Page 14 of Lost Little Boy
“If you’re sure…” Maryellen put our plates down and studied Wex for a moment. “I’ve seen you in here before.” She reached into her apron and pulled out her phone, taking a picture of the two of us before she walked away.
“That sounded rather ominous, didn’t it? I’m sorry for grabbing you, but this isn’t going the way I wanted it to go. You’re a handsome guy, and I love that you had the guts to ask me to go to the camp with you. I just wanted to get to know you. I wasn’t trying to poke around in your life andcriticize. If that’s what I did, I’m sorry.” He opened a paper napkin and draped it over his lap.
Now I felt like an ass. I took a napkin of my own and placed it in my lap before I picked up my knife and fork. “No, you weren’t. I’m just touchy about my past. I didn’t grow up like most people. After my father died, my mom fell into a deep depression. My older sister and I were homeschooled before his death, and we were up to grade level, but when Mom didn’t file curriculum plans with the school district for the school year after his passing, a social worker showed up at our place and took all of us away. I didn’t know a curriculum plan needed to be sent to the school district, so it was my fault we were taken away and then split up.”
I glanced up to see Wex had stopped eating. Instead, he was studying me as I wolfed down my food. I put down my fork and knife and picked up the napkin to wipe the syrup from my lips.
“I’m sorry. I don’t tell people that story because I expect I’ll get the look that you have on your face right now. I’m still alive. I went on to get my GED at sixteen instead of going to high school like the other boys at the home where I lived. At eighteen, I graduated from the foster system, and I was on my own. I’ve worked odd jobs and learned things, which is how I got the job at Grassley Industries.I’m no charity case.” It sounded harsher than I’d intended, so instead of apologizing again, I picked up my fork and knife and finished my food.
Wex sat there, silent and unmoving. I cleaned my plate and pulled out my wallet. When Maryellen looked our way, I mimed signing a check to signal for the bill, and when she dropped it off, I saw she’d written a phone number on the bottom.
“Uh, is thatyournumber?” I asked as I opened my wallet to pay the check. Aside from being in her fifties, she wasn’t what I was looking for in a date.
Wex gently put his hand over mine before he tossed a credit card on the table. Maryellen picked it up and stared at me. “It’s the number for the human trafficking hotline.”
I almost laughed that she’d think Wex was a trafficker. He appeared every bit the gentleman he was.
Wex walked me out to his car and opened the door. I got inside as he went around and entered on the driver’s side. He dropped the keys in the console and sat there staring through the windshield.
“I can take the bus. It’s not that far from here.” It was just after ten, and I knew the last bus that ran from that area to my complex was at eleven thirty.
“No, no. I’ll take you home. Can I ask you a question?” He turned to look at me.
“Sure.” Whether I’d answer was another matter.
“Have you seen your brothers and sisters since you were separated from them?” His voice was slow and steady.
“No. They wouldn’t tell me anything about where they ended up, or if they were together. The social worker only told me she was hopeful about keeping them together.”
Wex nodded and started the car to take me home. I took a twenty from my wallet and left it in the cupholder for my dinner before I got out of the car when we arrived at my complex. “Thanks. I don’t expect you to go with me to the Pride Camp. I don’t really want to go now, anyway.”
I slammed the door and went inside, assuming I’d never hear from Wex Grassley again. All I hoped was that he allowed me to keep my job.
Chapter Eight
Wex
The details of Perry Castle’s life had me dumbstruck. That night when I arrived at the corporate apartment where I was staying in Arlington near the Liberty Building, I went to bed, tossing and turning all night.
I’d heard of people’s lives falling apart with the death of a loved one, but his mother had fivechildren—fiveyoungchildren—depending on her. How could she let them down that way?
When I woke early the next morning, it was hard not to feel sorry for Perry, though I was sure that wasn’t what he wanted. I decided instead of pitying him, I’d do everything in my power to lift him up and help him get the life he wanted. The life I believed he more than deserved.
The first step was to find out more about the camp, so I showered, dressed, and went to the office. I walked down the hallway to Nancy’s office to find fucking Richard Jenkins sitting in her guest chair, hands flailing. I didn’t knock, opening the door to surprise the two of them.
“Uh, Wex, I’m having a staff meeting.” Nancy stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.
I picked up the phone extension by the couch and dialed Human Resources. Victoria Wintz was the director, and I’d been so frazzled the previous day that I’d forgotten to call her.
“Human Resources. This is Victoria.”
I was surprised she’d answered her own phone. “Hi Victoria. Wex Grassley here. Can you come down to Nancy’s office please? There’s an employee issue we need to address.”
“I’m on my way, Wex.”
I hung up and turned to Nance. “We have a problem with Mr. Jenkins. Did he tell you what happened yesterday afternoon in the Children’s Center?”
Nancy gave me hermomlook that told me she didn’t want to deal with my bullshit, but tough. We were equals in the company, and with Dad on vacation, it was time for Nancy to show him she had the balls to run the company. Firing Richard Jenkins would be a great way to do it.
