Chapter 9
Sebastian
It had been a long day, and it wasn’t over yet.
Ian and I were scheduled to meet so we could discuss Jackson’s situation and the overall safety of our staff.
Staring out of my office window, I couldn’t stop replaying my conversation with Jackson.
I thought about him sleeping at the bus terminal because he missed the bus to get to the shelter in time to secure a sleeping bed and it made me angry all over again. We had to do a better job.
Ian knocked, “Knock, knock! You in here?”
His knock snapped me out of my thought, “Yeah, come on in. Shut the door behind you, please.” He shut the door, sat down across from my desk, laced his fingers over his stomach, and threw his right ankle on top of his other knee. My back was to the windows.
“What’s up?” Ian asked casually.
He was always casual but that day it bugged me. I needed him to be serious, so I began with a serious tone. “I mentioned the new policy to you. Did you talk to human resources?” I had a sneaking suspicion he hadn’t yet.
He shook his head, “No, I meant to do it first thing this morning, but the day got away from me.”
Just as I thought. “This is important, Ian. I want us to be more mindful about getting staff out of here on time at the end of the day. I want a new policy in place. If we need staff to work late, then one of us needs to be here with them and we’ll ensure they have a ride to wherever they’re going. ”
Ian looked a little shocked. “I’m sorry, man. Where is this coming from? That could happen a lot in this work. Jackson does a lot of after-hours visits to check things out for a potential buy for us.”
My voice raised, “That’s exactly why one of us will accompany him or anyone else.” I shook my head. “Listen. What we say here, stays in this office.” I took a drink of my water and then said, “Prior to Jackson staying with me, he was living in a men’s shelter.”
“What?” Ian sat up, straight as a board.
I nodded my head. “Yeah. He was the last one to leave here one night and I think he thought everyone was gone. I was outside and saw him catch the city bus. Did you know he rode the city bus?”
He shook his head. “No, but it’s not unusual. There are plenty of people who don’t have their own cars.”
“Right. But have we factored in the additional time it takes someone to get to their destination because they’re using public transportation? It adds time.”
He looked confused. “I’m not sure what that has to do with anything. I’m not following.”
I stood up and paced before turning and looking out the window.
“When Jackson would stay here late and then have to catch a ride back to the shelter, he needed to be there by a certain time in order to secure a bed at night. If he didn’t make it by their curfew, he couldn’t sleep there.
” I turned to look at Ian with my arms folded.
I could feel the tension in my brow. “No bed to sleep in, Ian. Which means he slept on the street or at a bus depot.”
He dropped his head and then leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his hands together. “I didn’t know. Why is he staying with you?”
Clearing my throat, I said, “The night he worked late and caught the bus, I followed him. That’s how I discovered he was staying at the men’s shelter.
I went home and tried to do an internet search and find something on him because we don’t know anything about him.
My search came up empty. Just surface level shit, where he went to high school, very general.
” I sat down and continued. “I tried to sleep that night, and I couldn’t.
It was off and on. Finally, at about four am I decided to go and sit outside of the shelter and just make sure he was ok.
When I pulled up, I saw him getting his ass beat in the alley by two guys.
They stole his money from his backpack. Apparently, he had been saving and kept all his money on him. ”
Ian huffed, “Why would he keep his money on him? Does he not have a bank account? How the hell do we pay him?”
“I looked into that too. He opted to pick up his check from finance. I’m guessing he just goes to the bank that it’s drawn on and cashes it.
I actually took his most recent check home to give him.
He just put it in his wallet and said nothing else.
I don’t even think he’s cashed it yet.” I dragged both of my hands down my face.
I was tired. “I don’t know if he doesn’t know how to do this stuff or what.
Anyway, I got there just in time because they really beat the shit out of him.
I picked him up and took him to the hospital.
He’s been healing up ever since, but at dinner last night, he told me that he would sometimes sleep on the streets if he didn’t get to the shelter on time.
I NEVER want any of our staff to encounter hardships because of the job.
Do I love what we do? Of course. But it’s just a job. Their safety is more important.”
