chapter 7

Still, I didn’t want to judge Alex too harshly. Seeing him was a shock. But I had to remember that the past was the past.

“I have a lot of other commitments,” I said.

"Commitments?”

“You know.Family commitments?”

“What, are youmarriedor something?”

“No,” I replied. For some reason, that stung most of all.

Alex looked like he was about to say more, but then he stopped, and shook his head.

“Lola,” he said. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I’m sorry I sent that letter. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Thank you,” I said. His apology didn’t even begin to scratch the surface, but somehow I was hoping that if I pretended it was fine, the feelings wouldn’t keep bubbling up, that I’d still be able to keep smiling, keep being nice, to the man who’d ruined everything, to the guy who’d abandoned me when I most needed him…

“And I hope the money was useful.”

That did it.

“I gave it to a dog shelter,” I replied.

“What?”

“I said,I gave it to a dog shelter.”

“Why? That was foryou…for whatever trouble you were in!”

“I don’t need your money, mister. Never did. I told you that when I called, as a matter of fact. I said I needed your help, to talk to you.”

“I…just…” said Alex. He’d screwed up his face and his piercing blue eyes were burning like cold fire. He looked like he was about to lose his temper.

“So, there’s nothing I can do?” he said.

“No. Not now.”

“And you don’t want to tell me about whatever it was? That you called me about?”

“Not your problem!” I said, happily. Even if it made me most unhappy to say it.

“So, we’re not going to talk about it at all?”

“You sure are a smart cookie,” I replied sarcastically.

That did it. Alex had stood, and was buttoning his elegant designer blazer.

“It was good seeing you, Lola,” he said, through gritted teeth. “But I really must go.” I watched him pick his way gingerly through the crowded coffee shop.

But I didn’t care. Sure, I’d been really looking forward to working atThe Blue Orchid. But I was better off without Alex Lowe.

***

I took the subway back to Jackson Heights that afternoon. It was almost an hour-long journey fromThe Blue Orchidto my apartment.

I’d gotten a text from Zeke, thanking me for coming in and telling me I’d be hearing from them. But somehow, I got the feeling that billionaire, asshole Alex Lowe wouldn’t be welcoming me to one of his upmarket venues any time soon. Besides, the commute was long, and I bet they made you work all kinds of crazy shifts at such a fancy place.

When I got off the subway, I walked back to my building. I lived above a bodega owned by Sebastien, Sara’s uncle.

“Buenos dias!” I said to him, at the door of the little store. Sebastien looked up at me and grinned.

“Preciosa Lola,” he said. I smiled sweetly at that.Precious Lola. “How the job?”

“Nada,” I said. “But maybe next time, huh?”

“Mañana,” he said confidently, meaningtomorrowbefore returning to serve a guy.

I put my key in the door and punched in the code, and jogged up the stairs to the top floor of the building. But when I got there, I didn’t go to my apartment. Instead, I walked to the end of the corridor and knocked.

“Just a minute!” yelled a cheery voice.

The door opened, and Sara gave me a hug. Sara wasn’t my oldest friend but we’d known each other for a long time now. And if I was feeling down at all about seeing Alex that day, the sight of my cheerful, gorgeous friend made me smile.

“How did it go, sweetheart?” said Sara. “You been sampling any of that fancy Manhattan food?”

“I wish,” I said. “It’s a nice place. Too fancy for me, though.”

“A girl’s gotta take what she can get these days,” said Sara.

“I have my limits,” I said with a grin, and Sara’s expression changed from happiness to concern.

“Are you okay?” she said. “What, they didn’t want my best friend Lola waitressing in their fancy place? Must not be so fancy after all.”

“Oh, come on!” I said. “I’m not fancy.”

“You must be kidding yourself,hermosa. One of these days, some nice rich man is gonna come and sweep you off those feet of yours.”

“Oh, Sara,” I sighed. She was always so nice to me that way.

“Thanks for taking Macy. How are the kids?”

“Oh, it was no trouble. They’re doing just fine,” said Sara. “Raul’s a little cranky because I made him go to bed early. But Macy’s done all her homework too. MACY!” she yelled. “Your mommy’s here,chica!”

But before she’d even finished talking, I’d heard a tiny pair of feet sprinting to the front door. And before I knew it, I was holding my daughter in my arms, laughing and kissing her dark hair, as she looked up at me with a pair of gorgeous blue eyes.

***

By the time I’d finished chatting to Sara, got Macy home, and made her dinner, it was 8.00pm. So I got her washed and dressed in her PJs, and carried the sleepy girl to bed.

“What did you do today, Mommy?” said Macy as I curled up on her tiny bed with her. I read her a story each night. Tonight’s tale had been the Princess and the Pea, which Macy almost knew off by heart these days. She was a clever girl, for sure.

“Well, mommy went to a restaurant to see if she wants to work there,” I said.

“Are you gonna?” said Macy.

“Well, it’s a good job, but unfortunately the man who runs it is a bit of a…”

"A gruffalo?” said Macy. It was her favorite book. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Yeah,” I said, laughing. “Yeah, I guess he is. So I don’t want to work there.”

“Okay,” said Macy. “So what are you gonna do?”

“Oh, hey, don’t worry, baby,” I said. “We’ll find something else. You and me, kiddo? We always come out on top.”

“What else did you do?” asked Macy.

“Well, I got some coffee.”