They looked at each other suspiciously.
“Promise?” I repeated.
“Promise.”
“Thank you for sparing me the ‘fuck off,’ Vi. I really appreciate it.” I laughed at Vi’s expression as I turned to walk away.
“I’m trying not to scare the newbie,” Vi called after me.
“Scare me? No fucking way,” I heard Sue say.
Changing the sheets in one of the rooms, my phone buzzed on the nightstand.
“Mom, Will has a girlfriend, but he doesn’t want to share her picture yet.”
“Congratulations, honey. And hey, you two.”
“Thanks very much, Lennox, you asshole!” Will texted.
“Hey, hey, language! Do you use that mouth to kiss your girlfriend?” I typed.
“Her name is Stephanie. She’s cute, though not my type. I prefer them men. Not sure why he doesn’t share the news with you,” Lennox typed. “They’ve been together for some time now and she’s heard a lot about you.”
“He’ll share when he’s good and ready, Lennox. Stop pressuring your brother.”
I missed them like crazy. Some days, it was almost like a physical pain. But I was glad they weren’t seeing me at my lowest point of being practically homeless. They were spared the worry, at least for now, of not having a home to return to, though I dreaded their upcoming spring break. I wasn’t sure I could get a place by then. They couldn’t stay here, and there was no room at Tammy’s or June’s for all of us, even if I dared telling my family about it. Encouraging the boys to stay in Colorado seemed like the best solution for now. I just had to think of a good way to phrase it.
“Hey, January, are you about done here? Could I speak to you in my office?” Sylvie, my manager, peeked her head through the door. Though Vi called her the Witch, she wasn’t one at all.
“Yes. I’ll be right there.” I smiled and smoothed my hand over the blanket I had placed on the bed.
“Guys, gotta go. Behave,” I texted.
“Mom, I was planning on telling you only when it got serious with Stephanie, and it just recently did. I would love for you to meet her.” A private text from Will arrived immediately after.
I melted. “Aww, baby! I’m happy for you, kiddo! I would love to see her! Whenever you’re ready. No pressure,” I texted back.
My heart drummed as I slipped the phone into the pocket of my scrubs and approached Sylvie’s office. It always did these days whenever she asked to talk to me. Usually, it ended with a request to change shifts, take on another night shift, or cover for someone’s absence.
“So, what’s up?” I asked with a smile as I sat down and patted my palms over my thighs in alet’s-do-this. Maybe if I smiled and looked all enthusiastic, it would end with just another routine conversation.
Sylvie angled her head and wore an apologetic expression, and I immediately knew what words would follow.
“I’m really sorry, January, but we need the room.” Her voice conveyed her uneasiness.
“No, that’s okay. I totally understand. Thanks for letting me stay in it for this long.” I kept the smile on, though I could feel the sting of tears behind my eyes and in my throat. It felt worse than it had been six weeks ago, asking her to stay here in the first place.
“Do you have another arrangement? With your sisters or …?”
“Sure. I’ll talk to them.” I had no intention of doing that, but I needed to end this conversation now.
“Is there anything else that I can do to help?” Sylvie was sincere, and I felt like hugging her just to take the sadness from her face that dealing with me had put there.
“Not unless you have two hundred thousand dollars I could borrow and pay back until my dying day,” I said, chuckling. I was trying to dispel the moment but, except for her little, uneasy laugh, it didn’t really help either one of us.
The tears were threatening to reach my eyes, so I quickly got to my feet. “I’ll go call my sister. I’ll move out tonight.”
“Oh, no, that won’t be necessary. Tomorrow before noon is fine. Jim will be coming in to paint the walls then, so there’s time.”
