“Looking for a job,” Sarah answered.
Audrey gasped. “You can’t hire her! I’d be the laughingstock of the whole school if my friends find out she works here. Crystal and Kelsey will turn their backs on me.”
Grace frowned. “Why?”
“She’s weird, and a tech weenie,” Audrey whispered.
“And what is that?” Grace asked.
“It’s what you old people would call anerd,” Audrey said with another of her pitiful sighs.
Sarah turned away from Audrey and lowered her voice. “Grace, she’s got three months until she graduates, and she’s a straight-A student. We heard that her mother had moved, but I had no idea she had left Raelene to fend for herself. The rent has played out, as well as the food.”
“Mama, please! Don’t do this,” Audrey begged.
“I will not turn away a kid in need, especially one of your former friends,” Grace said. “Sarah, you do whatever you think is best.”
“Mama! I’ll work harder, but please...” Audrey’s hands went into the prayer position.
“We’ve got an extra bedroom in the south wing,” Sarah said. Her niece needed to crawl out of the hole she was digging for herself, and having someone like Raelene around might be just the answer.
“No! Good Lord!” Audrey’s hands went to her cheeks. “She can’t live in the same house as I do.”
Sarah patted her niece on the shoulder. “Ifyouneeded a home and food, I would hope someone would help you out.”
“Speaking ofyou...” Grace turned toward Audrey and pointed to the tray on the counter. “Take those three cups of coffee to those guys who are getting settled at their table, and get their doughnut order.”
Sarah carried the milk and doughnuts she’d gathered over to where Raelene was waiting. She put them on the table and then sat down across from her. “I’ve got a deal for you. We have an extra bedroom at our house. The school bus runs right out here on the road everymorning at seven thirty, so you can catch it and make all your classes, not just the afternoon ones. We don’t really need any help here at the shop, but we do need someone to help with housework and laundry and general cleanup jobs at the house. We can pay you a little bit and give you room and board until you graduate.”
Raelene took a sip of the milk and then bit into a doughnut. “Why would you do that for me?”
“Two reasons,” Sarah answered. “You are a smart kid who deserves to graduate, but I don’t think it’s safe for you to sleep in the park. The second thing is that I hate to dust and do dishes. How does fifty dollars a week and room and board sound? You would only need to work about two hours a day for the money, and Sundays will be your free day. I can go with you right now to get your things and move you into your room. You can start by dusting and vacuuming tomorrow morning while we are here at the store. Sound good?”
“It does. You can depend on me,” Raelene said. “May I finish my doughnuts first?”
“Yes, of course,” Sarah said, and with an inward wince, she continued, “Why did your mama leave you behind?”
“Her boyfriend didn’t like me, and she loves him,” Raelene answered. “My grandmother was the one who raised me, not Mama. She died a few months ago, and I had to move in with Mama. We didn’t know each other so well anyway, so it wasn’t hard for her to leave me...” She paused. “Or for me to refuse to go with them, either. Mama said that I was eighteen and old enough to make my own way.”
“I see.” Sarah felt so sorry for the girl that she had trouble keeping tears from her eyes. “Well, you finish up here, and then I’ll take you to get your belongings.”
“Thank you, and I’d work for room and board. You wouldn’t have to pay me,” Raelene offered.
Sarah stood up and patted the girl on her shoulder. “That wouldn’t be fair. You’ll need lunch money and a little bit to buy personal items.”
“I don’t eat lunch,” Raelene said under her breath.
No wonder you are so thin,Sarah thought, but she said, “Why don’t you eat lunch?”
“The kids are kind of mean, especially the girls that Audrey is running with these days, so I just go to the library during that hour and do my homework.” She shrugged again.
Sarah gritted her teeth to keep from swearing. “Well, you can take your lunch for the rest of the year. There’s always sandwich makings in the fridge or leftovers from supper.”
Raelene finally smiled. “Thanks again.”
Sarah crossed the room and poured herself a cup of coffee. “I just hired a maid for the next three months. She’s going to work for room and board and fifty dollars a week.”
“Audrey is going to be mortified,” Grace whispered, and then went over to sit down across the table from Raelene. She reached out and laid a hand on Raelene’s. “I’m glad you are coming to live with us, and we’ll be very grateful for your help.”
