Mason up in her arms, hugging him probably a little too tightly.
“You squeezeded me!” Mason squealed, but hugged her back.
He’d always hugged her back. Hayley was oh so grateful that he’d never turned away from her, even at the beginning. She’d like to think it was because it was his child’s heart responding to her mother’s heart.
But it was probably just because he was a good kid and didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
Hayley set Mason on the ground after giving him a loud kiss. “Get the books out and be ready. I’ll see you tonight.”
She watched as Mason took Ariel’s hand and they walked out the door.
“That was an hour and six minutes, Hayley.” Timothy had made his way over while she watched them leave.
Hayley turned back to the table to pick up the glasses and silverware. “Don’t worry, Timothy, I will make sure I get all my work done.”
“I agreed to this break every day, but now I’m thinking you’re trying to take advantage of it.”
Hayley managed to refrain from rolling her eyes. Barely. “It was six extra minutes. There’s hardly anybody in the restaurant and I have plenty of time to get everything done before the dinner rush starts.”
“Well, I just don’t want six extra minutes to turn into ten extra minutes to turn into thirty extra minutes. After all, we did do you a big favor by hiring you here.”
Hayley didn’t argue, just continued to clear off the table. Timothy Smittle was getting her labor at less cost than he would have to pay others. She was doing the work of two people and barely getting paid one person’s salary.
But she didn’t have any other choice, so she would keep her opinions and her arguments to herself. This was temporary. Mason was forever. Whatever she had to do to reestablish herself, to be prepared to take care of him in any situation, she would do it.
“Someone is coming in the door right now. All the waitresses are on break, so I’ll seat him and you take his order. But don’t do anything having to do with money. I’ll give him his check after.”
And keep the tip for himself, no doubt.
Hayley let out a weary sigh. “Fine, Timothy. Just let me go get my apron on and I’ll take his order.”
Hayley refused to let the exhaustion overwhelm her, even though she felt it much more now that Mason was gone. She would work hard, get through the shift and get home to her baby.
She grabbed a glass of water for the table where she needed to take the order. She was almost there, pulling her friendly facade over her features, when she looked up at the restaurant guest.
The water slipped out of her numb fingers and shattered as it hit the hardwood floor.
Cain Bennett.
Her eyes ran over his face. Not much had changed in the four years since she’d last seen him. His forceful chin and chiseled jaw were still completed by broad cheekbones, five-o’clock shadow already clear on them even at this early hour. His dark hair was still cut short, but with that rebellious curl that tended to fall across his forehead.
Those same green eyes with flecks of brown were now full of concern as he stood, staring at her. Cain hadn’t just happened to walk into this restaurant. He was here specifically looking for her.
Under no circumstance could this possibly be good.
Cain approached Hayley slowly, both arms outstretched. Not unlike how he had approached traumatized victims in the past.
Because that’s exactly how Hayley looked: traumatized. Hell, she hadn’t looked this drained even in court four years ago.
Now her brown eyes had shadows under them, outlining an obvious exhaustion. She looked like she could gain another ten pounds and still be a little underweight.
And she was staring at him with something akin to terror in her eyes.
Cain hadn’t expected her to be happy to see him, but neither had he expected her to look like she was carrying the world’s weight on her shoulders. A sort of panic itched at his gut.
He took a step closer. She took a step back.
“Hayley, what the heck happened?” The manager rushed out from the back. “Get something to clean that up.”
The man turned and faced Cain. “We’re so sorry about this. I’ll get you another—Cain? Cain Bennett?”
Cain dragged his eyes away from Hayley to look at the man who knew his name. “Yes?”
“It’s Timothy Smittle. We went to high school together, remember, man?”
“I’ll go get a mop,” Hayley murmured before turning and almost running into the kitchen.
Timothy hooked a thumb toward Hayley’s retreating form. “And of course, you remember Hayley Green, right? You guys were all hot and heavy back in the day.”
“Of course.” Cain slowly sat back down in the booth, eyes fixed on the door Hayley had exited through.
Timothy slid into the booth across from Cain and lowered his voice even though there was no one else around. “And I guess you heard about the law trouble Hayley got into a few years back. That was after you had already left. She did some time at the Georgia Women’s Correctional.”
Cain just nodded.
“When she came back around here begging for her old job, I figured it was the least we could do. You know, since we all went to high school together.” Timothy sounded very pleased with himself. Like he was collecting bonus points or something.
Cain’s eyes left the door and moved to Timothy. “She helped you with your bookkeeping in high school, right? Is that what she’s doing now?”
Timothy smirked. “Are you kidding? We couldn’t let her near anything having to do with money.”
Cain’s lips pressed together although he knew he really couldn’t blame Timothy. “So she’s what, waiting tables?”
The thought of someone with Hayley’s intelligence and skills waiting tables was difficult for Cain to swallow, but he guessed he shouldn’t be surprised. Right now her job options were probably limited.
Timothy shifted a little uncomfortably in the booth across from Cain. “Um, well, that also involves money, so no. Mostly she’s, you know, helping out doing other things.”
Before Cain could press about exactly what those “other things” were, Hayley came back out with a broom and mop and began cleaning up the glass and water she’d spilled.
“I can help.” Cain slid to the edge of the booth ready to stand.
Timothy
