4. Kyra
4
Kyra
“ W hat is your problem?”
Holding my cell between my ear and shoulder, I heave a sigh. I’m at the diner doing inventory and of course, this would be when Jason decides to come out of the woodwork.
“My problem is you,” I snap. “You haven’t once called or tried to see your kids in six months, but you have the nerve to call and ask me for money.”
“Babe, it’s no?—”
“Oh, hell no,” I gripe. “I am not your babe . I stopped being your babe the moment you walked out the door, leaving me with our three-year-old twins and a business to run.”
“When are you gonna get over that?” he argues.
“When am I…” I shake my head incredulously and shift the phone to my hand. “Maybe you should be asking that question about Heidi and Hunter.”
“Are you gonna help me or not?”
“Not.”
After disconnecting the call, I toss my cell onto the counter.
Unfuckingbelievable.
“Jason again?”
Startled, I whirl around and see Barry leaning against the doorjamb between the kitchen and front counter area.
“What gave you that idea?” I ask sarcastically.
“Why do you keep answering his calls?”
“Because, whether I like it or not, he’s still the father of my kids.”
“DNA doesn’t mean shit if he’s not gonna step up and actually be their father.”
Barry’s worked at Night and Day Diner since we opened our doors. In fact, it was Jason who hired him. And it was Jason who Barry always sided with when there was a disagreement about the way things are run. But the moment Jason walked away from the business and his family, Barry changed his tune real quick. Something about being a ‘real man’... whatever that is.
“You about done in the kitchen?” I ask, desperately needing the subject to change.
“Yep.” He pushes off the doorjamb and lumbers toward me. “Here’s the list of what we need to order,” he says, handing me a piece of paper.
“When are you gonna stop using pen and paper?” I ask with a laugh. “I spend good money on our online system.”
“Money wasted if you ask me.”
With that, he turns around and returns to his domain. I glance at his list, and my stomach bottoms out. There’s at least a couple grand worth of food and supplies that need to be ordered. A couple grand the business simply doesn’t have.
Maybe Barry’s right… money wasted.
We spend the next hour finishing up with inventory, and after locking up, Barry walks me out to my car. He might be a surly asshole, but he’s a decent man, and I’m lucky to have him in my life.
“See you tomorrow, boss,” he says.
“‘Night, Barry.”
By the time I get home, I’m exhausted and mentally drained from work and dealing with Jason. When I step inside, Megan rises from the couch where she was watching a movie.
“Kids asleep?” I ask.
“Yeah. Not for long though.”
Nodding, I reach into my purse and pull out some cash to pay her. She shoves it in her pocket and grabs her jacket off the hook by the door.
“Thanks, Megan. I appreciate you always being here for them.”
She shrugs. “No problem. But, um…” Megan rocks on her heels, a stalling tactic I’ve used myself a time or two.
“What is it?”
“I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure, but…” She takes a deep breath. “I’m transferring to a different school. And, um… I’m not gonna be able to watch the twins for much longer.”
“Okay.” Not what I was expecting. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll be sure to find someone before next semester.”
“Uh, that’s the thing,” she hedges. “I’m actually moving at the end of the week. All of my finals are over so there’s no reason to stick around. I want to get situated in my new apartment and learn the lay of the land before classes start.”
“End of the week?”
“I’m really sorry,” she says. “I know this is last minute and leaves you in a bind, but I ha?—”
“No, no.” I rest a hand on her shoulder, trying like hell not to let my problems become hers. “I’m happy for you. I’ll figure this out.”
“Oh, well… thanks.” Megan steps toward the door and grabs the knob. “I’ll still be here tomorrow when they get home from school.”
“Right. Appreciate that.”
“Of course. See you then.”
“Yeah. See you then.”
The second the door closes behind her, I burst into tears. I don’t often let myself succumb to a pity party but tonight, I’m making an exception.
What the fuck am I going to do?