by Abbi Glines
Before I knocked again, someone came to a stop beside me.
“You looking for Carey?” a tall guy with brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and bright green eyes asked.
“Yes.”
He nodded then knocked loudly on the door. “You got company!” he yelled, then looked back at me. “Give them a minute to get dressed,” he said as he turned and walked down the hall.
If I hadn’t been nervous before, I was now. They were getting dressed. Which meant they hadn’t been dressed. Which meant the high-pitched squeal I’d heard was exactly that—a high-pitched sex squeal. Maybe his girlfriend worked here. I had no problem with sex in the workplace. I just thought it was weird when Mr. Jones knew he had an interview about now.
The door finally opened and a tall, leggy woman with platinum blonde hair walked out. She ran her hand over her mussed hair and sauntered past me without even a glance.
“Come on in,” the man inside said. I took a deep breath and entered the office.
I’d had sex only once in my life. It hadn’t been enjoyable and I hadn’t tried it again since. But I wasn’t innocent. I had been to parties in high school. I’d been around sex. I knew what it smelled like. And this office smelled strongly of sex.
Carey Jones didn’t appear to notice, or he didn’t care.
He ran his hand through his thinning hair and gave me a once over much the same way the redhead had.
“You’re uh,” he glanced down at a piece of paper on his desk that looked creased from being sat on. “Beulah?” he said, then looked back up at me.
“Yes sir.”
He grinned then. “Nice. You can read, write, and walk in heels, correct?”
Those were odd questions. “Yes.”
“When can you start?”
“Uh, as soon as possible.”
“Good. Tonight’s not a good night for training. Monday nights are slower to learn the ropes. Be here at tomorrow night at eight. I’ll have a uniform waiting for you. Size four?”
I nodded not sure if this was a joke or just this easy.
“I’ve got to handle a mistake with some ordering at the bar. So, unless you have any questions, take this application and consent form with you. Fill them out. Bring them with you tomorrow—and I’ll need a copy of your driver’s license.”
“Okay,” I said, taking the papers from him. Then I realized I had no idea what the pay was. If this would even be enough. “Do you know how many hours a week I’ll be working and what I will make an hour?”
“I can work you as many as forty hours a week and as few as twenty-five. Your call. And hostess is paid twelve dollars an hour. You don’t get tips like the servers so the pay is better. However, many times my hostesses get tipped for putting customers in the spots they want. That kind of thing. So, there is a way to make more.”
This wasn’t going to be enough, but where else could I get twelve dollars an hour? “Okay. Thank you,” I answered. He gave me a creepy wide grin before leaving me in his office.
I walked out of his office with the papers in my hand. After taxes, I would make about $1500 a month. That’s working forty hours a week. I needed more money. Or I could talk to someone at Among the Spanish Moss about a payment plan until I could figure out how to make more money. Maybe I could get Heidi a smaller room, if that was even an option. I had no idea. Portia had handled everything with the home.
I’d been so relieved to have somewhere for Heidi that wasn’t a cardboard box on the street snuggled up next to me that I hadn’t asked. Now, I needed to know. I had to figure this out. I should have been figuring this out from the start. Not just assuming Portia would always take care of things. I didn’t have the excuse of losing Mom anymore. I’d mourned her. I’d cried myself to sleep many nights. I had to grow up now. She’d would have expected me to.
This job was going to be exhausting. I wouldn’t have time to work three jobs. These two would take all my time. Tomorrow, I’d call and talk to the people at Among the Spanish Moss and see what could be done. If I had to, I’d find another home for Heidi. It would upset her and that would break my heart. But if it was impossible to keep her there, I didn’t know what else to do. She couldn’t be left alone while I worked and there was nowhere I’d make the money I had been making with the Van Allan’s.
Someone, somewhere, was having a harder time than me. I could overcome this. I could make this work. I would not feel sorry for myself. Tonight, I may cry just a little. Then I’d be tough.
