Page 27 of To Catch a Thief

“I was at Fitzgerald House. The wedding shower luncheon went longer than expected. Cheryl sent a text that you’d arrived early.”

Abby poured glasses of water from the server station and handed Carolina one. They sat at a table with pretty flowers in a small vase. From here, Carolina could see through the large patio doors out into the courtyard gardens.

“Welcome to Southern Comforts.” Abby smiled. “I think you’ll be a great addition to our staff.”

“Thank you.”

“Naomi should have given you a good introduction to working the bar.” Abby talked through wages, benefits and scheduling. “I know we talked about you working Thursday, Friday and Saturday. But if you want to pick up more hours, let me know.”

“I will.” She needed the money. With Mamá in the hospital, she didn’t have a clue how large that bill would be.

Abby flipped through a three-ring binder, talking about hours and payroll dates. “I double-checked your online paperwork. Everything looks good.”

“The restaurant’s very organized.” Carolina had been reluctantly impressed.

“We try. Everything I’ve said is in here.” Abby handed her the binder and a card on a lanyard. “Your access card.”

“For the storage areas?”

“And the restaurant and B and B doors. You might need to bring over wine or beer to the B and B.”

“Okay.” Her mother’s request blared in her head. Bring me back something. What she’d rather do is get that blasted bird away from her mother and return it.

“I’ll offer you hours for Fitzgerald House catering events.” Abby’s eyes twinkled. “Instead of always hiring independents, I’d rather keep it in the family.”

Carolina almost spit out the water she’d just sipped. “Family?”

Abby nodded. “The employees of the B and B and Southern Comforts.”

“Oh, sure.” Carolina took another sip, looking at her half sister over the edge of her glass.

Abby’s gingery eyebrows were mashed together. “For each four-hour shift, you’re entitled to a meal.”

“That’s…generous.”

“It helps you make recommendations to diners.”

“Any chance I could trade dinner for dessert tonight?” Carolina caught her lip between her teeth.

“Dessert?”

“You have a chocolate-on-chocolate cake.” Carolina swallowed. “I was hoping my mother would like it. Her doctor’s worried about her weight loss.”

“I’m so sorry.” Abby touched her arm. This time Carolina didn’t jump. “How is she doing?”

She shouldn’t tell Abby, but she ended up spewing all about Mamá’s seizures and not knowing when she would get out of the hospital.

“She won’t be released for a couple of weeks?” Abby’s pen rattled against the table.

Carolina swallowed. She’d shared too much. “They have to get her seizures under control. Then she’ll need radiation treatment.”

Abby’s eyebrows arched. “And you live in Tybee?”

“Yes.”

“How much time are you spending at the hospital?”

“Every waking hour.” Oh, God, was Abby worried about her being at work? “Except when I’m working.”

Nodding, Abby crossed her arms.

Was Abby rethinking hiring her? She needed this paycheck. “It won’t it affect my job.”

“I’m not worried about that.” Abby’s foot jiggled under the table. “Cheryl, Nathan and the kids just moved out of one of the carriage house apartments. And Kaden and Courtney are moving out soon.”

Abby pulled Carolina out of the chair. “Come with me.”

What was happening?

Abby ran her security card over a reader and opened a door that led into the second-floor hallway. “I think this will help you.”

Help her? Carolina hadn’t had a lot of sleep lately, but Abby was confusing.

Abby guided her to a door and shook out a set of keys. “Here it is.”

Here’s what?

They walked into a kitchen. Abby nodded. “This should work.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Carolina dug in her heels as Abby pulled her through a living room. Her voice squeaked. “What’s going on?”

Abby blinked. “Sorry, I got ahead of myself. You can use this apartment while your mother is in the hospital.”

“What?” Carolina’s mouth dropped open.

“It’s furnished. Instead of driving back and forth to Tybee, stay here. You’ll be closer to the hospital, to your mother.”

Carolina collapsed onto the closest chair. “You’d do this for me—for a stranger?”

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