Page 28 of Proposition 2

18. Cadence

Istill wasn’t sure how to feel the next morning as I rode the bus to the office. I hadn’t told my brother about the debts being paid because I hadn’t been sure about Leo, but he’d raised a brow at me when I walked in the day before with more groceries than we could usually afford. I’d simply mumbled that I had had a bit of extra money, and we’d had the best dinner we’d had in a while.

It was a good thing I hadn’t said anything if I was going to do what Leo wanted. I could never explain what was going on to Michael, so letting him think I was still working at the diner would be the best way to avoid that conversation.

I sighed as I leaned my head against the window and looked out at the dreary streets passing by. It was rainy and matched my mood perfectly.

It felt strange to consider doing what Leo suggested. The diner had been my first job, and I couldn’t help the panic that rose inside me at the thought of quitting. Despite knowing the house was paid for and I no longer had to worry about that payment, it still seemed wrong to give it up.

But he was right about the work and the stress. I’d been working both jobs since I graduated, and it was taking a toll on my body. My days off were spent sleeping as much as I could, and there was no way to deny the appeal of only having one to worry about, especially once Michael left for college.

My mind shuddered away from those thoughts. I had no idea what I was going to do without Michael home to keep an eye on Momma while I worked, but I was determined that he was going to go to college and have a normal life.

The bus rolled to a stop outside my office building and I rose to go inside, pushing away worries about the future. I’d deal with it when it happened. My immediate concern was thinking of a way to tell my boss at the diner that I was leaving, without burning bridges in case something happened that drove me back.

By the time I was leaving for the day I’d come up with what to say. It wasn’t quite honest, but it would allow me to leave without upsetting anyone.

Hopefully.

Dinner with Momma when I got home was difficult. She was having a bad day and ended up leaving the table with tears in her eyes to retreat to her room for the night. I could tell Michael felt as defeated as I did, and I made a promise to myself to make him get out and have some fun with his friends from school. He didn’t need to be cooped up in the house so much.

While I hadn’t told him any lies, I felt like I was lying to him by omission. The house was paid off, our biggest worry relieved, yet he didn’t know about it because he would ask too many questions that I couldn’t answer.

The biggest one was why.

Leo claimed he did it because he could. To help me.

I was smart enough to know that he’d done it to get my attention and make me feel indebted to him, regardless if he planned to make me pay it back. But the why still lingered.

Why me?

I refused to accept that he was as certain about me as he claimed to be. I wasn’t sure he could convince me he wouldn’t grow tired of me at some point.

I slid behind the wheel of the Toyota, heading to work to give my notice. I had a feeling Leo wanted me to quit right away, but I wasn’t going to leave them shorthanded with no notice. My morals wouldn’t allow that. And Leo would have to understand.

I went straight to my boss’ office when I arrived, clearing my throat as I stood in the doorway. I had to clasp my hands together to keep from fidgeting as I waited for him to acknowledge me.

He finally looked up from his paperwork, giving me a once-over before raising his brows as he waited for me to speak. He was a man of few words, and while he seemed surly to most, he’d never been purposefully rude, and he knew my situation at home. He’d helped me over the years, and I had to fight back the thought that I was betraying him by quitting.

Everything I’d rehearsed disappeared, and I blurted the only thing left.

“I need to put in my notice.”

His brows drew together, but it was concern in his eye, not anger.

“Is everything okay with your mother?”

I nodded my head, my ponytail swishing behind me. Some of what I’d rehearsed came back, so I tried to smooth things over.

“She’s okay, but Michael will be leaving for college soon and she can’t be left at home alone so much.”

He grunted before turning to look at the calendar on the wall beside him.

“I hired a new girl today. Get her trained over the weekend and you can be done.”

I sighed, tension melting from my shoulders. I hadn’t expected it to be so easy.

Assuring him I would get her trained and thanking him for understanding, I made my way out to the floor. I hadn’t heard from Leo since he’d texted me shortly after I made it home the night before, but I was glad to have an answer for his inevitable question. With the worry of putting in my notice behind me, I couldn’t help the excitement I felt about seeing him again.

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