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He’s a fighter for sure, which is only helpful if you stay on his good side.
“I have some news for you.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m back in town.”
“Get out of here! You are?” There’s clear excitement in his voice.
“Yup, going to get a room at the Dartmouth Motel. My lawyer told me to stay in Hillpike to stress my passion for raising Dustin away from all the drama in Chicago. He says it’ll reflect mature discernment he can use in the courtroom. Every little detail counts. “
“It makes sense. Plus, sometimes we have to go back to our base to sort out our emotions and to rest. Courtney’s put you through hell. She’s slept with a coworker, left you for the coworker, she sends your son away to her parents in the state of Washington, and now she says she’s marrying him and trying to move to Florida?”
“My lawyer told me that’s not possible. He says she’s doing this to make me go insane. She wants me to be reactive and do something stupid. I can’t take any more of her antics. Just being in Chicago, I may run into her, and I need a detox from all that big-city energy.”
“Well, be sure to tell Sadie that the next time you see her. As much as she’s in love with the idea of your city, I’d appreciate it if you let her in on all the drama she could wind up in if she ever goes there.”
“Ah, yes, sure. Will do.”
I wonder if Braxton can hear the bullshit in my tone. I swallow my anxiety and rest in gratefulness that I’m on the phone with him and not staring into his face.
“Well, I’ll let you settle into your room. I’ll call you later. You’re more than welcome over here for dinner tomorrow since I’m sure tonight you need to get settled. Reach out to me whenever you need me, brother. Talk soon.”
Chapter 7
Sadie
“AsfarasI’mconcerned, you’re a perfect fit. Hired. Done.” Angela smiles at me, and she has perfect teeth.
I try to control my eagerness. But it’s written all over my clammy palm when I thank Angela with a handshake. “Wow. Thank you.”
I’m now a server at “Nightingale’s,” which I knew would be a good fit. I was even able to score an earlier interview this week than I thought. It’s as if the universe wants to speed things up for me.
Angela is my new manager. She’s blonde with red highlights. Her red-rimmed glasses match her hair, and she falls into the cute and classic librarian category.
I’ll have to break the news to my boss at the coffee shop in the morning. I can work the last shifts I’m scheduled for, so that’s good.
Angela takes my photo ID to copy it. I drift in and out of La La Land, thinking about Freddy.
I can still taste him on my tongue even though it’s Monday, the day after he dropped me off. His memory is potent. I guess this explains why he’s on my mind. It’s all so fresh. I keep picturing his tattoos and how I want to familiarize myself with them. I did get a good look at the intricacies of the skull on his chest. It wasn’t a normal skull. It was all done with tiny triangles. I know Dartmouth Motel isn’t too far from “Nightingale’s.” I have to fight my urge to walk over there once I leave here.
I sit on a plastic chair across from the messy desk in the restaurant’s office. I can tell that every manager shares this room. It’s disorganized and lacks family photos or other sentiments that personalize an office. Instead, there are framed health notices, server day-off requests, and faded, bent comic strips that are probably as old as Savannah.
“Sadie, would you be willing to train today?” Angela stares at the daily server schedule that’s taped on the wall.
“Absolutely.” I jump at it.
“Great. As you know, the summer is super busy, and we still have a reputation for the best Italian beef outside of Chicago. And our apple pies are pre-ordered from folks miles away.”
“I’ve heard about that. Is it true to say that Mondays are fairly slow?”
“Yes.” Angela bats her eyelashes. “That’s why you should start training today so that if we need you by this coming weekend, we can use you even if you start with a two-table section. We get unexpectedly slammed on the weekends. You know, we’re pretty much in between the southern tip of the state and Chicago. So many travelers wind up in Hillpike and here in particular. We are the only real restaurant beside Cracker Barrel, but we’re closer to the motels.”
“Am I okay dressed in this?” I have on a pair of teal slacks and a silky ruffled white blouse. I genuinely look like I’m here for an interview, or maybe I look like her, a manager.
“For training, you should be fine. Do you prefer to go home to change?”
I wonder if Freddy is coming to dinner tonight. Seeing my parents yesterday was a little weird. The way I ran into the shower as if they could’ve smelled him on me. Ugh. It’s so frustrating thinking about this. I wish I had another pair of shoes on. If anything, I’d go home to change them out, but it’s not worth the hike home. God, I need a car. And I will not be relying on my folks to get me.
