She was still at work at six-thirty that evening.Her next shift had started at four, and she was about as exhausted as she’d ever been.Thinking that she’d call Gilman and cancel, she realized that she didn’t want to do that either.Going to have donuts with him was all she’d thought about all day, and she was looking forward to it.
Lori couldn’t believe that she’d said yes to Penrod.He’d asked her, and without hesitating for a moment, she’d told him that she’d marry him.She was about as in love with the man as she’d ever been about anything in her life, and marrying him seemed like the right thing to do.She just hoped that he’d been serious.If not, her heart was going to break into a million pieces.
“You have another table.”She told Mr.David, her new boss since his parents retired, that she didn’t want it.“I’m sorry, but it’s your turn on the roster.You have to take it.”
“I’m going to take a break.I’ve been here since six this morning, and I don’t want to work a fifteen-hour shift without any break.You’ll have to find someone else to take it.”She walked away from him and clocked out.“I’ll be back to work in an hour.I’ve been here all day, and my feet are killing me, and I didn’t have any lunch either.I deserve both.”
“You’re going to make me have to fire you on your last day?”She told him that she was clocked out right now, so he could go right ahead.“You’re not making this easy on yourself.Just take this one table, and I’ll take you off the roster for thirty minutes.That should be enough time for you to get something to eat.Remember what I said this morning.There will be no more half-price meals coming for people who only work a four-hour shift.”
“Since I’ve been here twelve already, it means that I’m entitled to three breaks with food.”She went to the kitchen and asked if she could have a chicken sandwich.It was the only thing she could afford after giving away half her tips this morning at breakfast.
Not that she’d gotten any help from the other staff members, but since people paid on credit cards, David was able to see what she made and was able to take what he wanted of it.She was going to be broke this evening when the bus boys started working.
All the waitstaff had decided not to help with other people’s tables unless they were asked.So far, it had been working out great except for the fact that David was paying them anyway from their tips.It was difficult enough to make it on as little as she was making, and it burned her to no end that he was going to make it work for himself rather than making it fair.
As she sat at the little table in the back room to eat, she was almost too tired to eat; she thought about it being her last day.As soon as she was finished with her last table, she was going to go home and get ready for Gilman to come over.He said he’d bring donuts, and she was looking forward to having him over for the company.
After her two-hour break, she knew that she only had five or less hours to go before she was finished.Putting a smile on her face, she wasn’t the least bit surprised to find her name off the roster at all when she came back.He wouldn’t give her any tables now, and that suited her just fine.However, she thought that at nine o’clock, when they were closing, she’d be getting a table out of spite.Even if he had to go out on the streets to find someone to eat there.
As the hours rolled by, she did everything she could to keep herself busy.She’d wiped down all the tables and put fresh tablecloths on the ones that needed them.After filling the salt and pepper containers, she started rolling silverware.It was her least favorite job to do, but it kept her off her feet for a while.At eight forty-five, a couple came into the restaurant, and she finally got a table.
“All we want is some coffee and dessert.I’ve been wanting cheesecake all day.”She took their order and had to stifle a laugh when at nine after nine they were gone.There were other tables aroundthat the other staff had to wait on, and she was out the door by nine fifteen.Never had she felt so good about having a late table as she was tonight.
Calling Gilman to tell him that she was home, he told her that he’d be over in about ten minutes.She told him that she’d have coffee ready, and he was great with that.As soon as she changed out of her uniform, her mom showed up.
“I have company coming, so you can’t stay.”She looked pissed off and asked her what she was doing with company so late on a Friday night.“I’m celebrating.Tonight was my last night, and I’m glad to be finished.Gilman is coming over to have donuts with me, and I don’t want you here.”
“You’re very rude tonight.I was hoping that the two of us could go out to lunch tomorrow.I have to work, but I’ll be able to get off at two.I’m running low again.”She told her mother that she was out of work.“I forgot about that.I guess you’ll be using up all your stash on bills and such.Well, I’m going to need you to get a job quickly.I might need some more help with my bills.You working is the only thing that saves me all the time.”
She was tempted to tell her mom that she wasn’t going to work ever again, but that would require her to explain, and she didn’t know what she’d say to her.She actually had a job lined up for Monday, and she was excited about starting at a new place.It was another waitress job, but the checks would be bigger than they were now, and she might make a bit more.She didn’t have to share her tips either with everyone else, and that would help her as well.
