Irritated I wouldn’t have the info to read now, I snapped, “I need a new phone for her.”
He reached back on his desk and grinned as he held one out. “You mean like this?”
I swiped it from his hand. “Cocky fucker.”
He leaned back, crossing his arms this time. “Learned from the best.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow. Will you have data from her phone ready by then?”
“Yep. I won’t have it all read myself but I’ll scan keywords, read what I can, and print it off for you,” he said.
“Alright, I’ll be by late morning, then. Appreciate it,” I told him as I left, heading back to the back door again.
After walking back around the building, I went to the SUV, replaced her phone in her purse, then walked back inside to the bar.
She was having a burger and fries. Her drink didn’t look alcoholic. Ma and the ladies that tended bar all had experience and never served drinks in the wrong glass. Katarina was chewing and smiling, listening intently to Daisy. God knowswhat they were talking about.
I walked over and leaned in so she could hear me. “I’m gonna grab a bite then we can go home.”
She gave me a thumbs up because her mouth was full, so I walked on by and poked my head into the kitchen.
Ma looked up and grabbed a plate off the counter. “Order up.”
“Thanks,” I said, shoving a fry in my mouth.
“You gonna just stand there?”
Nodding, I grabbed the burger and took a huge bite. She rolled her eyes, then walked around me and out of the kitchen. Just a minute later, she returned with a beer and a soda, not saying a word but leaving them next to my plate.
“Thank you.”
She went back to whatever she was prepping, probably for in the morning.
I washed down a bite of burger with the soda, then said, “She’s pretty.”
“That she is. She’s sweet, too. We chatted a lot on the ride.”
“Sweet, huh? Think she’ll be okay here?” I asked before taking another big bite. Neither of us looked at each other, just made small talk as we went on with our business.
Ma chuckled. “Well, she put Rod on the ground. I think she’ll be alright.”
Another few minutes passed with nothing but the soundsof her clanking around and me eating.
I was nearly done when Ma tore some paper towels off the roll and shoved them at me. Instead of grabbing the paper towels, I grabbed her hand. “I’m glad you were there.”
She finally looked at me. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“And thank you for driving her back.” I let go of her hand and took another bite of burger.
“Ya know, since you trusted me with her, I’d love it if I could go to the store without a babysitter.”
I swallowed my bite. “What store?”
“ The grocery store,” she said. “Just up the road. The guys drive me crazy and throw too much shit in my buggy.”
Sighing, I said, “Fine. But no further. And I’ll know if you do.” I shoved a few more fries in my mouth then said, “How do you think she’ll do?”
Ma shrugged. “We’ll break her in soon enough. I think she’ll fit in just fine around here.” Ma patted my hand. “Can’t believe I’m not the First Lady anymore, though,” she said, a slight break in her voice before she went back to her workstation.
