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Wasn't that the fucking truth.
"How is your mom?" Dominic asked.
Dominic knew all about my childhood. Never judged me for it. If anything, he thought it made me a better businessperson because I knew what it was like growing up with nothing. "You're scrappy," he said to me one night when we were studying for our econ exam, and I had to leave to work a night shift as an on-campus security guard. It had been a cush job that allowed me to study while being paid to make sure nobody broke into the library overnight.
I'd always been that way.
"She’s still trying every hobby under the sun."
"At least she's keeping busy."
I plated slices of cake. "I think she’s bored. It's been tough going from working all the time to not and with me grown up, she's restless."
“Would it be so bad if she got a job?”
I scrubbed a hand down my face. “It depends on what she wants to do. Her body is doing so much better now that she’s not on her feet all day. The pain in her joints and hips is better than when she worked at the motel.”
“Maybe she could do something part time. Find something that’s lower impact, but that she enjoys.” Dominic lost his mom last year. He knew in a way unlike any of my other friends how important it was to take care of a parent.
I nodded absently. “I’ll talk to her about it. I just don’t want her to work hard, you know?” She’s spent her life taking care of me and it was my turn to return the favor.
“She’s your mom. You can still take care of her but maybe let her know that you’re not going to get mad if she works. She might feel like it’s a slap in the face to all that you’ve done for her.”
I would hate that. “I’d never want to stop her from doing something she wanted.”
He clapped me on the back. “Then tell her that. She’s lucky to have you but you’re even luckier to have her.”
Daisy and Faith burst into laughter outside.
“We should probably let them know that dessert is ready,” Dominic said.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
We were saying our goodbyes to Dominic and Daisy when my phone rang. Luna’s name flashed across the screen and Faith noticed it.
“Who’s Luna?” she asked, her voice taut, a frown tugging at her lips.
“A client.”
Faith looked pointedly at the clock in the kitchen. “A little late for a client to call you, isn’t it?”
“That happens when you own half the nightclubs in the city. You tend to work evenings. Excuse me while I take this.” I pressed the green button and answered the call. “Hi, Luna.”
“Oh, thank god, you answered. Are you still in town? My security system went down, and I can’t figure out how to fix it.”
I headed straight for my office and opened my laptop to see what I could access on the backend.
“How long has it been down?”
“I was told five minutes ago by someone on my team. I’m not sure how long it was out before they notified me.”
“You know this wouldn’t happen if you just let me install my app to wirelessly connect the place.”
I could hear her fingernails tapping on something. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. Right now, someone is getting fired for sleeping on the job.”
Luna demanded excellence and took no prisoners. I’d expect nothing less than her getting rid of the person who dropped the ball.
