Page 64 of The End of Summer

“Right.”

“Joyce was still upset, though. Jenny would call asking for money from time to time so we worried that things weren’t all roses and sunshine, you know? Ricky was in jail, and he had to pay a hefty fine that wiped out any financial assistance he might have provided them, so he was useless. Joyce kept trying to convince Jenny to come home. She promised we would all pitch in and take care of Kit. But I think Jenny was embarrassed.”

“I get that.”

“Joyce even considered moving to Arizona. But she had a life here: friends, her parents’ house to take care of, not to mention the memories of her entire childhood that she wasn’t ready to walk away from yet.”

“Wait – Arrow still lives in Plymouth?”

“Yeah. She couch surfs at my place in Hyannis sometimes, but her actual house is in Plymouth. It’s the house she grew up in. My parents live across the street.”

“That’s a hike.”

“Yep. Truth be told, I think she’s been holding on to the house instead of selling it in the hopes that Jenny will come back home with Kit,” Cherry explains. “Anyway, right after Kit’s first birthday, Ricky got out early for good behavior and moved back in with Jenny. That was when Joyce decided to buckle down and open Cosmo. She knew she could be making real money if she set it up the right way. Now, she Venmos Jenny and Kit money every week. She just couldn’t stand the thought of them living in squalor with an asshole like Ricky because Jenny’s too proud to do the right thing and come back here.”

“How old is Kit?” I wonder.

“She just turned four.”

“So, Cosmo has been around for three years?”

“No,” Cherry says. “Joyce opened it last year. We had to study pole first, which is how we met Saffron and Indigo. Joyce also had to figure out all the necessary parts of running her own business. We had to scout out a location, paint, get the poles, find clients, all that stuff.” She pauses, as if she’s remembering. “It’s been really good for Joyce, though. It’s given her something to focus on, especially since it benefits Kit and Jenny.”

I let everything she’s told me sink in. “Man,” I exhale. “It’s crazy, if you think about it.”

“What is?”

“How little you can know about someone who you see every day.”

“Yeah. Joyce keeps everything real close to the vest,” she says. “I mean, I get it. This is the only family she’s got. She’s protective. I would be, too.”

“So, how long do you think she’ll be gone for?”

“No clue. Doesn’t sound good, though. I’m sure she’ll be out at least a few days.”

“And you’re not coming back for…”

“My post-op care plan says two to four weeks. But I can probably come back in about a week and a half. I just can’t dance for a while, because of the incision.”

“Got it,” I reply. I take a breath. “Okay. So, what can we do to help?”

“You’re doing it. Just keep the business running smoothly. I’ll be back in action next week. I can run shots if you can cover the pole for me.”

“That’s fine. And I’m here if you think of anything else.”

“Try not to worry. Joyce chose you for a reason. I mean, you’re smart, you’ve got a good work ethic, you’re always on time, you’re willing to do basically whatever she tells you to, and your job includes running things that matter a lot to her without anyone around.”

"I don’t get any of those vibes from her, to be completely honest. But I’ll take your word for it.”

“How do you mean?”

“She’s not particularly nice to me.”

"Joyce isn’t nice to anyone. She figures that if she gets attached, she’ll only get hurt. You’re a temp, Summer – it makes sense that she would put her faith in someone who’s going to leave no matter what. That way, she doesn’t have to get all invested in caring about you personally. Like I said, you’re a hard worker, so I think she expects that you’re not going to disappoint her, but if you do, she won’t have to worry about losing a friend over it, seeing as how you have an expiration date.”

“Wow,” I say. “That’s… that’s a pretty sad outlook.”

“Yeah. Well, she’s had a pretty sad life.”

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