Page 65 of All the Ugly Things
“It’s possible I might be leaving Judith’s for a job at Valor Holdings soon.”
“I see.” She clasped her hands together in front of her, her back to the window. “How has all of this happened?”
It was the first time I mentioned the name Valentine or their company and a woman’s eyes didn’t flash with interest or intrigue. Instead, Ellen seemed wary.
Not the reaction I’d expected and the look in her eyes made me stumble over my explanation.
“I’m not one hundred percent certain. David… I mean, Mr. Valentine, he came into Judith’s several months ago and kept returning. Eventually we started talking about my schooling and what I was looking for afterward. He offered to help get me a part-time job at his company a couple of weeks ago.”
“Did he?” A muscle on the side of her nose twitched, making me pause before I continued.
“That last time we had dinner? When I asked you about trusting people, I was talking about them.”
She didn’t seem happy about this, perhaps resigned? But why would Ellen care where I worked? Certainly it was better for me than a diner or automotive garage.
I felt the sudden urge to reassure her. Or defend myself. I wasn’t used to her questioning my choices, but then again, she’d essentially been making them for me. Maybe she was more upset I did this without talking to her first than she was letting on.
“I haven’t fully decided if I’m going to yet, but it seems like too good of an opportunity for me to turn down.”
“Very well.” She nodded. “I suppose my work for the day is done here. You’ll keep me updated on your decision?”
“Of course.” We both knew her question was more demanded expectation. “And if I choose to leave Judith’s, I’ve already let Mr. Valentine know I’ll need to give my two weeks’ notice.”
“Excellent. We’ll speak soon, then.”
She headed toward my front door, scooping up her purse she left on the kitchen bar and draped it over her shoulder. With her hand on the doorknob, she glanced at me over her shoulder. “The Valentines are good people. Well respected in this city and the entire state. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect men. Remember that.”
She left and closed the door behind her, slamming the door closed on my excitement and my need to have her approval.
I didn’t grow up with a mother who guided me in life, but one who stood on the sidelines for her own protection, as futile as it was.
Silly me for even considering Ellen was becoming that mother figure to me I so desperately needed.
* * *
A familiar pinkand black checked backpack slid onto the desk next to me right before Angie followed, slipping into the seat. She’d taken to sitting in the back row of class with me.
“Hey,” she said, chomping on a piece of gum. Peppermint, by the smell of it. “Have a good weekend?”
“Yeah. I did.” My grin shook as a flood of warm ripples ran down my spine. This girl didn’t care about my past. What I’d done or where I’d been. Somehow she kept injecting herself into my life with a smile and kind word. “Yours?”
“All right. My little sister got sick with croup, so Mom had to take her to the hospital. She was so bone-tired Sunday I had to watch both of my younger siblings. That sucked, but my brother, Josiah, wasn’t a jerk and helped so yeah.” She shrugged. “It was decent. You ready for this test on Thursday?”
“Not even in my dreams,” I admitted. “Any chance you’d be willing to help?”
I’d put it off for weeks. Asking didn’t come easy to me, even prior to incarceration. But I no longer lived in a ramshackle of a home, and I was taking Nancy’s long ago given advice.
It wouldn’t kill you to open up. It is possible for you to have friends again. A life.
I scoffed then, but so much changed in the last month.
Now, I naively pictured girls’ nights with laughter and meat and cheese boards while watching reality television or frivolous sitcoms I could now view on my forty-inch flat screen TV.
“Sure. I can help with your accounting if you tell me all about how you know Hudson Valentine.”
She said his name like he was a prince. The mere mention of his name sent a warm flutter to my stomach, which I tried to push down.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
