Daisy moves her gaze to the sky, blinking her eyelids rapidly. Any second now she’s going to break down. This isn’t her fault. Yes, she is guilty as hell for stealing my laptop but I can’t blame her for Janet’s ridiculous reasoning for firing me. Besides, Alvin canceled before I even had an opportunity to present anything to him. My laptop had nothing to do with any of this.
I reach over and place the laptop on the table to my right. “It’s not Daisy’s fault I lost my job. There was more behind it than my laptop being stolen. I don’t think she should be blamed for it, and I apologize for doing so.”
“I don’t care. This isn’t an isolated incident, Ms. Turner. She needs to be taught a lesson. Will you be pressing charges?”
Pressing charges? Does she really want me to call the police on her daughter? She’s returned the laptop and is admittedly very sorry for what she’s done. Will she do something like this again? I don’t know. I honestly don’t know Daisy well enough to say. But Idoknow that my laptop is here and I need to move on from what’s happened.
“No, I won’t be.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Ms. Dowden. I think Daisy has learned her lesson. Isn’t that right, Daisy?”
Daisy barely lifts her head but she glances up at me and offers a shy nod.
“Thank you for returning the laptop. I appreciate it.”
I don’t give Ms. Dowden a chance to say anything else and shut the door.
“You lost your job? I’m so sorry.”
Jimmy offers me comfort but I don’t take it. “It’s not your fault.”
“Obviously.”
“Although my laptopwasstolen the day we went out. Remember, I went and put it in my car. If we hadn’t gone out that day after work, then I never would have left my car there. Then none of this might have happened.”
“So youareblaming me?”
I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m lost, trying to figure out what happened and how this all led to my being fired. Janet and I seemed to have a decent working relationship. I can’t think of a reason she’d have me canned. Yes, we were not able to get Alvin, and yes, I’m the one who pushed for him, but that’s certainly not enough reason to fire me.
“No. I’m not blaming you. It’s not your fault Daisy went into my car and took the laptop. It’s my fault that I left the car unlocked. I thought I hit the fob but I must not have. But had you not shown up at my office, then, yes, none of this would have happened.”
“Wow.” He crosses his arms and takes a step back. “Youareblaming me whether you realize it or not.”
“I’mnot.” At least I don’t mean to. It’s difficult not to see the connections between all of this, though. This all started with that tree. Had he done what I asked ages ago and fixed that tree, it never would have fallen on my house. Then I wouldn’t have had to have my wall fixed. Then I wouldn’t have had to stay at his house and he wouldn’t have turned his arrogance into charm. I wouldn’t have gone out with him that night as a result.
“Yes, you are. You’re making excuses for what happened and find it easier to put the blame on me than to accept it for yourself.”
I hate that he can read me like this, and I especially can’t stand how he drives me crazy.
“Look, I think I need to be alone.”
“Are you sure? I’m here for you, even if youdothink it’s my fault.”
“Stop saying that. Jimmy. Why would you want to be here if I blame you? I don’t know if I do. All Idoknow is that I’ve never lost a job before. All of this is a little overwhelming to say the least. I need some time.”
“But, your room.”
“I can finish it on my own. I’ll sleep here tonight, too. And from now on. There’s no reason for me to stay with you anymore.”
“So that’s it?” His hands drop to his side. “The work is done and now you’re going to shove me aside? What just happened in your bedroom?”
“That was a mistake, Jimmy. It shouldn’t have happened and it won’t happen again.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying that. I thought we had something here.”
I stare at him, soaking him in, thinking about how my life has changed over the past few weeks. Life was so much easier when I hated him.