PORTIA WAS SITTING IN THE great room when I got home after eight o’clock. She looked at me with the same expression she’d had earlier. She hadn’t expected any of this when she’d been looking forward to Jasper’s visit. I wondered if she wished he’d never come. I imagine that was what she thought about most of the time now.
“What will you do?” she asked me when I entered the room. She didn’t look at me. She kept her gaze fixed on her manicured nails.
“I’m going to work nights. I got a job working at a club. That still won’t cover the place she’s at, but I am going to talk to them about a cheaper room or possible payments.”
“She can share a room for four thousand a month,” Portia said lifting her head to look at me. “But that is still a lot. More than you can manage. How long do you think you can work two jobs? What happens when he has late parties and you have to work?”
I hadn’t thought of that. It would be a problem. I wasn’t sure how I could manage this. “Are we keeping Heidi a secret from him on purpose?” I asked. “Not that he should feel obligated to help me pay for her care, but maybe he would understand my need for a second job?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know with him. His father was a cold man. He had no heart. No emotion. Often, he was cruel. I married him young and fresh off the farm. So sure I’d live this fairy-tale life I’d always wanted. The one I thought I should have been born into. I saw glittery things, luxury, and I wanted it all. But with it came a price. He changed me. I changed,” she looked away from me.
Her gaze was now focused on the portrait that hung over the mantel. It was Jasper. A much younger Jasper. “He’s so much like his father. He can be charming, but he’s cold. I can’t trust his actions. I’ve helped you all I can, and feel that I did my duty. You’re not mine to worry over. Your mother knew that and she sent you here anyway. It’s up to you now, so figure it out. This is your life. I have my own to deal with.”
I stood there not sure what to say. There was nothing to say after that really.
There was only one question I didn’t know the answer to. “Why did you help us to begin with then?”
She stood up. The linen pants she was wearing were now wrinkled from her sitting there for too long. She still managed to look elegant. “Because. I owed your mother for something that happened long ago. I’ve done my duty. If there is a God and he does care about our souls, I think he’ll agree I fulfilled what was expected of me.”
I can’t say any of what she said made sense. I wanted more of an explanation. “But what did you owe my mother?”
Portia sighed as if she’d been wearied by my presence. “Nothing. Not really. She made a choice that led to where you are today. That’s not my problem to fix. But she is gone now. I did a kind act for the dead. Nothing more.”
She left the room before I could say more. A kind act for the dead? That was all this was? There had been moments when Portia seemed to care. That she worried about Heidi and me. But now I wondered if I had imagined those moments. That I’d made them up in my head. Wishful thinking.
I left the room the way I had entered. This wasn’t my home. It never had been. Portia wasn’t family. My sister was my only family now. Allowing myself to think there was a chance Portia cared for us had been a mistake. It made me vulnerable. I couldn’t be vulnerable. I had to be strong. Tough. Figure this out. Because Portia was right about one thing: it was my problem. Not hers, and definitely not Jasper’s. Telling him my situation would be asking for help, and I
wasn’t doing that.
The doors that led to the veranda opened. I stopped and turned around to see Jasper and Winston walking inside. Jasper was talking and stopped when he saw me.
“Hello. I hope you enjoyed your day off.” He sounded sincere.
“I did. Thank you.”
“We’re here to find food. Not much of a cook and I’m tired of eating easy things out there just to avoid my mother. Could you make us something to eat? Stone was going to, but you’re here and I imagine you could make something tastier than what he can throw together.”
Stone? Who was Stone?
“Uh, sure. Any requests? Or do you want me to just make something?”
Jasper looked at Winston. “You were going to make fettucine with alfredo sauce, right? You want that or you want her to make something else?”
Winston was Stone? How had I missed that?
“I’m good with whatever. Provided she can cook,” he said not looking at me or acknowledging my presence. Once again, I felt like I’d been transported to the Victorian era and I was the servant around him.
