Page 27 of Ten Years Later
At two the brothers cleaned up.
“You still going to do mysterious errands?” Zane asked.
“It’s not mysterious. When did you become so nosy?”
“When you started holding back details.”
Unfortunately, Keaton knew his brother well enough that he’d likely follow him. “Fine, if you must know, I got a part-time job at a painting studio not far from here. Satisfied?”
Zane grinned. “You going to tell me which one?”
“No. Now if you don’t mind, I need to get cleaned up and change clothes. I can’t show up like this.”
Luckily Zane dropped it. Outside, they loaded up and parted ways. Keaton drove to a gas station. He washed up and changed clothes. At three he arrived on time toPaint Away the Day!
Sharon sat at the counter, studying the computer screen. She looked up, not smiling. “Don’t need you today. There are noparties planned. There might be some walk-ins, but nothing I need help with.”
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Sure. I probably won’t need you tomorrow either. Or the next.”
“What is this about?”
Sharon sat back, folding her arms. “Mia called and asked me if you were working. I told her yes and she said that Emily wasn’t feeling well again. That’s twice she’s done that. A little prodding and I found out you were at their house alone with Emily.”
“Yes. You know I’m doing a job in the area. I simply stopped in to say hi.”
“Still, a grown man and a fourteen-year-old girl? It’s inappropriate.”
“She reminds me of my daughter. That’s all. I certainly didn’t mean to cross a line.”
“Then there’s the thing with my purse. It made me uneasy to see you putting money in it. I don’t believe your story about finding it on the floor.” Sharon handed him a check made out to Zane Young. “For what time you did work.”
“Are you officially letting me go?”
“Yes, I guess I am.”
Fired from a job he’d worked at exactly three days. A job that connected him with Emily. Yet, what choice did he have? He took the check and walked out.
In the parking lot, he sat in his truck and waited for Emily to arrive. At 4:30 she did. Dressed in her school uniform, she cut across the parking lot and entered the painting studio.
Five minutes later, his phone chirped.
Emily: Did I get you fired?
Keaton: No, I got myself fired.
Emily: Did Mia get you fired?
A sad smile creased his face.
Keaton: It’s okay, don’t worry.
He sent her pictures from today’s mural job.
Emily: WOW!
Next, he typed in the address of the painting job.
