scared half out of my mind. Cheryl helped me get my feet back under me.” He didn’t know what would have happened to him if they hadn’t met. “You guys doing this is….” He was at a loss for words.
Richard nodded. “We know what it’s like to get a second chance.”
Tucker hummed a second. “Gerome said something like that this morning. That there was someone who was important to him, and he was paying her back somehow.”
“That would be Terrance’s mother.”
“The really big huge guy?” Tucker pursed his lips. “It’s hard to think of him as having a mother. Though we all did, it’s just that… dang, that guy is huge and….”
Richard chuckled. “She was something else, and we all try to live up to her in a way. I know this is difficult to understand fully, but Gerome has never done anything like this before. It’s nice to see him taking an interest in someone.”
“Is he why you’re offering me this job?” Tucker asked.
Richard laughed outright. “Hell no. He said you have skills, and Zane will put you to the test to check just what they are. You’re here because we need help and you know your way around a kitchen. It’s that simple. Now it is true that Gerome brought those skills to my attention, but otherwise….” He shrugged.
“Good enough,” Tucker said excitedly. “Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
Richard stood, and Tucker did the same. “We’ll see you tomorrow, and I’ll introduce you to Alan. He started the business and likes to get to know everyone.” They shook hands, and Tucker then left the office, almost unable to believe the good luck that had strung from a single, awful night.
He found Cheryl and Joshie in a booth, with a plate of french fries in front of Joshie. “Are you all done?” Cheryl asked. “Can you watch Joshie a minute? Andi said the boss wanted to see me.”
“Of course,” Tucker answered as he slipped into the booth. “Are those good?”
Joshie nodded, his cheeks stuffed like a hamster’s. “Good.”
“Take it easy. No one is going to take them away.” Joshie swallowed twice before eating once again.
Some of the tables had filled for lunch, and Tucker was getting hungry himself. He snatched one of Joshie’s fries and lifted one of the glasses of water from the table.
A couple entered and took a table in the center of the room, followed by another man Tucker recognized instantly. He walked stiffly, and his nose was swollen. Gerome had done a pretty good job of rearranging his face, but there was no mistaking the expensive clothes or the swagger in his walk. Tucker sank lower in the booth, turning to watch out the window. The inner door remained open, right behind the booth, and he hoped that partially obscured them. He hoped it would be enough and tried not to watch the guy, but it was difficult not to look every now and then. The guy stood at the bar, impatiently drumming his fingers on top of it.
Tucker once again turned away and forced himself not to pay attention to him, hoping the guy would just leave.
“Uh-oh…,” Joshie said as water went all over the table.
“It’s okay,” Tucker said gently and grabbed some napkins to wipe up the spill. The last thing he wanted was anything to draw anyone’s attention. The guy was still at the bar, but he leaned with his back against it, staring up at one of the televisions in the other corner. If he decided to watch the other television, he’d be staring right at Tucker and Joshie.
Tucker managed to sop up the water and gave Joshie some out of his glass, his heart pounding. Then he sank down into the booth, willing with everything he had for the guy to go away. And it seemed to be working until Gerome stepped inside.
Tucker saw the moment the guy recognized Gerome—and then him. The disinterested television-viewing gaze turned hard, the man’s eyes filled with hatred, and his posture went from relaxed to rigid in a second. Gerome remained calm and strode over to the guy as though he owned the place.
Tucker couldn’t hear what was said, but he saw the way both men went toe to toe. In a way it was exciting. Seeing Gerome take on someone that way and knowing he could protect himself was hot. Tucker had never thought that kind of power would be so exciting, but he was glad the table covered the evidence