Page 38 of Lily
"I have to go," she blurted out to Donny.
"What?" he spluttered. Sam started across the diner, and Lily scrambled to find her words to diffuse the situation as best as she could.
"I mean, ah, I have to get this coffee out and—"
"No coffee. You're off shift."
Lily stared at the man who had always been a little odd and a little crude as a boss, but he had never been like this, irrational and quick-tempered. What was going on? She felt like her world was spinning out of control.
"Donny—"
"Keep pushing it, and you're fired. Move, now." He pointed to the back room and then held out his hand for her apron. "I'll get the new girl on your tables."
"Donny, please, I need this money," Lily tried and he shrugged, giving her a bored look.
"Then you should have thought of that before you decided to have your social hour here. And take your boyfriend out of here with you." He jerked her apron out of her hands and then turned on his heel, storming past Sam who looked like he was about to stop the man, but she gave him a pleading look. Sam frowned and stopped, letting Donny pass him, though the smaller man looked uncomfortable at his presence.
"What happened?" Sam asked, coming to stand in front of her. He reached out and put his hands on her arms. "Baby, you're shaking."
"He wants me off shift," she told him. "I gotta go grab my stuff, okay?"
"What? Why?" he asked, but she shook her head at him.
"I think Ashley should go too. I'll meet you out back in a few minutes." Lily skirted away from him when he looked like he was going to protest. She had just cleared the door to the backroom and was opening up her locker when Darla burst into the back room.
"What the hell was that?" she asked, stabbing a finger at the door still swinging on its hinges.
Lily winced. She hadn't anticipated this kind of reaction from Darla. Maybe Donny was right. "I don't know. I mean, I tried to tell him that—"
"Donny was so far out of line."
Lily blinked in surprise at Darla's outburst. "Really?"
"Uh, yeah." Darla gave her an incredulous look. "How else would you describe what just happened out there. So what? Your boyfriend is here, and so is your friend. You never have anyone in this place and you do good work. He's just power tripping because one of the new girls ripped off the drawer last night."
"Are you serious?" Lily gasped.
"Very serious." Darla crossed her arms and shook her head. "But that doesn't mean he gets to take it out on you. He's only doing it because he knows you won't fight back."
"Ouch." Lily turned as she changed out of her diner dress and into her street clothes. "I know you're right, but it still sucks to hear."
Darla sighed behind her. "I know, but it's the truth. He's out of line taking you off the floor like that. He's out there throwing his weight around, and he owes you an apology, Lily."
"I don't know if I can ask for one. I'm just trying to keep my head above water." She'd made great strides in crossing items off her 'to-do' list, but there was still much to be done, and losing her job wasn't at the top of the list of making positive changes.
"I'm just going to lay low and let this blow over."
"You shouldn't let him treat you like that."
"In a perfect world, it wouldn't be an issue but…" her voice trailed off and she turned, stuffing her work uniform in her bag. "I just don't know what to do, Darla."
Darla sighed and walked forward. "You're a good worker, Lily. I taught you everything I know and I'm an amazing server, so you're at least very good. Do you hear me?"
Lily laughed and gave her friend a quick nod. "Yes, I'm a good worker."
"And good workers don't deserve to be shit on like this. You deserve better. I wouldn't come back until Donny gets his shit together and gives it to you."
"Well, so do you," Lily offered, and Darla waved a hand at her.
