I make my way down the hall and up to his desk. "Maryanne is very grateful. I guess her friend was there during our conversation, and she said he could be here to meet you in about thirty minutes."
"Whoa, whoa," he says, waving his hands for me to slow down. "That's not how this works, honey. Plus, I don't have time today. I'm sure you can imagine how much I have on my plate right now."
"And he can help you. He's quite excited for this opportunity. Remember back in the day when you would have killed for just a hand up?" I can't help but squint at him a bit. We both know the truth.
"Fine, whatever. I'll meet the boy, and if he's as smart as you said he is, he can get right to work." Raine's going to be so thrilled. This is perfect.
"Thanks, Daddy."
"Daddy?" he questions. "You haven't called me that in years."
I shrug. "I'm just happy we're helping someone in need. It feels good to do that. Better than the alternative, don't you think?"Ass.
"Sure," he says, looking back down at his stack of papers. "Alright, I need to get some work done. Let me know when this boy gets here."
I back out of his office and rush to the sitting room where the window overlooks the front yard.
Twenty minutes pass, and I see Raine's truck pulling up front. I sneak out the door and meet him halfway. "What's going on?" he asks.
"Well," I say, stalling with a smile while nervously wringing my hand around my wrist. "I spoke to my dad, and he's going to give you an administrative job. It's ten dollars an hour for twenty hours a week." His expression isn't one I’ve seen before, and I don't know what he's thinking, so I wait, uncomfortably, as he takes a long minute to respond.
"Wow, I—ah, I didn't know that's what your great idea was earlier. I wish you would have said something to me first.” He’s squinting at me and scratching at the back of his head. "I mean, I'm grateful, don't get me wrong, but your dad is Mayor Leigh. I'm already employed by him, so this is a little odd, don't you think?" He's nervous. That must be what the look is. I've known since the day I met him that Dad makes him nervous. He makes everyone but me nervous.
"I know, but he's just another person, and now you know something about him that no one else knows…so that should make you a little less nervous. Plus, knowing you're already employed by him will probably make this a smooth transition, don't you think?"
"I'm not—you're right. Thank you for doing this. It's an incredible opportunity." If he truly means it, he has an odd way of showing it through his monotone and lifeless tone.
"I told him you were Maryanne's friend since I didn't want him to know you and I know each other. It wouldn't help with the lies surrounding my whereabouts from last night."
"Smart move, but who is Maryanne?” He looks around as if someone could be listening to our conversation.
"Oh, right. Maryanne lives down the street, just three houses down. She was with me that first night at the bar and at the fair too."
"That doesn't help since there were four of you, but that's fine. I'll take it from here. Does your father really want to meet with me this soon, though?"
"I think he's going to put you right to work," I tell him.
He looks down at what he's wearing. "Haven?"
"Don't worry," I whisper.
"Famous last words, huh?" Raine places his hand on his chest and straightens his posture before walking past me. I figured he'd want me to bring him in, but he's about to walk right into my house.
"Raine!" I shout. He doesn't turn back to acknowledge me, so I chase after him, following his lead inside and down to Dad's office. "Stop. He told me to let him know when you got here."
"It's fine," he tells me. "I can take care of it."
I stop chasing him, watching as he knocks on Dad's office door without much of the nerve he had a moment ago. However, the nerves in my gut are making me feel like there's about to be some tragic accident I'm going to be forced to watch.
"Come in," Dad says.
Raine opens the door and walks inside. "Raine Carson?" Dad questions. "What can I do you for?"
Raine closes the door, leaving me out here without an inclination of what's going on in there. I didn't have the chance to play dumb about the fact that he tends to our lawn. I was going to make it look like I didn't even knowthatmuch, but they're in there, and I'm out here, helpless and a little scared for Raine.
I pace the hallway over and over, knowing minutes are flying by while I don't hear a peep. With my fingernail clamped between my teeth, I jump when the door finally opens. "No problem, I'll be right back with that." Raine walks out and closes the door behind him, walking right past me as if I weren't standing smack in the middle of the hall.
I follow at his heels until we get to the front door where he turns around and leans down toward my ear. "I'm going to pick up some papers from the town hall for him."
