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There was silence for several seconds until Grandma Dixon squealed. It made his gorilla cringe a little, but he, too, was happy with the news. It occurred to him that he was going to be a dad soon and was also glad that there was going to be family around to help them out. He knew that there would be no end to the babysitters once their child was born. Dallas was happy for family and friends. He only hoped that he made as good a father as his dad was to him. His mother would kill him if he didn’t. Laughing, they all retired to the living room, and Grandma Simpson got out her knitting things. She said she was going to make booties for the new one. Smiling, he watched Amy try and learn the skill, too, as he dozed off on the couch.
Chapter 8
“Let me get this straight. You’re going to quit today. And this is the part where my head sort of goes off, you’re quitting today because your wife—” He corrected her. “Oh, yes, your ex-wife found out you had a job and has filed against you for child support. How many children did you have with your wife—er, ex-wife?”
“She said that we had four, but I only remember three of them. But that ain’t the point boss. She’s going to be taking some of my hard-earned money for those brats. I didn’t want them in the first place, and there she goes, just popping them out like that candy with a head on it.” Hazel told him what they were called, not sure why she was bothering. “Yeah, that’s them things. But I don’t want to have to give her shit. Those kids don’t even look like me.”
“Be that as it may, George, you’re still quitting so that she can’t get—what I’m assuming is child support from you. For children you more than likely fathered.” He told her that he didn’t want that. “Regardless, the state is saying that you have to pay her the money, and I’m to take it out of your checks. In order to do that, you’re supposed to work. Do you know if they find out that you’ve quit rather than pay her, you’ll more than likely go to jail?”
“They have to find me first.” His grin at her made her slightly ill. This wasn’t the first time she’d had this problem with one of her father’s employees, and doubtful that it would be the last. There were deadbeats all over the world. And it wasn’t just the men who would do just what George was doing in order to get out of his obligations. When he stood up, she did as well. “Well, it’s been good knowing you, Boss. I did like the money you was paying me, so if you can give me my last check, I’ll be on my way.”
“I can’t give you your last check, Geroge. The state found you, and they’ve put a lean on your money.” After cursing and then shrugging it all off, he turned toward the door. “Geroge, don’t you care what happens to your kids? I mean, this money could be the difference between them having a good meal or going hungry for a few more days.”
“Nope, can’t say that I do. I don’t know how old they are, but if I have to work, they should be, too.” Hazel glanced down at the paperwork she’d been given and told him the ages of his children. “See right there. The oldest one is ten. He should be out finding something to help out his family. I don’t have time for it.”
When George left her office, she made the call to the police station. She didn’t want to do it. Had he wanted to stay and help out, she would have been more than happy with that. But since this was the eighth time in the last six months that George Mable had quit a job when the state found him for child support, he was going to be arrested.
After making the call, she gathered up the things that she was going to go and talk to her dad about and dreaded every step she took as she got closer to his office. Dad hadn’t been in a good mood about Geroge since she told him what was going to happen. Her dad, of course, didn’t think that there was anything wrong with his way of dealing with an ex-wife and told her to fire him and then hire him with cash. He was a good worker.
“He’s a deadbeat, is what he is.” When she said that to him, all he did was wave her off. “What if mom would have needed money to support me if she’d been the one raising me? Would you have done the same thing? Blow me off in favor of having all your cash to yourself?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Hazel.” She asked him what he meant as she didn’t think she was being anything of the sort. “I mean, that is the very reason that I took you into my home. So that she couldn’t get child support from me. I want you to remember this lesson. It’s very important. When dealing with the laws, spare no expense on your attorney. It could be the difference between you having to be in jail, paying out ridiculous amounts of money for support, or dying. Just remember that if you don’t remember anything else.”
Hazel had remembered it. He’d told her that when she’d been eight years old and then again every time he had to go to court after that. Then last night again when she’d told him what was going to happen to George. While she didn’t hate her father, she didn’t much care for him anymore.
When she’d been just an infant, no more than about six weeks old, her mom had filed for divorce. She’d had enough of her husband, Hazel had been told, and his ways. It wasn’t until later that she found out that her father had knocked up her mother and had been forced to marry her. She was the resulting child.
As the years went on, Hazel began to understand her mother and knew on some level that he’d not just wooed her into a romance but decided that he wanted her and took what wasn’t offered. She’d had enough conversations with her mom to know that she would never have had sex with a man on the first date. Her mom, Maria Cherokee, had never dated, been seen with, or had a man in her home since the divorce. She thought that said volumes for their relationship all those years ago.