Jasper chuckled. “Ignore him. He’s a bit of a dick. You just fix something. I’m so hungry I don’t care what it is. Just no grilled cheese. I’ve made myself sick of those.”
I nodded. “I’ll get right to it.”
“Do you know if my mother has gone up to her room?” Jasper called out as I walked away.
“Yes. I believe so.”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Good. Not in the mood to listen to her bitch.”
I didn’t reply, I just exited. I would talk to Jasper later about my second job. I was going to use my excuse for saving for college as the reason why. For now, Heidi would remain a secret. I didn’t want to appear to be asking for his help. That wasn’t the case. I just needed his understanding. Money for college sounded believable enough. Besides, only last week, that was what I had been planning to do. It wasn’t a complete lie. Not really.
I stood in the kitchen and looked at the pantry. I wanted to make something impressive after Mr. Snooty Pants made that comment about my cooking ability. I decided I’d go with what I knew from home—my favorite meal momma made. Homemade biscuits, bacon, sausage gravy and cheese grits. It was breakfast food, but on special occasions momma made it at night. We loved when she did. Homemade biscuits were always good. Smiling, I reached for the supplies I’d need and got to work.
The smell of the biscuits in the oven and the bacon frying filled the kitchen pretty quickly. I smiled to myself. I was sure there wasn’t a Southern boy alive who wouldn’t like this meal. I felt confident they’d both enjoy it, and Winston or Stone or whoever would have to eat his words. Jerk.
By the time I finished the cheese grits and was finishing the gravy, the door swung open and Jasper walked inside. “That smells fucking incredible. Are you making breakfast? I know I smell bacon.”
I didn’t let him see the grin that I was struggling to hide as it spread across my face. “Yep.”
“I love bacon,” he told me.
“Most people do,” I agreed.
He stood watching me, and I finished up without filling the silence with small talk. He was my boss. I didn’t figure he expected that from me.
“Look. About our talk earlier today, I didn’t mean to sound harsh if I did. I am just trying to fix the things my mother has handled poorly.”
I nodded. I didn’t need any more explanation. He had every right to question me being paid that much.
“I know today was your day off so thanks for this. I shouldn’t have asked you to cook. I’m sure you had something else you wanted to do.”
I reached for two plates in the cabinet. “I was going to do laundry and read. I still plan on it. It’s early. Do you want me to serve y’all or do you want to just make your own plates and eat in here? Wasn’t sure if this was a casual thing or not.”
He took the plates from my hand. “We can fix our plates and eat in here. No need for the big ass dining room table in there. We can even use paper towels instead of the monogramed napkins Portia has us use.”
Stone walked in then. “Is that bacon?”
I smiled. I couldn’t help myself. I’d accomplished what I wanted.
“She made us breakfast,” Jasper replied.
Stone didn’t look pleased or disappointed. He looked like he always did. No emotion. Dark and closed off. I knew he could smile, though. I’d seen it that one time. It was just when I was around he didn’t smile. I wasn’t sure why he didn’t like me unless he just didn’t like any of the hired help.
“If y’all are good, then I’ll leave y’all to it,” I told Jasper.
“Yeah. This is great. Enjoy your evening. And your book.”
I gave him a parting smile, then left. I didn’t look at Winston. There was no point. He pretended I didn’t exist anyway.
I HAD PLANNED ON TALKING to Jasper about my second job today. But he was gone before I could catch him. When dinner came and went and there was still no sign of him, I was out of time. Dressing in a pair of shorts and T-shirt of my own, I headed upstairs to tell Portia I would be at work tonight, but that I’d be back in time to make breakfast.
She had been gone most of the day with her friends at a tennis match. The farro and kale salad I’d made her for dinner had seemed to please her, but she didn’t say much. She used to enjoy bossing me around and complaining. Now she didn’t seem to enjoy much of anything.
