“Know what?”
“That anytime you need to talk, or need anything, you can cal me. Do you know that?”
I felt tears sting my eyes. I nodded and turned away, got back to work and missed the look Indy and Tex exchanged.
I wasn’t going to have a nervous breakdown, not now.
And if I gave in to everything I was feeling, my system would probably shut down for a month.
I needed to concentrate, prioritise.
Stay awake was first. Find out what was wrong with my car was second. Find out if Dad was okay was third. Find a way to make up the money I gave Dad was last, or maybe first.
Or maybe the problem was, it was al first.
Chapter Four
Out of the Frying Pan and Into Eddie’s Bed My luck changed when Smithie cal ed me and told me a
“friend” was going to be in the parking lot of my apartment building at two o’clock to look at my car.
This meant I had a genuine reason for leaving early, thus avoiding Eddie.
I left Fortnum’s at 1:30 pm because I had to take the bus and I met Smithie’s friend at my Honda. He tinkered around under the hood for a couple of seconds then straightened up and wiped his hands on his greasy, blue coveral s.
“Gonna hafta tow this in,” he told me.
Oh no.
“Is it bad?” I asked.
“Can’t tel . Need to get in there.”
Wonderful.
“I can’t tow it today, I’l have the wrecker here tomorrow some time.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
I cal ed JoJo to arrange a ride while I watched the mechanic drive away. Then, I dragged my behind up to the apartment, looking forward to sleeping for a ful three hours before having to go into Smithie’s.
When I opened the door to the apartment Mom shouted,
“Oh good! You’re early.”
I walked into the living room, Trixie was there and it looked like a Beauty Salon Bomb had exploded.
“Hooray! I’l have more time to work,” Trixie said.
I absolutely loved Trixie. She’d had dyed red hair for as long as I could remember. She wore it teased out big. It looked good on her. She was petite, had happy, brown eyes and the most beautiful hands I’d ever seen on anyone.
She had what I thought of as an artist’s hands.
“Trixie, what are you doing here?” I asked as I gave her a hug. Trixie usual y came to visit Mom on a Monday.
“Surprise! You’re getting a manicure, pedicure, facial and highlights.”
I did a mental groan.