. . . well, you know.” She shrugs, as if any of this is easily explainable. “What are you doing here? Scott said—”
I put my head down in shame. “It doesn’t matter what he said. I never quit, I never left, was just unreachable for the weekend. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you, Stella. It’s tearing me apart. After that shit with Carl, the thought of forgetting about work for a little while sounded like an amazing idea. Have you heard from Carl at all?”
She shakes her head. “No, my best guess is he’s off on a bender. Selfish drunken fool. What he did to you, and then he’s gone when I need him.”
“Oh, Stella. I’m so sorry.” I keep saying it over and over again, but I can’t find any other words to express what I’m feeling to her. Deciding maybe it’s not words I need, I hug her, and she squeezes me so tightly that I almost feel like I can’t breathe, then she pulls back. “What was I thinking? I knew a man like that would come with a steep price. Even got a damn warning from beyond, but I ignored it, hoping like a fool for something to finally work out in my life.”
Stella holds my chin gently. “You listen to me, child. Your life ain’t that bad, and you’ve never thought it was. I get that you’re having a pity party right now. Me too, and Lord knows, it’s warranted with the shit storming down on us. But you know what we’re gonna do?”
I look at her, the question in my eyes. She’s a pillar of strength even as her world collapses, and I take power from her. If she can still be standing tall and proud, I can too. I wipe the trail of tears staining my cheeks, already feeling my resolve solidifying as she answers her own question. “We’re gonna pull up our big girl panties and do the stuff that needs to be done. Together, as family. Because that’s what we are, my precious girl.”
Family. So much to that simple word. “Hey, I’m sorry about Carl too. I don’t know where he went, but he was okay when we left.”
Stella sighs and turns to look out the tiny window in her office. “I don’t know either. I can’t believe what he did to you. I have to think he was just wildly drunk, not that I’m excusing him in the least. But I can’t focus on what he’s doing or where he’s at. I need to keep things running here and bury Daryl.”
At her words, I can see the tears overtake her again. “What do you need me to do?”
Stella gestures vaguely out to the bar floor. “Help the new girls? Just keep it running for me, Maddie. Please help me keep it going. I’m gonna need this place to keep going.”
I nod, knowing that I’ll do anything for Stella, whatever she needs to ease the ache in her heart. Running the bar is definitely a weight I can take off her load. I grab a T-shirt off the shelf in the corner, the crisp new cotton feeling like a fresh start. I’m down, broken, and my heart’s bleeding in tatters, but I’ve pulled myself up once before and I can do it again. This time is worse, so much worse, but I’m a survivor. Always have been and always will be.
I walk by the kitchen door, and when Devin gives me a sullen glare, I approach warily. “I’m so sorry, Dev.” That’s all he needs before he gathers me to him in a big hug, the smell of frying butter and spices filling me with comfort.
“Girl, we’re okay. If you’re back, you’re gonna have some fancy footwork to do with that bestie bitch of yours. She’s been going batshit crazy that you weren’t responding to her. And she’s been working doubles all weekend, so she’s not only cranky and scared, but she’s exhausted.” I nod, thankful for the warning.
As I step out on the floor, I see Tiff across the room. Our eyes meet, and I can see her huffed sigh, but she comes over, so that’s got to be a good sign.
She looks me up and down. “You don’t look like you spent the past few days with the rich boy.”
“I . . . I broke up with him when I found out what he did,” I say quietly, looking down. “Tiff, I feel so terrible.”
Tiffany takes a