He’s talking with one of the floor managers, and looking over some paperwork. He sees me and smiles, holding up one finger indicating he’ll be a few moments. My stomach tumbles around nervously waiting. Bile slowly creeps up to sit in the base of my throat as I walk toward the front entry to wait for Dale.
“You ready?” he asks as he comes to stand beside me.
I look up to his tall frame and stand with my shoulders slightly slumped. “Are you going to fire me?” I blurt and quickly bring my hand to my mouth. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I just blabbed that. I’m so sorry.”
Dale laughs a huge belly roar, so loud some of the shoppers are turning to see what all the noise is. “Come on, let me buy you lunch. And no, we’re not going to fire you.”
I breathe out a huge expulsion of air, relieved I still have my job. Oh crap, what if Trent is trying to create trouble with them and they want me to deal with him? Crap, crap, crap.
Dale’s talking as we walk down toward the café, but I can’t pay attention to what he’s saying. All I can think about is what problems Trent might be stirring up, and what Dale’s going to say to me.
“Here you go, ladies first.” Dale opens the door and waits for me to go in first. “How about we get the table in the furthest corner?”
Oh my God. What has Trent done? If Dale wants a table in the furthest corner, then I’m definitely in trouble. “Okay,” I answer, though what I really want to do is let the earth open up and swallow me. My own personal sink hole.
“Here.” Dale pulls out my chair and waits until I’m seated before he sits opposite me. “So I do have a reason I’ve asked you to lunch, and a reason as to why I wanted to sit at a table where we’d get the fewest interruptions.” He looks around, and I do too, following his line of sight.
“We certainly are isolated,” I say as I pick the menu up and start perusing it.
“They make the best hamburgers. I already know what I’m getting. Don’t tell Betsy, she’ll kick my butt. If she asks, I had a salad with extra salad crap.” He chuckles, and I can’t help but join in on the chuckle, too.
“Your secret’s safe with me.” I wink at Dale.
“Hi there, what can I get you today?” the waitress asks. She’s the same girl who was here yesterday, and she looks at me and smiles then does a double look at Dale, obviously remembering I was here yesterday with Max.
“I’ll have a burger, with a side of onion rings and a Coke. Not diet, the full-strength good stuff.” Dale leans over and whispers to me, “Don’t tell Betsy.”
I tap my nose and wink again. “Shhh,” I confirm by putting my finger to my lips. “Have you got chicken noodle soup?”
“We do.”
“I’ll have chicken noodle and a hot chocolate with…”
“Extra marshmallows. I remember. I’ll be back in a moment.” She smiles and takes our menus, turns and leaves.
“So, Lily, the reason I brought you here is because I talked to Peter about your situation.” I shudder when he says that. “I had to talk to him, and tell him what happened with you and your husband, in case there’s going to be a problem at work.”
“Considering he got me fired, I’m hoping he doesn’t find out I have my job back and cause any problems for me, especially at work.”
“He may, and if he does involve work, then you need to come to Peter or myself.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s something I’ve been wondering about you. And it’s something Peter brought up too, when we had a meeting about you.” My cheeks pink, and I feel like a fool. “Don’t be embarrassed, Lily. Trent had me convinced you were stealing money. That’s what manipulators do. They convince everyone around them they’re saints, when in actual fact, they’re nothing but evil.”
“Yeah, logically I know your words are right, but…”
“There really isn’t a ‘but’ to the situation. The guy isn’t good at all. Down to his soul, he’s rotten.”
“Here are your drinks, folks,” the waitress announces and puts down our beverages. First mine, then Dale’s.
“Thank you,” Dale says on behalf of both of us.
“Your food won’t be too long.” She turns and goes to serve a customer sitting at the counter.
“As I was saying, Peter and I were talking and there’s something we both noticed about you. And with your permission, I’d like to ask you.” He sips on his Coke.
“Please, ask away.”
“You catch the bus here and home?”