“Yeah, yeah, of course. I agree. Shit, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Ian looked sad.
“I’m not saying let’s go getting in the business of all of our staff, but I really want us to be mindful of their time and safety.
That’s all. It’s important.” I exhaled deeply and said, “I’m not sure how long Jackson will be staying with me, but I told him he could stay as long as he needed to.
I don’t want anyone to know about his situation unless he tells them.
I’ll let him know I told you what happened since you’re the co-owner.
” Ian nodded. We sat there in silence for a few moments before I finally said, “Alright. I’m heading out.
I want to check on Jackson and I need to get some stuff done at home. Can you lock up, tonight?”
“Yeah, man. Of course.” He gave a half smile, clearly still deep in thought about everything.
“Oh, and I know it’s still early, but think about coming over for Thanksgiving. I don’t know whether you’re seeing anyone or not, but bring them, too. It’ll just be me, Quinn, mom, and I don’t know if Jackson will still be around. I doubt it but yeah, that’s it. Small setting.”
He nodded and said, “Yeah, ok. I’ll think about it and let you know,” then he left my office.
There was an odd sensation coursing through me as I got into my car.
I was anxious to get home and make sure Jackson was all right.
I’d be lying if I said a part of it wasn’t excitement that I was feeling.
It was great having him in the house. It wouldn’t last forever but, at that moment, it was nice.
I walked through the front door and set my keys inside the dish that was sitting on the foyer table.
“Hey! Jackson, I’m home.” I listened for someone to greet me, but didn’t hear anything.
I walked into the kitchen to see that the dishes were done, and everything looked clean from the dinner we had the night before.
I made my way up the stairs toward Jackson’s room.
The door was wide open. “Jackson! You in here?” No answer.
I went to the closet and all of his things were gone.
A panic started to rise in my stomach, and I was feeling nervous.
His bed was made and there was a note on top. I picked it up and read:
Sebastian,
Thank you for your care and kindness to me over the past couple of weeks.
If I’m being honest, it’s been the best few weeks of my life.
It was pretty devastating to wake up and learn not only of my injuries, but that everything I’d worked so hard for was gone in an instant.
I know that my problems are my own and have caused me to be absent from work and impacting your business.
I never wanted to be a burden, nor do I want to be one in the future.
I’m sorry that learning of my sleeping arrangements made you angry.
I’ve always taken great pride in my position with Moore and Holbrook and never wanted to jeopardize that.
Thank you again for your hospitality. Your home is beautiful, and again, you’ve been more than kind to me.
Don’t worry about me. I’ll figure everything out.
I hope you find someone who loves the position and takes pride in it.
Again, thank you for hiring me and thank you for helping me.
I wish you nothing, but the best and hope Moore and Holbrook continue to prosper.
All my gratitude,
Jackson
What the fuck! I couldn’t believe what I’d read. He thought I was angry about him missing work. He had it completely wrong. I tried to call him, but he didn’t answer.
I called my sister next. “Hey Bash, what’s up?”
“Quinny, he’s gone. I need your help.” I know I sounded panicked because I was a train wreck.
She always had a way of grounding me. “Bash, slow down. Who’s gone?”
“Jackson. Jackson left and he left a note, and he thinks I’m angry about work but I’m not. I have to find him, Quinn. I…”
She cut me off. “Ok, listen. I’m on my way. I’ll text you when I’m outside. I’ll drive.”
Quinn made it to the house pretty quickly.
I locked the door, raced down my front steps, and got into Quinn’s car.
I didn’t say anything. She shot me a concerned look.
I rested my elbow on the door, as I ran my hand through my beard.
I didn’t know what to say to her, but I didn’t have to say anything.
In a soft tone, she asked, “Bash, where should we start?”
I cleared my throat and stared out the window at the amber colored streetlights.
In front of us, the wind blew the leaves around.
It was getting colder and darker every day.
I didn’t know if he would go back to the shelter, but I wanted to try there first. Without looking at Quinn, I gave her the address.
“We’ll find him. Stay calm.”
I just nodded. I needed him to know that I wasn’t angry with him. He did nothing wrong.