“Will do. You said you had something you needed to coordinate with me. Is it about Dani’s performance with her Dramaclass?”
“Yes, sure.” Moira pretended itwas.
When they finished going through the kids’ events, Mrs. Oliveira saw Moira to the door. “I don’t want you to worry about me and my health. You’ve got so much going on. However, I don’t want to spring a decision on you, if I get to making it.” She paused, her eyes left Moira’s and stared into space. When she refocused her attention on Moira, she resumed talking. “If the cancer has returned, I’ll move to São Paulo, to live with my daughter’s family so that I can get the best treatmentavailable.”
“That would be the smart thing to do, infra-structure in São Paulo is top-notch. I’ll keep my fingers crossed it doesn’t get tothat.
* * *
By the timeshe got to work, Moira had been mulling over Mrs. Oliveira’s words to the point of desperation. Her mind kept hopping from her non-existent relationship with Aidan to the neighbor’s health to the tight spot she would be in if the woman moved away. Then, her mind went back to the beginning of the vicious cycle. When she got to the restaurant’s parking lot, she was exhausted, but still had her shift ahead ofher.
She rested her forehead on the steeringwheel.
She wanted to curl up andcry.
She shot her head up and sat straight on the driverseat.
She had never been a whiny bitch. She would not become onenow.
Sliding her arm through the strap of her purse, she settled the leather strip on her shoulder, swung the door open, and got out of the car. Then, stomped to therestaurant.
Today was going to be a longday.
* * *
Moira smoothedthe front of her crispy white button-down shirt and tucked in the stray hair that had rebelled against the tight bun she had tied to the back of her head. Then, got back to polishing thecounter.
“I bet I could eat off that counter, it’s so clean. What’s eating youup?”
Tristan’s voice startled her out of herreverie.
“Hey, boss. It’s too early for you.” She taunted the partner who usually worked the closing shift. “Not complaining, but what brings youhere?”
“Meeting Noah. Good try getting off the spotlight, missy. It didn’t work.” He covered the hand that was still scrubbing the wooden surface of the counter with a rag. “What’s goingon?”
She pulled free and dropped the rag in a bucket on the floor. “I’m fine. Thanks for asking, but no need to worry.” She didn’t look up at him and proceeded to pick the glasses hanging over the counter and washthem.
Tristan turned off the tap and waited for her to find his stare. “You don’t respond well to people trying to help you. I get it, and I respect that. Hell, I relate to that. So, let me put this in another way. I’m concern with the extra expense, not your well-being. If a staff member washes clean glassware or mops spotless surfaces, the restaurant loses money. Makes sense?” His wink broke her defenses. “Not to mention, said staff has a compulsion for cleaning that gets close to obsession when she’supset.”
Moira slouched her shoulders and dropped the sponge inside the sink. “Point taken.” She still didn’t feel comfortable unburdening her personal issues to her boss, regardless of his good-nature.
Or maybe because ofit.
She didn’t want to take advantage of Tristan’s goodheart.
“So? What’s the problem and how may I help you? Do you want me to put the fear of God in Aidan? I’d be gladto.”
She burst out laughing so hard tears trickled down her cheek. “Oh, God, no. Thanks for offering, though. He told me my friends warned him they were on to him. But that was months ago. Aidan’s been a saintsince.”
“Good. You will tell me if there’s anything I can do for you,right?”
“Promise.”
There wasn’t any, so Moira mopped her hands in a clean rag and watched Tristan stroll to the office he shared withNoah.
* * *
Moira stopped sweepingthe floor to stare Ana in the eyes. She held a broom with one hand and clutched at her hip with the other. The considerable difference in their height gave Ana some advantage. The fact that she was not wrong in her assessment also contributed to making Moira swallow a snarkyremark.