I finally found her downstairs at the bar pouring herself a drink. “You’re leaving. Does he know?” she said without turning around to look at me.
“No. I never got a chance to tell him.”
She sighed and took a drink as she turned around. “If he comes home and needs something from you, what do you expect me to say?”
I had no idea what she should say. I didn’t expect her to say anything.
“I don’t know. I’ll explain tomorrow.”
“If you still have a job tomorrow,” she said flippantly, walking past me out of the room.
I couldn’t worry about that right now. Yes, this job paid more but it wouldn’t be enough. I had to work another job. The house was clean, the pool house was clean, groceries were stocked in both places. I even left him a warm dinner at the pool house in case he was hungry when he got home. That was all I could do.
I pulled my purse higher on my shoulder and headed out the back door toward the parking spot where I was allowed to keep my car.
“Leaving? You have more off time than I’d expect considering your salary.”
I paused and closed my eyes tightly. I couldn’t tell Stone off. He was Jasper’s friend. I had to deal with him. He’d also tell Jasper I had left, so I needed to give him an explanation. One I hoped would be given to Jasper properly.
“I just got a second job. I’ve completed all my duties for today. I planned on talking to Jasper about my second job, but he was gone this morning before I had a chance.”
Stone looked at me. Which was rare. “A second job? What, they aren’t paying you enough now? You have a free place to live, food and a ridiculous sum of money and you think you need to work a second job? That’s not exactly believable. Lying to Jasper won’t benefit you.”
I really hated him. He was a dark, beautiful, cruel man. Why was he always here? Didn’t he have a job, or was he just living off his daddy’s money?
“It isn’t a lie. I can prove it to him if I need to. Now if you’ll excuse me, I don’t believe I have to discuss my income with you.” I walked past him and into the darkness toward my car.
I was not looking forward to tonight. I was nervous and hoped I could do this job. I wasn’t even sure what would be expected of me. I hadn’t been given much of a job description.
Once I was in my car and driving away, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was almost worried that Stone would follow me out to my car, continuing his intrusive questioning. If Jasper wanted details and proof I’d give it to him. But Stone wasn’t my boss. He was nothing.
The drive to the club was only thirteen minutes without much traffic. If it had been two hours earlier, this drive would have taken an hour. But going to work at eight in the evening had a few advantages. I’d cleaned and grocery shopped all day so my feet hurt and I just wanted to take a shower and sit down. Or lie down. That wasn’t going to be happening anytime soon, though. I had to work for the next seven hours. The idea made me even more exhausted. I had to picture Heidi’s smile to give me the strength to park the car and head into my new work place.
The first person I saw when I walked in the front doors was the redhead from last night who had taken me to Carey’s office. She waved me over to her. “I need to get you a uniform. Then Neil will be showing you the ropes tonight. You can shadow him—and take notes.”
“Okay,” I said hurrying to follow her down the same hallway I’d been in last night that led to Carey’s office.
We passed his door and went all the way to the end. A blue door that said Employees Only was to our right. The redhead opened it and we went inside. There were uniforms on hangers along the back wall and dressing rooms. There were also mirrors, toilets and one shower.
“This is where we dress, use the facilities, and take breaks,” she said as she walked to the uniforms and took one from the rack. “A four correct?”
I nodded.
“Put this on.” She reached down and picked up a pair of red high heels that had sparkly toes. “Wear these.”
“I need an eight,” I told her not wanting to have to squeeze my foot into yet another shoe.
She sat them down and picked up another pair. “Here. They run small. These are nines.”
The idea of walking around in heels didn’t seem so bad now that I knew my toes weren’t going to be cramped all night. “Thank you.”
“Sure. Get dressed and then come out to the front. Neil will be waiting on you.”
“Who’s Neil?”
She paused at the door. “Tall guy. Dark blonde hair. He will be looking for you. Just head out front.”
“Okay,” I replied as she walked out. I still didn’t know her name. She wasn’t exactly the friendly sort.