“You got it.”
Chrissy imagined him giving her a salute. “Okay. Well, I’ll let you go. I’m sure you have things to do and coffee to drink.” Ugh, she sounded lame. Just because he drank coffee every time she saw him didn’t mean that’s all he drank when he got home.
His deep chuckle filtered through the phone and washed over Chrissy. Her heart did a little flip, which she chose to ignore.
“I’ll see you at five on Sunday. Bye, Chrissy.”
“Goodbye.”
The conversation only helped Chrissy feel a little better as she drove home. Emma looked up from her spot at the kitchen counter when Chrissy walked in.
“Oh, good. Help me chop some veggies, will you?” She slid a cutting board in Chrissy’s direction and then handed her a knife. “Mom’s taking a shower before dinner. She has to be at work early tomorrow for a meeting or something.”
Chrissy took the knife and started chopping carrots and celery. “What are we making here?”
“Stir fry with noodles. It just sounded good.” Emma added salt and pepper to the pork she was cooking. When she reached for a high-sodium seasoning, Chrissy cleared her throat which only earned her a sharp look from her sister. “Don’t start with me. I need some flavor in my food tonight.”
Chrissy frowned. Emma had been great with her strict diet since her heart transplant. In fact, Chrissy admired her for it. If Emma was willing to throw it all away on a random Wednesday, something must have happened. She stayed silent, though, and waited for Emma to say something first. Chrissy knew full well that pushing her sister never made a difference.
The sounds of her knife working collided with the sizzling of the meat in the skillet. It was only after they’d added the vegetables that Emma released a heavy sigh and leaned against the counter. “I didn’t get the job.”
“What?” Chrissy joined her, their elbows touching. “I thought they weren’t going to let you know until Monday.”
“Either they found the perfect employee right off, or they knew immediately I wasn’t right for the position.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice. “I needed that job, Chris.”
“I know.”
“And you’re glad I didn’t get it.” There was no accusation there, just finality.
“I am. But only for your health, Emma. Your life is more important than how much money you’re bringing in.” Chrissy nudged her. “I’m serious.”
“I know you are. But I hate that you and Mom are working like crazy to pay for my medical issues. It’s not fair to either of you.”
Shuffling noises brought their attention to Mom standing in the doorway. “I don’t hear either of us complaining,” she said.
Emma sniffed. “Maybe not, but it’s still really messed up.” When both Chrissy and Mom stuck their tongues out at her, Emma finally chuckled softly. “You two are something else, you know that?”
Mom came into the room and pulled her daughters into a hug. “Things aren’t easy right now, but we’ve got each other’s back. The important thing is we’re together. We’re all here and alive and healthy. Everything else is gravy.”
Chrissy hadn’t known when to tell them about her weird date with Wyatt, but this seemed like an opportune time. “I’ve got your medication covered for the month.” When they both looked at her in surprise, she elaborated. “I’m being paid five hundred dollars to go on a date with a guy who frequents the coffee shop.”
They stared at her as though waiting for her to start laughing. Emma’s mouth opened slightly and closed again. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not, I promise.” As they finished dinner, Chrissy told them all about the weird arrangement. Mom thought it was hilarious, while Emma teased Chrissy mercilessly.
“You just watch, Chris. You’re going to go and fall in love with him. And one day, he’ll tell your kids that he had to pay you to go on your first date together.”
~*~
Wyatt glanced at Chrissy out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting in the passenger seat of his Jeep, her hands clasped together in her lap. He took in her jeans, scoop-neck shirt, and the way she had a bit of her hair pinned back and smiled.
She’d barely said a word since he’d picked her up from the address she’d texted to him. At the time, he couldn’t help but notice the two other women watching from one of the small windows in the front of the house. A house that was not only tiny, but also in desperate need of some repairs. The paint was faded, and the minuscule yard required some care as well.
“So, our audience. Were they related to you or just friends?”
Chrissy looked at him with a puzzled expression before it melted to a small smile. “That was my sister and my mom. They find this entire situation very amusing.”
“You told them that I’m paying you?” For some reason, Wyatt had just assumed he and Chrissy were the only two people who would know about it. Had he known her family was watching, he wouldn’t have just handed Chrissy half the money before opening the Jeep’s door for her. He could only imagine what they must think of him.
