The expensive smell of leather in Hale’s Mercedes put me in the mindset of country clubs and fancy things. Even if this was our only date I wanted the memory of what that felt like. The burger place had red plastic booths with linoleum tables that looked like they hadn’t been updated since nineteen seventy. Records hung on the wall and Lean On Me played on the radio. He was giddy and happy to be here.
Hale further surprised me by ordering a cheeseburger with fries. He didn’t look like the kind of man to eat something so greasy. I went with the meatloaf because at places like this that was always the best thing on the menu. He took a sip of his soda, also something I hadn’t imagined him drinking, Hale striking me as an expensive bourbon or brandy guy. Like the ones I read about in books.
“Are you planning on going to college?” he asked, leaning back in his cheap plastic seat that was faded from the sun on a corner.
“I…,” and then I stopped.
This was a line of questioning I hadn’t expected. I figured he had some degree from a college that was private with ivy on the walls and with students who wore sweaters and caps. Hearing my honest answer wasn’t going to impress him, but I wasn’t one to lie.
“No. We can’t afford that. Milly, my older sister, put herself through cosmetology school. She’s a hair stylist now. But I don’t much want to do that. I hate fixing my own hair much less someone else’s. And there ain’t a job for me that would pay full tuition, except maybe dancing on a pole, that would put me through in four years.”
Hale laughed at that. Then he nodded his head. “Agreed, it would take a good paying job to get you through college.”
In all honesty I had considered the dancing on a pole thing. Once. But I figured that wasn’t for me. My momma would die of embarrassment and I just couldn’t do that to her. Not to mention my daddy would roll over in his grave. I knew a girl who did it for a year. She flew off of the pole, helicoptered around, and took out the entire front row. Her tips that night came to $1,200 and she only fractured an ankle. That’s a beautiful story.
“So your plan is what?” he asked me.
This was an even less impressive answer. Why couldn’t we talk about something else? My future wasn’t what I imagined us discussing. Maybe our taste in music or places we wanted to go? In his case places he had been.
“I’ll work at the bakery for now. Then one day the right opportunity will come along and I’ll take it. Leave that town behind. Not sure how, but I will. For the moment though, I’ll wait.”
He fell silent. I took a drink of my sweet tea and wondered if my answer wasn’t good enough. Even if I had to get another job to save money I would get out of Moulton.
“How long have you wanted to leave Moulton?”
“As long as I can remember,” I replied. “Maybe longer.”
He then leaned forward on the table. “I think I might have an idea. Something for you to consider. I don’t expect a decision right away.”
My heart began beating so hard in my chest I could hear it in my ears. An idea to get out of Moulton? I wanted to say “YES” right now, though I waited for him to continue, before agreeing to anything.
“I have a penthouse in Manhattan I mentioned before. My live in caretaker has retired from old age. It was too much for her to keep things up. I need someone to live there, to take care of the place, keep it clean and prepare it with food when I’m coming into town. Could be short notice and most of the time it is on the shortest of notice. I like things kept clean and tidy at all times. I don’t allow employees to have visitors in my home. I don’t like the intrusiveness of that. Otherwise, it’s a simple job. Not very demanding unless I’m in town and choose to entertain a guest, which I often do you see.” He paused and looked at me a moment. “Are you interested? It is in Manhattan. This would be an adventure.”
Words wouldn’t come. I lost them. This was not what I expected. With the cupcakes and flirting I actually thought he wanted to date me outright. But he’d been looking for something else. Though it was my way out of Moulton.
I glanced around the diner and then realized he had brought me here for a reason. So I wouldn’t get the wrong idea. His interest in me and the plans for my future were because I had been on a job interview and hadn’t known till now. This all made sense and I smirked. He was polished and refined. I wasn’t. He couldn’t invite me into his world as someone he was dating.
But this was the chance of a lifetime.
“The pay would be one thousand dollars a week plus room and board. You would buy the groceries on a credit card I give you and your meals would be covered. I also offer health insurance to all employees.”
Holy crap! I only made eight hundred dollars a month now.
He was waiting for me to respond. To offer some sort of reply. All I could manage was a nod of my head because I was leveled with shock.
“That’s a yes then?” he asked, a grin on his face and then I nodded again and quickly he asked the next one.
“Well then, how soon can you move?”
How soon could I move? Leave Moulton and move to Manhattan. Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy freaking crap! Was I dreaming? Did he lace the meatloaf? Frowning, I found the words. “Is this a dream? Are my organs going to be stolen? Will I be sold into sex slavery?”
His laughter grew and the way it made his eyes shine was beautiful and strangely dark. Hale had become my boss. Nothing more. He was hiring me to work in a place where he only visited briefly. I had to remember this.
“It’s not a dream, Sam,” he replied, surprising me by shortening my name. “This is very real. An opportunity.”
I pinched myself just to be sure. The small sharp pain was a relief.
“This week. I can leave this week.”