Page 25 of Without You

“A one stop shop, kind of. Like I could do massages and maybe there’s a therapist there for people who need to talk through life. But more than that. Kind of like a day spa but deeper.”

As I’m talking, his smile continues to grow. “I love the idea.”

“Yeah?”

“Absolutely. You’re right, Benton doesn’t have anything like that and we need it. I have no doubt that it will happen for you.”

“Thanks, Daddy. I’m only concerned about the cost now. I would prefer to work for myself. A lot of people rent a room from a salon or chiropractor and set up their own business that way.”

“And now we just made that concern a little worse.” He winces and I try not to laugh, maintaining a straight face isn’t easy.

“It’s not your fault, Daddy. Promise.”

“It is. I’m the one kicking you out of my house. A father should support his child, not throw her out onto the streets.”

Unlike my daddy who can tease and joke all day long, I instantly feel guilty for making him feel bad. “Stop, Daddy. You’re right. It was a temporary thing, me living with y’all, and I was prepared for that. I’ll use some of my savings and then build it back up once I get a good client base and have some extra money to set aside.”

“So you really want to open your own place, huh?”

I shrug. “Part of the dream.”

“It’s a good one.”

“Yeah,” I reply.

“When can you start looking for a place to set up? Will people consider it before you have your degree?”

“Well, that’s the good part. I just happened to call a place yesterday because I wanted to figure out my options.” I pause and he raises his eyebrows, his eyes twinkling and a smile forming. He likes that I was taking charge before he mentioned something to me. Either it makes him feel less guilty or he just simply likes knowing that I was making some plans on my own.

“And?”

“The salon I called has a massage room already but the person who works for them just let them know she’s moving out of town and won’t be working for them anymore. It isn’t exactly what I was hoping for, because it would be working for them rather than renting a space, but I can’t expect everything at once, right? I’ll build up my clientele and go from there.”

“That’s great, Katie.”

“It’s meant to be, right?”

“Seems like it.”

He steeples his fingers together and stares at me, thinking. I can practically see the numbers and ideas flying through his brain like in a cartoon.

“What?” I ask.

“Just thinking.”

Shaking my head, I stand up. I know he’ll tell me what he’s thinking about when he’s ready. My guess is he’s going to tell Mama that they should pay for my schooling to become a massage therapist but what he doesn’t know yet is that I won’t allow it. This was my decision and I’m an adult. I was okay with moving in with them until I got back on my feet but I won’t accept anything more.

“You think you can hold off on naked Thursdays until I move out?”

“Depends.”

“On?”

“How long it takes you to find a place.”

“I’ll start looking now,” I promise with a grin and turn to walk out of his office. At least he didn’t fire me as well. It’s not the job I want forever, but at least I’m earning money.

“Katie,” Daddy calls out and I stop and turn to look at him.

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