“Umm, I’m working the breakfast shift to cover Wendy.”
Jimmy shook his head and her stomach took a nosedive. “Wendy’s back. I sent you a text, didn’t you get it?”
She pulled her phone out of her pocket. It was just a cheap one, but it was the only way for Jimmy to get a hold of her about shifts.
Yep, there was his text.
“Sorry, I must have been on my way when it came through and didn’t hear it. You’ll text me about any other shifts?”
She tried to hide her disappointment about the lost money as she looked up at Jimmy. A look of guilt crossed his face and her stomach gurgled in worry.
“Look, Jacey, you’re a real good waitress, but my niece just moved to town and she’s looking for some part time work. Times are tough and I can’t employ you all. Family has to come first. You know how it is.”
Sure, she knew. She was the easiest one to let go, since she didn’t really exist.
“Probably best if you start looking for work elsewhere.”
“I understand, thanks for everything.”
Thanks for everything? Thanks for what? Thanks for treating me like dirt when I worked my ass off for you? The words remained trapped inside, buried deep. Just like they always did.
Jacey turned away in a daze. What the hell was she going to do now? She didn’t have near enough money saved for when the baby came. She couldn’t sign up for any government assistance programs because of all the paperwork she’d have to fill out. That would be a target on her back that Stephan couldn’t miss.
She bit her lip to hold in her sobs.
“Jacey! Jacey, wait up!” She turned to find Frankie running toward her.
The other woman stopped when she got close. “Jeez, girl, you’re gonna give me a heart attack,” she said, running her hand back and forth over her face. “How can you walk so fast with those short legs?”
“Jimmy let me go,” Jacey said in a daze.
Frankie scowled. “I know. I hope you gave him an earful. That bastard.”
Jacey shrugged. “He needed the work for his niece.”
“His niece is a fat, lazy slob with the attention span of a two year old. Jimmy needs his head examined and you should have told him off for treating you like dirt. Manners are well and good, sweetheart, but sometimes you just got to let it rip. Otherwise your insides will get eaten away at with all the stress.”
Jacey nodded. She was right. It wasn’t anything Cady hadn’t been trying to teach her. To speak her mind. To stand up for herself.
“Here, this is for you.” Frankie handed her an envelope.
Jacey took it. “What’s this?” She opened it up, her jaw dropping. Quickly, she thrust it back at Frankie. “I can’t take this.”
“Sure you can. It’s my tips for the week and I want you to have them.”
“Frankie, no, you need this.”
Frankie cupped her cheeks. “Not as much as you do, honey. Now, you come back and let me know that you’re doing okay. Promise.”
Tears filled her eyes at the older woman’s kindness. “I promise.”
***
Derrick climbed into the backseat of his town car after greeting Robert. Exhaustion washed over him. He’d been away five days, but it felt like a month. He was growing old. He hadn’t slept well, either, which didn’t help. He’d told himself it was because of the unknown surroundings, however he was a seasoned traveller and had never once been homesick.
No, the real reason he’d had trouble sleeping was because he’d been plagued with dreams about Jacey. Her touch, her smell, the little noises she made when she came. He had barely managed to push her out of his mind in order to get some work done, but during the evenings she snuck into his head, tormenting him.
He should have gotten her phone number. He’d spent endless hours wondering if she was okay, if she was safe. The area she lived in wasn’t that bad, but she’d have been a lot safer in his house. Robert could have driven her to and from work and Derrick could have called her each night. Why the hell hadn’t he insisted she stay there?