Chapter 9
Boris
I know I should leave after we've cleaned up after lunch, but I don't want to. When Ira disappears to his room, Simon gives me a terrified look. I should head home, give him some space, not impose, but I'm hoping he'll suggest a cup of coffee or something, so I pull out a chair and sit.
Simon hesitates, his gaze jumping around the kitchen only to land on the open doorway over and over again. "So...eh...what are your plans this afternoon?"
I grin. "I don't have any. Going for a run was my only obligation for the day." And it's not so much an obligation as a necessity, but I don't think Simon is ready to hear about it yet. How do you tell your human mate you're a wolf shifter? "What about you?"
"I was in the middle of folding laundry when you came."
"Ugh."
Simon smiles, but he looks nervous. Uneasy. Not good.
"Yeah, but it has to be done, and weekends are the only time..." His voice ebbs away, and tension creeps into his body. "I guess I'll have time once I'm out of work."
I chew on my tongue for a few seconds, unsure of what to say. He hadn't looked happy when I said it was a good thing to be out of work the night before. "Come. Sit." I pat the table. When he sits, I look at him. "If they fire you, will it be immediate, or is there a period of notice?"
He shakes his head. "No period of notice.
It's due to the financial situation. They can't afford to pay our salaries.
I don't know if it will be immediate, as on the same day they tell me, or if they'll keep us till the end of the month, but I'm not counting on it.
They're facing bankruptcy, and every hour worked is an hour they need to pay for. "
Three weeks. There were only three weeks left of November. "But they normally fire people on Fridays, don't they? So you'll have another week."
Simon looks at me strangely. Don't they fire people on Fridays? Is it only in movies?
"They let us know yesterday, I think maybe that was their Friday-moment. Let people leave for the week and work through their options this weekend."
I nod. "Okay. So what are your options?"
He hangs his head. I want to hop to my feet, stand behind him, and massage his shoulders. He looks like he needs it, and I need to touch him.
"I don't know. No one is hiring, not at this time of year, not in this economy, and if they did, I'm not an attractive option."
"Bullshit, you're very attractive."
The stunned look makes me grin. See, I can be motivational.
"Eh..."
"So what kind of jobs are you looking for?
" I go through the pack members in my mind, trying to see if there is anyone I can bully into hiring Simon.
The problem is they mostly work blue-collar or artistic jobs, if they work at all.
Or like Mom. She grows a garden and has a stand at the farmers' market every Wednesday.
It's a one-person operation. Or I'm sure she could use another person in the garden, but the income isn't enough to cover a second full-time position.
Unless she expands.
The farmer's market is open both Wednesdays and Saturdays, but she's only there on Wednesdays since Saturday is the day we run as a pack.
It's when most people are available, and since she isn't dependent on the income.
..Maybe she could let Simon do the Saturdays.
I think there are more customers on Saturdays, but I'm not sure.
"How about gardening?"
Simon's eyebrows travel his forehead. "It's...eh...November. Nothing grows this time of year."
I snort because Mom still manages to have things to sell, so something has to grow. I'll talk to her. She might not be pleased if I offer Simon a job before I've talked to her. Or before she's met him.
It would be perfect, though. My mate and my mother working together. If it works out, we can move back to Rutchester. I nod as I picture it. A new life goal.
"I've worked different admin jobs since I finished school. I guess I'll have to...Fuck, people have most likely already applied for whatever ads there are. It's why they give us the weekend, right? And we'll all compete for the same kinds of jobs."
I reach over and pat his hand. "Don't worry."
"Don't worry?" His voice is sharper now. "I promised when I took Ira in to give him the best life possible, and look at us." He gestures around the kitchen. "I have no idea how I'll make Christmas happen."
Took in? What does he mean, took in?
"Christmas presents, food, all that shit."
I scoff. "Calm down."
"Calm down! You have no idea what it's like to--"
"Simon." I put a little authority in my voice, and he immediately quiets, which makes me smile. This time, I take his hand in mine and rub my thumb over the back of it. "We'll sort it, okay?"
He stares at our hands. "How?" It's no more than a whisper. "I want to give him the world, Boris. He deserves everything other kids have, but I'm only one person, and he's suffered too much already."
"Sweetheart--"
His gaze snaps to mine, and he makes a sound of protest, which has me chuckling. "Trust me."
He shakes his head.
"Yes." I gently squeeze his hand. "I'll take care of you."
"Boris." He tries to pull out of my hold, but I don't let him. I'm far stronger than he is, not that I'm using any real strength.
"Simon."
Another sound, this one of frustration, I think. Some of my amusement disappears. "Baby, listen to me."
"I'm not your baby."
"Of course you are. But it's neither here nor there right now.
What I mean to say is don't worry. I've got you.
You'll go to work on Monday, and it may or may not be your last day, but no matter what, you'll have a roof over your head and food in your belly.
Ira will be fine. We'll make sure he's fine. "
Simon stares at me as if I've lost my mind. "We're not your responsibility. You don't know us."
All I can do is smile because they are my responsibility.
They're mine.
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