can take time off and be there for Ollie without worrying about money.”
“I can’t. It won’t be enough.”
“But it’s better than what you’re getting now, which is nothing. Just something to think about, Grace, that’s all. I really want to do what’s best for you and Ollie.”
“Thank you.”
I got off the phone and leaned against the wall.
He was right. I couldn’t stay off work forever. I needed to pay our bills.
I also couldn’t leave my son.
Unemployment wouldn’t be enough to even cover part of our rent.
Everything suddenly felt completely and totally hopeless.
Chapter 9
Alex
My phone buzzed on the bed beside me. I glanced down, almost worried it was Rachel telling me there was a meeting or something I needed to be ready for.
Or worse, Grace calling me again.
It was Duncan.
Relief washed over me.
I answered the phone “Hey, man, what’s up?” My words slurred and came out all twisted and weird, but I had a feeling Duncan could make sense of it.
“Alex, are you drunk?”
