Page 20 of Cash

“Okay, honey. What do you need?”

“A job. I want to earn money not just have it given to me. I want to earn my own. Everyone here would give me whatever I wanted, and I know that, but that’s not what I want. I need to make my own. Not that I’m not grateful for everything I’ve been given, but I want to earn my way too. I’m not explaining this well,” Bella says in a frustrated tone.

“I get what you’re saying, Bella. What I don’t get is why not charge for all the babysitting you do for Gunner and Axel? Why don’t you ask Ava for pay when you help out at the bakery? I just assumed you got paid for those things,” I ask.

“No. I won’t take money for babysitting or helping out family. They’ve done so much for me as it is, it’s the least I can do back for them. I love doing things for them. If they knew I wanted to earn my own money, they’d insist on paying me. I won’t do that, Cash. Besides, I’ve had that argument with all of them many times before. You know Gunner and Axel can get pretty loud when they don’t get their way, right?”

That gets a laugh out of me. I do know how loud they can get, but I also know how stubborn Bella can be when she’s made up her mind about something. My smile lingers while thinking of the look that crosses her face whenever she’s standing her ground.

“Okay, little one. How can I help? I could hire you to help with my lawn and pool. That work for you?” I ask.

“No, Cash. That’s no different than me helping Ava. You’re my family too, and I’m not charging you for anything. Do you need help with your lawn and pool though?” Bella questions while bumping our shoulders together once.

“No, I don’t, but if you want the job, I’ll hire you,” I grin at her as I bump her back.

“I’m too young to go out and get a real job. Mom and Pops would never let me wander around the neighborhood asking to mow lawns or weed gardens anyway. Besides, can you even imagine how many times a day Axel would drive past checking up on me?” Bella groans.

“I have an idea if you’re sure this is something you really want to do. Would you be willing to spend time with the Aunts and help them with little chores around the house? They insist they can do everything on their own, but you could be a huge help to them, and they’d love the company.”

“Oh my God, Cash! I’d love that! They’re so cool and…” Bella says excitedly before her voice trails off.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, confused as to why she’s now frowning.

“I’d love to do that, but I’m not sure it would be right to charge them for it. They’re kind of my family too. And spending time with them isn’t a chore.”

“I’d pay you because it would make me feel better knowing they have someone there with them. I worry about them all the time. Dad does too. Even if it’s just a few hours a day, it would help a lot, Bella. We’ve been trying to talk them into moving in with one of us for a while now, and they won’t. This would be a great compromise. But this can’t happen unless both Trudy and Petey agree with it, okay?”

“Yeah, okay. I still feel funny about taking money for that though,” Bella responds.

“Don’t. It’s either pay you or pay someone else to do it.”

“Are you sure you trust me to look out for them?”

“Absolutely.”

“Are you trying to steal my girl?” Pooh hollers from the back door of the kitchen.

“Did you buy Axel that shirt?” I holler back as Bella giggles.

Pooh doesn’t hesitate even a second before disappearing back into the kitchen. I laugh when I see Pippa, Pooh’s woman, giving me a grin and the thumbs-up gesture through the window.

“Will you talk to Mom and Pops with me?” Bella asks.

“Absolutely, doll. Let’s get that done now.”

*~*~*~*

It’s a couple of mornings after the club dinner, and I’m consuming my first cup of coffee. I like the peace and quiet I get at home in the mornings. Once I’m at the gym, my head is battered with noise the whole day. Weights banging down, phone ringing, Axel and Pooh arguing about some nonsense. I’m usually the one who opens the gym because I’m an early riser, but today is the one day a week that I don’t go in until 11am.

My quiet time is interrupted by my phone going off. Glancing down, I see it’s a call from Axel. He’s supposed to open the gym today, and my first thought is that he can’t for some reason. I pick up the phone, click accept and hear Axel’s voice before the phone is even to my ear.

“Cash. You need to come to the gym. Right the fuck now.”

“Morning to you too, Sunshine,” I answer back.

“Seriously, brother, you need to get over here right now,” Axel says in a quiet voice.

The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and my gut drops. Something’s wrong and my mind starts racing. There’s none of the usual humor in his tone, and that’s enough to get me on my feet and moving.

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