“That would be great, thank you,” I reply, stepping into their apartment and heading for the couch.
I’ve been in here one other time and am still impressed by how nice Mary keeps the apartment. Her furniture matches and everything is decorated in soft grays and blues. She’s made the place look more like a house than an apartment and it’s really beautiful.
“Hi Maggie,” I greet Mary’s mini me who looks just like her but with long hair.
“Hey, Jordan! Wanna see what I’m working on?” She places her sketchbook in front of me.
Before I can compliment her work, Mary interrupts from the kitchen, “Maggie, why don’t you go to your room for a bit.”
Maggie’s none the wiser as she shrugs her shoulders, says goodbye, and picks up all of her things to go to her room.
“Sit, Kyle,” Mary demands as he hovers between the kitchen and living room.
He noticeably recoils but does as his mom says. He eyes me before looking away and takes the lazy boy across the coffee table from me. His left leg starts to bounce and doesn’t stop. His lack of eye contact is telling, but I don’t blame him. He should feel ashamed for this morning.
The silence is deafening as we wait for Mary to bring the tea. When she emerges from the kitchen, her gaze flicks back and forth from Kyle to me once again.
“So, what do you need to talk to us about?” she asks as she hands me a mug of peppermint tea with a slight shake to her hand.
I graciously take the mug and start, “Well… there was a slight incident at the coffee shop this morning involving your son.” Kyle’s face goes from pale to green.
Her head snaps toward her son. “This morning? You were home this morning though. What do you mean?”
She’s going to freak out. I just know it.
But as I sit here chewing my lip in anticipation, I make a snap decision. “Kyle came by to get a coffee early this morning and got into a scuffle with another customer.” I have no idea where I’m going with this, but I keep talking. “The customer got a little mouthy with me, and Kyle defended me by punching the guy.” Kyle's eyes are wide with shock and bewilderment, but I trudge on. “He was one of those suits, the type who think they are all high and mighty. Anyways, in the scuffle, Kyle broke a bunch of glassware, and Penny, the owner, thought that he should work it off to pay for the damage. But we need some extra help for a few hours in the mornings anyway and she suggested some extra hands wouldn’t hurt if Kyle wanted to make it a permanent thing. She would pay him of course.”
Damn, I’m good.
To put the final nail in the coffin I say, “It would be nice to have a man around. I hear there have been some punks trying to rob a couple of the businesses in town.” I tilt my head in Kyle’s direction and give him a tight-lipped smile.
“Oh my gosh, Kyle. Why didn’t you tell me? You know I don’t condone violence.”
He’s staring at me when he answers her. “I’m sorry, mom. I wasn’t thinking.”
Returning her attention to me, she replies to my earlier question, “Of course, he will work off the damage. But I’m notsure about making it a permanent thing. I haven’t thought about him having a job until after he graduates.”
I focus on Kyle. “I would take the offer if I were you. The wages are good and Penny really, really needs the help,” I emphasize, adding a little pout for effect. “She says if I trust you, she trusts you. And it would only be before you head to class. You would have your afternoons free to study and do whatever teenagers do these days. Plus, it will look good on a resume.”
He looks at his mom and she shrugs, giving him the go-ahead to make a decision. “Um, yeah. Sure. I guess.”
“Wise decision, Obi-Wan,” I whisper to myself and then say out loud, “why don’t you come with me to the coffee shop? Penny wants to meet you, and she’ll give you a schedule and what your duties will be.”
He looks a little scared, as he should be, but he nods his head. After hugging Mary goodbye, Kyle and I start our walk to the shop.
“Why didn’t you tell her the truth?” His voice breaks the silence once we’re out of the apartment parking lot.
I’m wondering the same thing. “To be honest, I don’t know…but maybe good people do stupid shit every once in a while and deserve a chance to make up for it.”
He nods his head in contemplation. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry. How much trouble am I in with Penny?”
“I appreciate you apologizing but you have a lot of groveling to do with Pen. She’s pissed at you.I’mstill pissed at you,” I say pointedly.
“Is she really offering me a job after what I did? Not that I’m not appreciative, but I feel like I’m walking into a trap.”
“The job is real, but you have no idea the shit storm you created. Prepare to meet your maker.” I smirk at him, opening the door to Beach Brew. When Penny’s eyes meet mine over the counter and then his, he audibly gulps. I pat him on the back.“Good luck,” I say and shove him towards my best friend who is giving him the evil eye.
This is going to be fun.
