Page 7 of Paper Hearts & Plot Twists

Patty seated herself in seat two, right between where Miles and Mason would sit. She kicked her flip-flops to the floor. “You have to take your shoes and socks off,” she said to the boys, when she noticed they were sitting but not doing so.

They got to work and settled their feet into the hot water Tony had set up for them while they were getting situated. Patty was already leaning back, chair massage going, and a margarita in hand.

“How did you get a drink so fast?” Mason asked incredulously.

“I ordered it after I took my shoes off. A pedicure isn’t complete without a drink in hand,” she explained.

Miles laughed and asked for the same when one of the workers offered him a drink. Mason decided on a Red Bull, since he was driving. He could handle one drink and still drive, but he didn’t want to risk the disappointed look his mom would send his way if he even attempted one.

The next hour was spent having what the salon referred to as a Deluxe Pedicure: feet soaking, nail clipping, foot scrubbing (and no, Mason and Miles did not laugh during that process), exfoliation, waxing, and finally lotion. Patty ended her whole experience with nail polish, but Miles and Mason drew the line at that one, holding strong despite her appeal for the opposite.

While Mason was putting his shoes and socks on and Patty was getting her nails painted, Miles hurried to the front to pay for the whole experience. Knowing his mom, she’d get cross about someone paying her bill, but she deserved a little pampering after the hell they’d given her as teenage rascals.

“What next?” Miles asked as they exited the salon. His feet felt softer than ever, though he’d never tell his mom that.

“Family photos, of course,” Patty responded with a beaming grin. “I’ve been on the wait list for photos with Natalie Brenner Photography, and she was able to fit me into her schedule today since I knew you both were going to be here with me. We haven’t had new family photos on the wall since your senior year.”

“Why on earth would we need family photos?” Mason asked, eyes wide and mouth open in shock. Miles would be more amused by the horrified look on his brother’s face if he wasn’t sure it matched his own.

“I just told you,” Patty said. “I want my babies on my wall, and since neither of you are trying very hard to give me grandbabies or daughters-in-law, I’m not ordering Christmas cards and calendars. This is the next best thing, I suppose.”

“You have to be dating someone for grandbabies and daughters-in-law to be in the picture,” Miles said with a chuckle. “Now Mason here could make his deal official and you’d be well on your way.”

“He won’t even introduce the girl to us,” Patty responded with a lighthearted glare toward Mason.

“All in good time,” Mason said with a laugh.

“I’d tell you to hop on it, but it seems that advice goes in one ear and out the other, so instead I’m telling you to get ready to listen to Natalie’s instructions, because it’s my birthday and I paid a lot of money for this opportunity.”

Mason and Miles looked at each other before turning back to their mom, resigned to their fate. This wasn’t a battle they’d be able to win. It was better to accept it.

Chapter 4

“I can do this. I can make it through one more awful week of work,” Emily mumbled to herself as she lifted another box of chocolates and stacked it on the shelf. “This week ends with my vacation. This is manageable. I can do hard things.”

“Hey, Palmer!” Emily cringed hearing the familiar voice and the heavy footsteps coming closer and closer to her shelves. Since Jeff had become her manager, he hadn’t pronounced her name right once. It was always Palmer, or Emery, Emma, or even Parson. Every time he got her name wrong and she had to correct him, rage burned in her chest, but she was powerless to do anything about it. She knew he must know her actual name and he did this purposefully, some misguided power trip. Every single time he said the wrong name he smirked. Emily wanted to slap that smirk off his face, but the fall-out wouldn’t be worth it.

This behavior was on par for the type of person Jeff was: a loud man, boisterous and cocky. His every sound and movement reflected those loud personality traits. She’d have to throw the world’s biggest celebratory party on the last day she worked under this awful man.

“Palmer, I came to find you to talk about that time-off request. I’m going to have to deny it this time. We’re too short-handed, and Alicia already asked for that time off. You’ll have to cancel the trip.”

Emily continued stacking chocolates on the shelf. She didn’t think she could control her face if she looked at him right now. “Hi, Jeff. I already told you this isn’t something I can negotiate on. I’m going on the trip.”

Emily flinched when a hand landed on the shelf she was stacking, Jeff’s body much too close to her own. She stepped to the side, putting a bit of space between them, and turned her attention toward Jeff. She didn’t want to be caught unaware again.

“You can’t leave me and your co-workers shorthanded. That’s not how this job works. You take time off when it’s approved, otherwise you work the shifts you’re assigned. You’re assigned a ten on Friday and a twelve on Saturday.”

“Then you need to reassign those shifts or take them yourself,” Emily said. She shrugged, trying to come off nonchalantly, though it felt more robotic than anything.

“That’s not how this works,” Jeff snapped. He stepped closer, and Emily mirrored the step, moving away from him. “If you want to keep this job, you need to be a team player and do the shifts you’re assigned.”

“If that’s how this goes, I don’t need this job,” Emily responded. Her heart pounded in her chest, wondering what would happen. She stared at Jeff’s mouth, too nervous to look him directly in the eyes.

Jeff growled and spun on his heel. Emily watched him stomp down the aisle. She listened as his steps faded into nothingness. She stood for a long moment, staring at the empty space he’d occupied. She knew this wasn’t the last she’d hear of this and dreaded what would come next from that man.

She resolved that she’d start applying for other jobs. These pre-vacation interactions would be the last of him. She’d make sure of that.

As Emily pushed through the week of work, she gritted her teeth and smiled through Jeff complaining about her trip and trying to convince her she couldn’t go. Emily would nod her head, but refused to cancel, much to his chagrin. Outside of work, Emily was applying to at least one job a day. One of the opportunities had to click.

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