“You didn’t bother me, it’s just I’m working the
counter and I have to go now.”
“Sure, of course. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Okay, we’ll talk tomorrow, Ma.”
“And … Patrick?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without
you.”
I bite my inner cheek to stop an outpouring of
rage that shoots right to my head.
“Bye, Ma.”
I hang up and slide the phone back into my
pocket. I take a big breath and make my way back
to the counter where Aaron has taken my place.
“Hey, where’d you go?” He asks me while
serving someone from the bar.
“Sorry, it was my mother, I had to answer.”
“Everything okay at home?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Just the usual
problems.”
“Anything I can do?” he asks me, stopping for a
moment to look me in the eyes.
“Nope, it’s all taken care of.”
“You know if you need anything—”
“No,” I stop him. “I have it under control.”
And I hope I really do.
“Patrick,” he says empathetically, “you know
that I’m here for you and that I love your family. If
they need anything…”
“I can take care of my family myself Aaron,” I
