Before That Night: Unfinished Love Series: Caine & Addison, Book 1 Read Free Page A

get all her runaway emotions under control, Joe gave her a quick rundown as he walked her out of his office. “Shirley, who you met when you first came in, will be with you on most nights. She rotates with Stacy, who’s going back to her part time hours around her class schedule once the semester starts back up next month, and Maggie—he pointed at a very pregnant waitress shouting into the order window like a drill sergeant—who will be here for another few weeks until she pops and takes the next year off to focus on being a mom. So I’ll have three of you working for the first two weeks or so until you get the hang of things, then wean Maggie back and adjust Shirley’s and Stacy’s schedules.”
    He handed her a couple of Joe’s Diner’s shirts and a few short black waitress aprons. “That’s your uniform. I don’t have a clock or nothing for you to punch into. If you need to come in late, make sure you tell whoever is working, and then let me know after so we can adjust your hours.”
    Lastly, he tapped on the security system. “I’ll give you the codes and keys and things tomorrow, but again, the girls will be with you to show you the ropes on how to close up. It’s easy. And don’t worry, the after-hours janitorial crew usually comes in and starts working while you’re tallying receipts and things, or at the latest, before you leave, depending on their schedule. So you won’t be here all alone after closing. They’ve got a set of keys, but I scheduled them to overlap with whatever waitress I have closing. So we’ll stick with that. Just gives me piece of mind to have people here with you after hours.”
    Even though she’d kept on a brave face the entire time, that little tidbit did make her feel loads better about being there after midnight on her own.
    While she knew it was way too early for her to be asking for any favors, she had to do it. The favor was the big reason why this particular job was so important for her to have.
    “Joe, do you think it’d be at all possible for me to park my dad’s van here overnight? In that small lot you have out back? Aunt Bernadette’s place is so close, it’d be easier for me to just lock the van up here and walk home.”
    “In the middle of the night?”
    “Aunt Bernadette lives only a block away, right on the other side of the police station. I bet you have workers who walk farther to get to the bus stop.”
    “True,” he conceded reluctantly. Then his brows furrowed in confusion. “Hang on, there’s nothing on the other side of the station for like a mile.”
    “Her condo is in Lakeview Ridge Golf & Country Club. And the top entrance to the country club is literally right next to the police station.”
    “Holy shit. That’s where you’re living? Wait a minute, if you have family who can afford a place there, why the hell would you need a job here?”
    “Like I said before, Aunt Bernadette is on a fixed income. I know she bought the apartment when the country club was first being built so she’s not paying mortgage on it anymore, but she isn’t rich or anything. As far as I can tell, her social security and retirement only barely cover how much she herself needs to have a modest living.”
    Joe’s eyes flickered over to at an old framed photo of an elderly woman up on the wall by the register before he sighed, “Yeah, I remember my mom going through that. For months, she didn’t tell us about a medical procedure she needed because she just plain couldn’t afford it.”
    “Aunt Bernadette has a few health concerns as well.” That was actually why Addison was hired in the first place; to watch Bernadette during the hours her two daughters couldn’t. “Bottom line,” she continued, “unlike my brother and sister, I’m old enough to help with the family expenses. I believe in taking care of my responsibilities. School can wait. I’m not too proud to take charity if we ever need it, but I sure as heck am proud enough to step up until