Page 10 of Sweet Little Thing

“Where?”

“Sunday is my day off. I leave for the morning and the afternoon. Most of the afternoon.”

He waited as if he wanted further explanation. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to tell him about Heidi and Sundays and treats, which would lead to how I afforded that. Portia hadn’t told him about Heidi. There had to be a reason behind why. I knew that Portia took care of Heidi’s home. Now that she was on an allowance and Jasper was controlling the money, I didn’t know how that would be affected. I worked to provide for Heidi’s care. What I earned mostly went toward that.

“My mother tends to live above her means. She knows no limit to spending. My father never limited her. She needs a limit. It isn’t her money. The amount she’s been paying you seems utterly ridiculous to me. Surely you know that $6,000 a month isn’t a normal salary for the job you do here. Portiawas adamant you needed that much. That having been said, I don’t understand why you’d take off Sundays if you’re being paid white collar wages for a job that isn’t white collar. Do you think I’m being unreasonable? If you need Sunday off, I’m fine with that. But we need to discuss a new salary. One that is fair. I don’t know anyone who pays a live-in housekeeper that kind of money. It’s exorbitant.”

Six thousand dollars a month? Portia hadn’t told me the cost of Heidi’s care. I never imagined it was that much. I loved where Heidi was staying. She adored the home and the people, but six thousand dollars was insane. I thought it was something like twenty-five hundred, but never six thousand dollars! I wanted that place for Heidi, but how could I ask them to pay that? Of course, Jasper was right. My job wasn’t worth even half that.

“I. . .” had no idea what to say. Words wouldn’t form in my mouth. If I took off Sunday and he lowered my pay that meant Heidi was out. She’d adjusted to her new home. Heidi was happy and content. How could I end that and move her somewhere else? I was going to have to work nights. Not to save for college but to pay the difference so my sister could remain where she was. I couldn’t expect Jasper to pay me that. He was right. It wasn’t fair at all.

“Okay,” I finally replied. “What’s fair?” I should say more. But I didn’t know what else to say.

“I asked around this week after I saw how much you were getting paid. The average for your job is $2800, with room and board per month. Before she retired, Ms. Charlotte was paid three thousand a month after sixteen years of working here. Considering you’ve been paid $6000 for the past six months of employment, I would hope you’ve saved up money. I think the fair thing to do here is pay you two thousand for the next six months to even out the overwhelming discrepancy. This job can be harder at times. I’ll have more parties, there’ll be moreentertaining, that you’ll be required to prepare for. But you’ve been paid well, I expect you see that, Portia gave you that salary and like anyone else you took it. Can’t say I blame you for that. But, it was too much, entirely over the top.”

Two thousand. I’d need to make four thousand more a month somehow to keep Heidi at the home. How would I do that? It seemed impossible. All I could do was nod my head. I couldn’t argue with him. He didn’t have to take care of my sister. He didn’t have to give me a job. He owed me nothing; for an unknown reason, Portia felt she owed my mother, although that reason was beyond me. Jasper knew less about that than me; I only knew she paid it without a word ever being said.

“Then we’re clear? You’re free to take Sundays off. Starting at the first of the month, your paycheck will be two thousand.”

I nodded again. It was all I could do. What Portia was doing was Portia’s business, and now I was stuck in the middle.

Jasper then gave a tight smile. “Glad we can agree. You handle Portia well. She wants to keep you. That’s not easy to manage. She’s hard to please. I have no fault with your job. You do it well. No complaints. But I would like to add some things to its description. Starting with having my breakfast on the table at eight every morning on the dot. I’ll leave a list of things I prefer and take my coffee black. I also want my bedding changed every three days, and my sheets should be neatly pressed. I need you to keep my fridge stocked with the items I’ll itemize for you. Check it daily and make sure I’m not running low on anything that’s required. I’m sure I’ll have a few more things to add. But we can discuss that later. For now, go enjoy your day off.” His finalizing smile was friendly. He then reached beneath the plastic wrap and took a cookie, which he inspected. “I also like cookies; leaving me some would be much appreciated.” With that, he walked into the house.

I couldn’t move just yet. My stomach was in knots, and myhead was racing to find ways to fix this problem. How to take care of Heidi. How to keep her in the place she was now calling home and make sure the solution was permanent. I turned to see Portia standing inside, absentmindedly watching me. Her face looked unemotional. She was simply staring my way. Would she tell him about Heidi? Was that even an issue? He was not responsible for taking care of my sister or giving me a job. He was giving me a place to live and work. Heidi was close to here. I had to find a solution. I needed a second job. That was the only answer—one where I could make the most money, the hours odd and fitting Jasper’s schedule.

I was going to have to leave Heidi early and see if any clubs were hiring. That would be the best paying job. Perhaps wait tables or serve late at night to early in the morning. The college clubs would let me in. Nineteen-year-olds wore a band on their wrists, marking them as too young to drink. They should be able to hire a nineteen-year-old. Right? I wasn’t sure. I would figure it all out. But for now, I had to go visit my sister, smile, and pretend it was all okay and that our lives, yet again, weren’t held by a thread that just might break. That other, your basic bad luck. It didn’t appear as if Portia could save us. The weight was on my shoulders.

Chapter

Nine

Beulah

The bright lights outside “Rocks on the Riverfront,” an eighteen and up club, were blinding to approach without sunglasses. The spot was located on the roof of a well-known hotel in Savannah, the most popular location for the college crowd anyone had ever chosen in the area. I left Heidi at four today and spent an hour searching for employers. Places that were hiring and open late, or better yet, open all night. Rocks on the Riverfront didn’t get busy until nine in the evening and didn’t close until three in the morning. Those were perfect hours for me.

It wasn’t even seven yet. I’d called asking if they were hiring. A girl sent me to Mr. Carey Jones, the club’s manager and the man that hired. He said to be here at seven, and he’d give me an interview. I knew without him saying a word that he wanted to see what I looked like. At a club like this, it mattered. I hated that, but I was desperate.

The short black skirts and tight halter tops the girls werewearing when I walked in were what I expected to see, though seeing the uniform only made me more nervous. I didn’t dress like that. The most revealing thing I owned was cut-off blue jean shorts. This would be a difficult adjustment. But then again, if it paid enough, and I could afford Heidi’s care, living with the outfit was fine.

“We don’t open for another thirty minutes,” a red-headed girl with long (in no way) natural eyelashes suddenly said, stopping in front of me. No one else had seemed to notice my presence until she bolted over.

“I’m here to meet with Carey Jones,” I replied.

She did a quick scan of me and nodded. “Of course. Right this way.”

The way she walked with her hips swaying made her short skirt ride high, barely covering her bottom. I imagine that got her a lot of tips. She was probably paying for her college. Or maybe she had to take care of someone like I had to do.

“He’s in there. Knock and wait. He’ll answer when he’s done.”

“Thank you,” I replied. I was thankful someone had stopped to say something to me.

“Yep,” she said in return before leaving me standing.

I knocked on the door and waited. I heard voices inside and didn’t want to repeat it, though I wondered if they hadn’t heard me. One voice was female and gave a high-pitched squeal that sounded a little, well, strange to be coming from his office.

Before I rapped again, someone approached from behind and asked, “Are you looking for Carey?” He was tall with brown hair in a ponytail and bright green eyes that glistened.

“Yes.”

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