“Do you like working here?” I ask as she unbuckles her seatbelt.
“Uh, I don’t mind it,” she says. “It’s a job, and they aren’t easy to find around here, especially for someone like me with no college experience.”
“But if you could do something else, would you?”
She narrows her eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe?”
“Cassius told me you are interested in going to school to be a nurse.”
“Yeah, but that’s the thing—I need schooling for that.”
“What if I offered you a job working for me? Would you take it?”
“What?” she gasps. “What do you—how would I? I don’t understand what you’re asking me.”
I take a deep breath, running my hands along my thighs.
“I need to be honest with you, Camarra, I don’t feel comfortable even driving on this street, never mind leaving youhere. I understand it’s a job you need, but if you don’t need it anymore—if I could offer you something better, something with better pay in a safe location with benefits and hours that will work for school…”
“This is…” she says absently, staring at the floor. “I don’t know what to say.” She looks at me, her eyes watery. “I don’t want to say you’re a bad person, Harmon, but I don’t know you. How do I know that if whatever is going on with you and my brother goes south, that I won’t get screwed and we will both be out of a job? I don’t get paid well here, but I do get paid.”
“You can sign a contract. My company does them with employees all the time. It’s normal—most of the time required.”
“I don’t… I’m sorry, this is a lot.”
“Look, you have my number. Please think about it and call me, okay?” I pause, then add, “I care about your brother, meaning I care about his family. I want you all to be safe and happy.”
She nods, taking a deep breath. “We don’t have people who care about us, so…” She takes another shuddering breath. “That means a lot. Thank you.”
“Please be safe, and I hope to hear from you today. If you need anything at all, use my number, Camarra. Don’t feel bad about it. Don’t feel guilty. I want to help.”
Nodding, she gets out of the car and hurries into the building. I stay for a moment longer, staring at the dilapidated shack and wondering how it hasn’t caught fire yet.
Chapter Forty
Cassius
I stare out the window of Harmon’s office, looking out at the city. I’ll never get used to this view. I could stare out these windows every day and it would not get old. It’s beautiful. Every aspect of it. The architecture. The river. The people. It’s amazing.
“Sorry about that,” Harmon says.
I glance at him over my shoulder and smirk.
He closes the door and walks to me. I turn, grinning at him. He boxes me in against the window, grinding his body against mine. I groan as he leans in to kiss me like he hasn’t seen me in years.
“What’s gotten into you?” I ask when he finally gives me a second to breathe and brings his mouth to my neck.
“Rough day,” he grunts.
“Maybe I can fix that for you later?”
“I know you can.”
He steps back, but I grab his arm. “Thank you for taking Chrissy to school and Cammy to work this morning.”
“You’re welcome, Cassius.”
“It means a lot to me not only that you offered, but that we… trust you.”