“I’m going to stick around in the event you need me to be here.Besides, I could use a donut or two.I’ve not been able to eat today.It’s been a strange week for my working hours.”She asked her what that meant.“Oh, they caught me doing something that I wasn’t supposed to and have taken a part of my hours away simply because I was caught napping on the job.Everyone else does it, but I’m the only one who got caught.So they cut my hours and told me I obviously needed more sleep, so they’d help me out with that.Helping me out would be giving me a raise instead, but they’re the bosses, and I guess what they said goes.See what I mean about you getting a job.Now that I’ve had my hours cut, I’m going to need for you to step up and help me when I’m due for rent.”
“I start on Monday.That’s not going to be enough time for me to help you out with your rent when I have my own to pay.”There was a knock at the door, and she knew that it was going to be Gilman.“You have to go, Mom.I told you I have plans for this evening, and I don’t want to celebrate with you around.”
“You’re very rude.Are you going to help me out with groceries or not?I don’t have any money right now.”She told her that she should have thought of that before she got caught sleeping on the job.“Everyone else does it.Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because they’re not paying you for sleeping on the job.You shouldn’t have to be told that.And no, I’m not going to help you out with groceries.I know you understand that I just quit my job and have no income right now.Every penny I saved is going for my own rent and food.”Opening the door, she told her mom good night.It wasn’t just Gilman at the door but Penrod as well.And the donuts smelled divine.“I’ll talk to you later in the week next week, and we’ll talk about your job then.Right now, I just want to have fun with the people who came to see me, and that’s all.Your drama is yours, and I’m not going to be helping you with your rent or food.”
Mom turned to her dates for the evening and asked them if they had heard the way that she was talking to her.Then she had the nerve to ask them for one of the donuts.It was Penrod who said no, they were for them, and he stepped in her place.Gilman laughed and went in behind him, and she was left at the door with her mom.
“I hope they give you some horrible disease and that you die a slow and painful death.”She thanked her and told her that it was no less than she expected from her.“You’ll see.When they leave, I’m going to be moving in with you.I told you before that I need money, and you’re going to give it to me one way or the other.I’m your mother.”
“I’m your daughter.Goodbye, Mother.”She shut the door in her face and went to the kitchen.She’d not had time to make the coffee, and that’s what she was doing when Penrod came into the roomwith her.“Thanks for not giving in to her.She can be a pain in the ass when she wants to be.Which is nearly all the time.”
“Is she going to be a problem when we marry?If so, I’d like to know now so that I can start dealing with her soon.”She told him that she was forever a problem and didn’t like to be around her.Then she told him how she’d lost hours because of sleeping on the job.“I’ll take care of her if you want me to.It would be my pleasure.”
“I’ll be fine.”She turned to look at him.“I didn’t think you’d be here.I thought you said you’d not come over with Gilman here.”
“I told him that you said yes, and he said he’d rather I be here so that I could see that you’re just friends.I told him that I trust the two of you, but he insisted.I hope that’s all right.”She nodded and told him it was just fine.“Good.I’m happy for your last day.Let’s have some donuts so that we can celebrate your upcoming new adventure.Before I forget, I have a list of investments I wrote down for you in the event you wanted to try your hand at them.They have a good return on them so far, and I’m happy with all of them.”
“Will you be taking over my money when we marry?”Penrod asked her why he’d do that.“I don’t know.It’s just something that popped into my head.I don’t mind if you help me out with it, and what I have is yours anyway.”
“The same with what I have.It’s all yours, too.”She nodded, not wanting to talk about money right now.She knew that they’d have to eventually, but not tonight.Tonight was for celebrating, and she couldn’t wait.She told him as much.“All right.So long as you realize that what you have belongs to you and what I have belongs to you as well.I want us to be partners in everything that we do.”
“I can’t be a partner until a year from now.I don’t know what it’s going to matter in the long run with us marrying, but my mom is going to be a problem, I think, no matter what happens with us.She’s going to see the name Hathaway and figure that she has money too.”
“I’ll take care of her.She won’t be a problem for very long.”She didn’t know why, but she believed him.She wanted to ask him what his plan was, but decided that she didn’t want to know.Just as long as her mother wasn’t an issue with her money, then she’d be all right with whatever he needed to do to make her understand that she didn’t have any money just because they did.
