Page 17 of Love and Cherish

Cherish stopped at the side of Haylee’s desk. As Haylee turned from her screen to look up into Cherish’s eyes—Christ, those eyes could launch ships—Cherish chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Haylee asked, her cheeks warming. Her thoughts hadn’t been on display like a Sims character, had they? Unsure what had gotten into everyone today, including herself, Haylee refused to let her worries go down that path any longer. Perhaps she had stepped through a portal into the world of topsy-turvy. That was far more preferable than her thoughts being transparent.

“Your calendar reminder.” Cherish gave a small jerk of her chin, indicating the monitor.

“Oh.” Haylee turned back to see the big letters staring at her. Her breath shortened in anticipation of one of Cherish’s don’t-say-a-thing-wrong-about-Ms-Aarts rants.

“It’s fine. But if you think that was Febe going bat shit crazy, that has nothing on what happened at the gala.” Cherish shook her head a little, a smile playing at her lips but never quite blooming fully.

“Really?” Haylee knew Febe was icy and could cut with words, but until now she had always been in control. She hadn’t been a bully, just cold. There had never been a doubt in Haylee’s mind that Febe would win whatever battle she faced, whether it was firing someone or having to explain to a client the reason they couldn’t get their therapist’s personal number.

“She won’t need much today,” Cherish said with a sigh. “Or rather, what she needs isn’t something we can give her, and she knows that.”

“What about the meetings?” Panic rose in Haylee’s chest. She couldn’t expose this Febe Aarts to the world. The world wouldn’t survive it.

“Already canceled.” Cherish smiled, a devious look in her eyes. “Or never actually booked to begin with.”

“What?” Haylee’s mouth gaped open, a small nervous laugh escaping as the panic disappeared in a rush of unspent adrenaline.

“I hope that one year the day will pass, and she’ll shrug, shed a tear, and move forward. But until that day comes, I’ll continue to treat it as any other day, knowing it’s anything but and being prepared for the consequences. She’ll apologize to me tomorrow.”

“What is it then?” Haylee itched to know. It was yet another small piece of the gala puzzle. It had to be. Another piece that didn’t fit in with the meager few she had collected since first being told she would need to help with the gala. She sighed at the mental picture that formed in her mind. Several isolated pieces floating around a large desktop with no hints for the bigger picture in sight. At the very least, it would be another piece to the puzzle that was Febe Aarts.

“It’s a hard day for Ms. Aarts. That’s all you need to know.” Cherish moved around and returned to her desk, her voice low and soft. “As I said, she won’t need much today. If you would like to have an extended lunch, feel free, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“What?” Haylee’s breath quickened once more. She couldn’t handle much more of this. The ups and downs were too much. What the hell would be thrown at her next? Last week she was being yelled at for not being willing to stay late, and today she was being sent home early? That was a definite sign she would be fired soon. Why would Cherish tease her with remembering the day next year comment? That was just cruel.

“You will of course be paid for the entire day.” Cherish’s lips pursed together with distaste, misunderstanding Haylee’s reaction.

“And what will you do, Cherish?” Sure, getting paid to play hooky would be great, but that wasn’t what concerned her right now, far from it.

“I’ll do my job, just like I do every year,” Cherish replied with a determination that filled Haylee with respect and a little sadness.

“If she doesn’t need us to be here, why don’t we both go out for lunch?” Haylee knew it wouldn’t happen, but she had to try at least.

Cherish’s gaze locked on Haylee’s, and a shiver ran through her. Haylee held her breath. Why had she asked that? Why had she even offered? They hadn’t done lunch together since that one day, when Cherish had snagged her phone and ran back to work as soon as Febe called. She was sure the same thing would happen again. Cherish proved it, repeatedly.

And it wasn’t like she could afford lunch anyway. Her checking account was empty, and her credit cards were nearly maxed out.

“I’d like that.” Cherish’s eyes widened as though she hadn’t meant to let the words come out. “But while she may not need much, she will still need a few things as the day goes on. Like coffee and food.”

“You’re a good person, Cherish.” Haylee’s words hit a truth she hadn’t even realized until now. Cherish might be cold and clipped, professional to the point of bitchy at times, but behind everything she did was a caring kindness that others didn’t see. Haylee certainly hadn’t seen it immediately.

Cherish’s face colored as she dropped her gaze to her screen. Even before Cherish spoke, Haylee knew the conversation was over.

“Have a nice break, Haylee. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Haylee wanted to argue. She wanted to max out that last card for even a little glimpse into Cherish’s world. She wanted to stay and help Cherish deal with whatever verbal abuse might be flung at her when that door opened again.

But really, if Cherish didn’t want her there, what was the point?

Haylee collected her bag and belongings and headed out. Her mind raced, and her thoughts tried to force those few pieces together. What could possibly be so bad that explaining it was worse than whatever had just happened in the office? Or what had sunk last year’s gala? Surely if Haylee understood what had happened, what today meant or triggered, she would be more capable of helping Cherish ensure the foundation didn’t lose its funding and end up closing.

Haylee sat at the stop, waiting for her bus. A half-hour wait with the sounds of cars driving by and snippets of stranger’s conversations keeping her company. It was a nice change from the intensity of the office that morning.

“I hate asking for help. I don’t want it. Please, John, all I need is your understanding.” A lady, harried and weighed down with too many bags, spoke into the phone cradled between her shoulder and ear. She pushed through the spill of passengers disembarking from the latest bus that had screeched to a stop.

The words hit Haylee like a slap to the cheek.

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