“He quit, didn’t he? And you let him.” She nodded at her father, something that she knew he detested, and flopped into the chair in front of his massive desk. “Use your words, Hazel. Damn it. And stop acting like a prostitute.”
“A prostitute. Did you just call me a prostitute? Christ, father, what a thing to say to your only child.” He’d never used that term to her before, and it hurt. Standing up, she decided that two could play at his game. “I’m leaving early for lunch. I’m having it with mom. She and I are going to—”
“You will not see that woman today. I’ve told you several times today that I have three meetings that you will attend with me. It’s mandatory. Something about your grandmother’s will.” Hazel sat down on the chair again, not bothering with making it look good. “She has mentioned your name as well as your mother, and I will not have you taking off without my permission.”
“Grandma died?” Dad stared at her like he’d just realized she was there even though he’d been speaking to her all along. “You mean her will before she dies. Right? I mean, there is no way that you’d not tell me that my own grandmother died. You wouldn’t do that to me. Would you, Dad?”
“It slipped my mind. Besides, you would have been all emotional, and I don’t need that at the moment. There are things in that—where are you going? I’m not finished speaking with you right now. Sit down, Hazel, or so help me, I’ll cut you off.” With her back to him, she asked him when she’d died. And how. “I don’t know. She was in some sort of boating accident that happened last week. Monday, I think. You know how she is, flittering off to places no one goes to and gets herself into trouble. Now that you know all the details, come here so we can plan this meeting. Hazel, where are you going?” She looked at him, and she could see the shock on his face.
Hazel didn’t know what she looked like, but if her feelings were any indication, she was pissed. Angry at him and hurt beyond any pain she’d ever felt before. Opening the door, standing just in the opening, Hazel realized in that moment that she’d never hated anyone as much as she did him right now.
“Don’t contact me. Don’t talk to me, nor do I want to…don’t come near me.” She went out the door and closed it quietly. The turmoil that was in her heart and mind was too much, and she blindly made her way to her office. As soon as she sat down, she knew she couldn’t stay in the same building as her father, and she grabbed her purse and briefcase and fled the building.
Pulling out her cell phone, she wasn’t sure that she could make it work. After being bumped a few times and knocked against the wall she was near, Hazel pressed herself against the nearest building that wasn’t Cherokee Industries and stood there blindly, not thinking at all.
“Hazel?” She didn’t know who was speaking to her, but since they knew who she was, Hazel launched herself at the stranger and poured out every emotion she was feeling. Telling the person what her father had done. How her grandma had died and he’d not told her. As soon as she felt herself being pulled along someplace, she started to get frightened. “I have you, honey. It’s Booth, Booth Dixon. I’m taking you off the street and into the restaurant where I just saw your mom.”
She knew him and relaxed. As soon as she was able to make out her mother through her tears, she clung to her the same way she had Booth. He’d been her shoulder when she’d gone to college. Her date when one was required. Booth had been her friend for ages.
Not knowing how long she’d been just sitting there at the table, she listened to Booth and her mom talking. It was a catching-up kind of conversation. Asking about family and what they were doing now. When she sat up, they both turned to look at her, and she could see that her mom had been crying, too.
“I didn’t know either, love, or I would have told you.” She nodded, her heart so terribly tender for her grandma’s passing. “The fucking bastard, he more than likely kept it from you because he knew you’d tell me. The man has no heart at all. It was his own mother, for heaven’s sake. Booth looked it up. She’s been gone for ten days, and no one mentioned it once to either of us.”
“We were planning a Christman cruise, the two of us. To get away. She was going to convince me to leave Cherokee and go work for you. I should have done it long ago.” Mom hugged her, and Booth smiled at her. “Thank you for bringing me to my mom. I don’t know what I would have done had someone else come along and took me away.”
“You would have figured it out.” Booth kissed her on the cheek. “I’m sorry for your loss, Hazel. I really liked your grandma too. She was fun to be around and didn’t care what people thought about her when she was out. I learned a great deal from her when I was growing up. I will truly miss her.”
“Thank you so much, Booth. That means a great deal to me.” She looked around the restaurant. “I suppose we should order. We’ve taken up enough of their time here. I don’t know if I’ve ever ordered anything from here. What’s good?”
