Page 26 of Trophy
Thinking about Rob, she pulled this morning’s napkin out of her pocket. She’d had an annoyed customer who’d been giving her a hard time. Rob had written,Jake complains about everything. Don’t listen to him. You’re great. R.
She smiled like an idiot as she reread it and then jumped in surprise when her phone rang, as if she’d been caught doing something naughty.
It was Vicki, so Allison grinned as she picked it up.
After the normal comments and catching up, Vicki said, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were starting to like being a small-town waitress.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m getting used to it, but this is definitely not how I want to spend my life. I’m still dreaming of my little jewelry shop to get me through the days.”
“When are you going to start taking classes again?”
“I don’t know.” Allison sighed, a familiar heaviness overcoming her as she thought about her future. The jewelry-shop dream was easy and encouraging, but any active step toward it felt like a huge burden she didn’t have the energy to tackle yet.
“I thought you were going to start back as soon as possible.”
“I am. I’m just still so tired when I get home from work. I’m not sure I’d have the energy to take a class on top of that yet. Plus, I’m still worried about spending money.”
“But you’re making money now.”
“Yeah, but not much. You’d be horrified by how little I make. I can’t tell you how depressing it is to work all day and have so little to show for it.”
“But you’re getting by, aren’t you?” Vicki usually sounded light and amused, but there was a note of concern in her voice now.
“Yeah. Yeah. I’m getting by just fine. Having the house and car helps. I’m not sure what I’d do if I had to add those paymentson top of my other expenses” She shook her head, feeling an intense surge of sympathy for some of the young women who came into the restaurant, trying to get by on so little money.
“Still, what you’re doing is hard enough. I’m in awe of you, you know.”
Allison snorted. “Thanks a lot.”
“Speaking of awe…” Vicki’s voice changed.
“Something about Arthur?”
“We saw him the other night at a gallery opening.”
“Oh yeah? Was he was as pompous and patronizing as ever?”
“More so, I’d say. He asked about you.”
“I hope you told him I was having the time of my life.”
“Of course I did. He just gave that creepy smile of his and said, ‘She’ll be back.’” Vicki pitched her voice low to imitate Arthur.
“What?” Allison had been sitting in the backseat of her car with the door hanging open, but at this she stood up. “He thinks I’m coming back to him?”
“I guess so.”
“Bastard.”
“So you’re never tempted at all?” Vicki asked, more softly now, as if worried about her friend’s response to the question.
“No. Never. Never, ever. Even in the slightest.”
“Good. I’m proud of you.”
Allison laughed and said she needed to get back to work, so they hung up with promises to get together on the weekend.
When the call had ended, Allison’s smile faded. She stared at the phone in her hand, feeling suddenly like a failure.
