Did that just happen?
I’d prayed about the job, and this place popped into my mind.
She prayed for help, and I showed up.
I can’t help but smile at the way God works.Thank You, Lord.I don’t deserve it, but that doesn’t stop Him from delivering me more blessings than I know what to do with.
Anastasia returns with a short stack of papers.As she takes her seat, she slides them over to me.“This is my standard employment contract with a background check.”
Background check.
I take a deep breath.
Every time my name is run through the system, it’s a risk.But I had to do it for the diner, and that ended up being okay.So,have faith, Katelyn.“You won’t regret this.I promise.”
“I know I won’t.”Anastasia smiles.“So are there any days you can’t work?”
I shake my head.“Whenever you need me.I can get you my schedule at the diner; those days I’ll need to leave by three to make it there by my shift at four-thirty.”
“That won’t be a problem at all,” Anastasia replies.“We’re typically slow in the afternoon, and I close at five every day.This is going to work out perfectly.God is so good.”She claps her hands together and does a little dance in her seat.
“He is,” I reply, feeling a bit of the weight settle off of my shoulders.
“I’ll include today’s pay in your check.I pay weekly on Fridays, and we split tips fifty-fifty when we’re both on shift.Days where it’s just you, you get one hundred percent, and same for me.Does that work for you?”
“That’s perfect.”
“Sweet!”Anastasia claps her hands together again.Her cell rings, so she pulls it out and checks it, her grin spreading.“Just a second.”After answering it, she presses it to her ear and stands.“Hey, honey, how is your day?”
The bell above the door dings, and a man walks in, his expression neutral.When he sees me, he smiles, and it’s when that smile reaches his caramel-colored eyes that recognition kicks in.I passed him when I left Garrison’s hospital room two days ago.
“Hey, you’re the pepper spray lady, right?”
Ouch.Not a nickname I wanted to stick.“Katelyn,” I reply as I get to my feet and move behind the counter.I’m not entirely sure I’m officially on shift today, but since Anastasia still hasn’t come out of the back room, I figure it can’t hurt to continue to prove my worth to her.
I need this job more than I need oxygen these days.
“I’m Sawyer,” he says and offers me his hand.
Another one of the SEALs Thomas was talking about.Even if Thomas hadn’t mentioned that one of Garrison’s team members had been at the hospital, I would have called this guy as being one of them.
He towers over my five-foot-four height and is built like a soldier, just like Garrison.His bronze hair is cut short, and a black t-shirt stretches over broad shoulders.A pair of grease-smeared coveralls is folded down to his waist, though his hands have been scrubbed clean.“It’s nice to meet you.”Even though the contact of a man—any man—makes my stomach twist into nervous knots, I accept the handshake.“Garrison’s friend, right?”
“His best friend,” he replies, leaning in.“Some may argue that, but don’t let them fool you.”He pulls back his hand.
His charm disarms my frayed nervous system just enough that my smile isn’t forced.“What can I get you?”I move around the counter toward the register.
Sawyer’s gaze narrows slightly, but not in an untrusting way.More surprise.“Where is Anastasia?”
“On the phone.She hired me this morning.”
“Good.She could use the extra hands.Um, I’ll just take a black coffee,” he replies.
“You’ve got it.”I ring it up.“Seventy-five cents.”
He offers me a five.
I make the change then hand it back to him, but he just shoves it into the tip jar, his gaze shifting over toward where Anastasia is standing on the phone.Her back is to us, but her body language is stiff.And if there’s one thing I am better at than cleaning up blood, it’s reading body language.