Page 10 of Scooter's Endgame
My mind races as I consider all the ways I could reply to her, but knowing that most will send her running, I finally just settle on, “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Do I need any more of a reason than that?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I’ve never been in this situation before.”
“By now you know I’m not like everyone else. Military are family, and we take care of our own. You know the drill.”
“Yeah, I guess I do, even if I’ve never understood it.”
It hurts me to know that no one has ever once taken care of Kathleen. She’s the kind of woman who should be loved, honored, and cherished for eternity. How has nobody seen the value of that? Of what she brings to this world?
“Talk to me, sweet pea. Tell me what’s going on.”
Despite the reluctance clearly stamped all over her face, Kathleen starts to talk, and I don’t like what I hear. “That day at the hospital, when I went to pay the bill, our health insurance was declined. I thought it was strange, but no big deal, I would simply pay with our debit card. That too was declined.
“But it was only when the credit card was declined that I really started to panic. I tried to reach Jeff, but his phone was off. Eventually, I was forced to give up. I went back to the cashier – Carol has been there a long time now, and we’ve gotten to know each other over the years – to try and make some arrangement.
“When I got back to her counter, she said someone had paid the bill. I still have no idea who it was. But that wasn’t the worst of it. After you dropped Luke and me off at home, Jeff was waiting for me. We got into an argument.
“Then two men in uniform came to the house and told Jeff he needed to go with them. It didn’t sound good. And they certainly didn’t seem to like him very much. I’m guessing whatever happened while he was gone was bad, because he was madder than a wet hen when he got back. So mad, in fact, he told me we were over, that he was going out for a few hours and to make sure to be out of the house by the time he got back. And that was that. He left, and I did as I was told.”
My blood boils at her words. I knew Gonzo was scum, I just didn’t know how much. The man is batshit crazy – that’s how he got his nickname during training – but not in a good way. But to throw his own family out? Yeah, that’s low. Then again, I guess it’s not so surprising since he already has a replacement all set up.
I can see there’s more to the story by the fear in her eyes. “Where are you staying? How are you supporting yourself?” Once again, Kathleen worries at her thumb nail, not meeting my eyes. “Kay.”
“At a women’s shelter, okay?”
My gut clenches. I hate the thought of her being in a place like that. Especially with a young child. “How are you supporting yourself?”
Her sigh is a little irritated and a whole lot soul-weary. “I managed to save a little money over the years, but it’s not going to last forever.” She’s quiet for so long I think she’s done talking. But then she turns devastated eyes on me. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t find work.
“I have no experience, and nobody wants to take a chance on me. The money’s going to run out sooner rather than later, and I have no idea how I’m going to take care of my son. God forbid, he has a serious asthma attack, because I can’t pay for it …”
The more she talks the faster her words and her breathing get. To stave off a panic attack, I take her hand in mine, brushing my fingers over hers. “Easy there, sweet pea. It’ll all work out.” Kathleen shakes her head, but before she can say anything, I continue. “You said you have no experience. Did you mean for a specific job, or just in general?”
“In general. I met Jeff and fell pregnant not too long after I got out of school. He wanted me to be a stay-at-home mom – didn’t want some stranger looking after his child. So, I never got an opportunity to gain work experience. Now I’m struggling to find work because I chose to stay home with my boy.”
“What kind of work have you been looking for?”
“Anything. Literally anything I can get an interview for.” She hangs her head. “That’s what I was doing at Aces. I went to ask if they had any vacancies. I’m willing to wait tables, bartend – hell, I’m even willing to wash dishes if it means earning money.”
My mind races at her words. I’ve been using a cleaning service for years, but lately have been toying with the idea of getting a housekeeper to take care of the house and keep an eye on the grounds. Grams left money in a trust for the upkeep of the house since she didn’t want to burden me with the cost – not that I can’t afford it, but that was Grams.
Now I’m sitting here, looking at this incredible woman with more strength and resilience than a lot of men I know, and feeling like it’s kismet. I want a housekeeper, and she needs a job.
“It seems we were meant to cross paths today, sweet pea.”
Kathleen frowns at me. “What do you mean?”
“Well, it just so happens that I’ve been considering taking on a housekeeper instead of continuing to use a cleaning service like I have been. You need a job. Makes me wonder if this isn’t the universe’s way of giving us both what we want.” Hope and caution war in her eyes. “Is that something you’d be interested in?”
“Absolutely. But I don’t expect you to hire me out of pity.”
“I wouldn’t do that. Someone I can trust is more important to me than a person with experience. I know and trust you, so it just makes sense. Personally, I think it’s a match made in heaven.” To sweeten the deal, I continue. “It would be a live-in position, so your accommodation would be taken care of.”
I can see that has her attention. Then I tell how much I’m willing to pay per month, and I can see the hope begin to edge the wariness out. “What would you need me to do? What would my duties be?”
