Still, her voice went up when she stated, “I don’t need his charity. I can take care of my kids, thank you verymuch.”
“And you’ve been doing a great job at that. Nobody would dispute it. Dani and Filipe are what, eight andfive?”
Moira confirmed with a head bob and resumed sweeping the floor. Opening time for the bar and the restaurant was fast approaching. “What about theirage?”
“I mean to say they’re young kids, who get sick and can’t go to school. Then, you need someone to take them to doctors’ appointments. Without an extended family, you’ve been counting on your neighbor’s good heart, since you can’t afford a full-time nanny. See where I’mgoing?”
“No,” Moiradeadpanned.
Ana didn’t take thehint.
Or chose to ignoreit.
Either way, she rambled, “You rarely take days off. You work the busiest shift at Chez Nous, and you bust your ass to provide for your children. I get it. Now, if that A-hole ex of yours were to pay alimony, which is the least he should do for his kids, in my humble opinion, you’d have more time to spend with them. You wouldn’t be so exhausted all the time either. When was the last time you sat down to play with yourkids?
Moira didn’t reply at first. She toyed with the idea of ignoring Ana and her insightful words. She decided not to, pulling a chair and plopping herself onit.
Moira sunk her elbows on her knees and hid her face in her hands. “I’m overwhelmed. Like, I’m not sure what I’m doing anymore, you know? My neighbor, Mrs. Oliveira, is a sweetheart for keeping an eye on Dani and Filipe for me, but she’s got her own shit to take care of.” Moira didn’t feel comfortable discussing her friend’s issues, so she left it at that. “Like tomorrow, for instance, she’s got a thing and won’t be able to take Dani to a doctor’s appointment it took me two months to get. I can’t cancel it. If I miss work, I don’t get the money from the tipseither.”
Before either woman could say another word, the office door opened, and Tristan and Noah stepped out of it. Tristan frowned. “Is everything okay with youtwo?”
“We’re fine,” Moira mumbled as she unfolded from the chair and went back tosweeping.
“It doesn’t seem likeit.”
Moira planned to leave the discussion atthat.
Ana had other plans. “Apparently, Moira’s neighbor has a conflicting schedule tomorrow and won’t be able to take Dani to the doctor,” Anadisclosed.
“You need the money, so you wouldn’t ask another person to cover for you, right?” Tristan swung around and faced Moira. “You need the whole shiftoff?”
She shook her head. “A couple of hours would doit.”
“What if I covered for you? I haven’t bartended in a while, so it’ll be fun. That way, you’ll keep your share of thetips.”
“What about the band? We’re trying to get that gig. We need to rehearse for it,” Noah’s tone surprised Moira. He wasn’t the selfish type. “Sorry, Moira. I sympathize with your problem, but Big T always finds excuses to ditch theband.”
“Don’t be an ass. I’ll do both. I’ll leave rehearsal early and come here to cover forMoira.”
“You’d better.” Noah banged the office door shut as Tristan left theplace.
