Maddy took a deep breath and threw her head and shoulders back with assumed confidence. She plastered a smile on her face and walked up to the office without hesitation, rapping her knuckles on the door frame as she stuck her head into the open doorway.
Mr. Hinkleman was a small but solid sixty-year-old man with tufts of curly gray hair above each ear and a passion for local produce and plaid, short-sleeved, dress shirts. He looked up from his paperwork and smiled at her, and she took it as a good omen.
“Hi, Mr. Hinkleman, my name is Maddy and I applied for a job recently. I wanted to see if anyone had had a chance to review my application. I’m really interested in working here, and I wanted to find out if I could be considered for an interview.”
Mr. Hinkleman sat back and nodded encouragingly, his round cheeks pushing up his large glasses as he smiled. “Well, I’m not usually in charge of the hiring, but I’d be happy to tell the manager you stopped by. I’m sure she’ll be in touch with you soon.”
Maddy bit her lip and tried to hide her grimace. “Well, unfortunately my phone isn’t working at the moment, and it’s probably going to be a few days before I can fix it. Is there a good time for me to check back with her instead?”
He raised an eyebrow, considering. “She’ll be in tomorrow from 8 to 5. Her name is Cindy, and I’ll tell her you’ll be coming.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hinkleman.” Maddy let out a nervous breath and smiled at him. “I really appreciate it, and I hope I get the chance to work for you someday.” Impulsively, she took a small step inside the office and stuck out a hand to him.
Mr. Hinkleman looked at her hand for a moment but then shook it, nodding. “I think you’d be a good addition to the team, Maddy.”
Maddy turned away before her gigantic smile scared him into reconsidering, and she practically Prancercised out of the office. She didn’t notice Maddock watching her from the end of the nearest aisle.
She looked so happy it was all he could do not to run after her and beg to know what had happened.
The girl who looked weak and desperate yesterday now looked like a totally different person. She was clean and wearing fresh clothes, and Maddock wondered if it was due to the money he’d given her or if her luck had suddenly taken a turn for the better.
He was pretty close to Mr. Hinkleman, so he didn’t think it would seem too inappropriate when he gave in to his curiosity and went to ask him about the interaction. He decided it wouldn’t hurt to feign a little more knowledge than he actually had, though. And maybe even put his gift into action.
“Hey, Mr. H, was that Madison I just saw in here?” Maddock leaned against the doorframe, his hands in his apron pockets.
“Uh yeah, I think her name was something like that. Why? You know her?”
Maddock nodded.
“Nice girl. Seemed very… competent. She wanted to check on a job application she submitted. You think she’d make a good employee?”
Maddock gulped. He probably shouldn’t trust someone he had recently caught stealing, but he knew it had only stemmed from desperation. Clearly she needed a source of income. Did he dare risk his reputation by vouching for her? He wanted to help her, and this was a simple way for him to do it. His gut told him she was trustworthy.
“Definitely!” He tried to negate the effects of his indecisive pause with extra enthusiasm. “She’s a great girl, and she could really use the job. I promise you won’t regret hiring her.” Maddock prayed she would help him keep that promise.
Mr. Hinkleman smiled and patted Maddock on the shoulder as he exited the office. “I’ll make sure Cindy knows that the girl comes highly recommended.”
Chapter 10
The vacuum alarm clock woke Maddy at the crack of dawn again on Monday, and she slipped out of the library before the cleaning crew could see her. She still had a couple hours to kill before Cindy, the manager of Hinkleman’s, was due to arrive, but not much else was open any earlier, so she decided to head on over and use the store bathroom to freshen up.
She took her time on the short walk over, praying today would be the day things would turn around for her. The gift from Maddock had been the first good thing that had happened to her in a while, so maybe that was a sign of more good things to come. God knew things couldn’t get much worse for her.
Not that she believed God was paying any attention to her. If he was supposed to be looking out for her, she thought he was doing a pretty bad job of it. Maddy didn’t know if she even believed in God; her aunt Ricki definitely hadn’t adhered to any religion. She worshiped at the altar of self-gratification.
But Maddy figured it didn’t hurt to send up a prayer for help every now and then, just in case someone was listening. Maybe God would send another guardian angel like Maddock to help her.
She was thinking about Maddock with his broad chest and sultry smile when she walked into the grocery store and almost ran right into him. “Maddock!” she gasped, pressing her hands against the firm pectorals she had been daydreaming about.
“Madison! Hey! How are you?” He stepped back an inch, but his presence was still overwhelming. He smelled clean but spicy, and Maddy could feel the sizzle radiating off him.
She wished like crazy she had stopped at the gas station to fix her morning breath and bedhead. He didn’t seem to notice, though. He was staring into her eyes like a woman stares at the dessert menu, with a desire he dare not satisfy. Maddy shifted uncomfortably under the intensity.
“I came to talk to the manager about getting a job here.”
Maddock nodded, not sure if he should mention he put in a good word for her. “It’s a really great place to work,” he said instead.
“I figured it’d be better to get the employee discount than the five-finger kind.” Maddy dropped her gaze to the floor, embarrassed. “Thanks again for not reporting me… and for the money.”
“Madison, do you have a place to stay?” he blurted and instantly regretted it.
Her face pinched with fear and worry, and she opened her mouth but didn’t know how to answer.
“It’s just… I volunteer at the Grace & Mercy shelter, and I wondered if you knew about it. It’s safe there, and there’s food, and showers.”
Maddy cringed at the mention of showers. She did her best to clean up in public restrooms, but she had looked pretty ragged the day her first met her. She had heard of the shelter, but she didn’t know much about it. She thought about lying, telling him of course she had a place to stay, but it’s not like she needed to protect her dignity from him. He’d already seen her at her lowest. “How far away is it?” That was the most important question.
“It’s not far — within walking distance. I’m going there after my shift today. You could come with me… if you wanted.”
There was one more question, maybe even more important than the first one, but much more humiliating. Maddy stared at her shoes for a long time before muttering, “How much does it cost to stay there?”
“Nothing! It’s free, including dinner and breakfast.”
Technically, it was free for the first three days; after that there was a small fee each day, but Maddock wasn’t going to tell her that. If it came to that, he’d pay the fee for her or, even better, find a more permanent place for her to stay. This girl didn’t belong on the streets or even at the homeless shelter. She wasn’t a drug addict or an alcoholic, wasn’t lazy, disabled or incompetent; she was a scared teenager, clearly running from something. And Maddock would do whatever it took to help her.
“What time do you get off today?” Maddy asked, and Maddock’s face split in a giant smile, thrilled that he was scheduled for the morning shift today, since he had the day off from school.
“I work till 12. Hey, do you like Thai food? There’s a great little restaurant on the way. Can I take you to lunch?”
Maddy squirmed again, and Maddock worried he had said the wrong thing. “I love it, but… I can’t really afford to go out to eat today.” Maddy stared at the floor like it
was the most interesting thing she’d ever seen.
“No! I meant my treat. I’d just be happy to have the company. Nobody else ever wants to go there with me.” All that was true, but Maddock also worried she hadn’t had a decent meal in a while.
“Is it that bad?” she teased, and the ache Maddock didn’t realize he had in his chest eased a little.
“It’s awesome! My family just doesn’t appreciate exotic cuisine.”
“It’s not a fancy restaurant, is it? I’m not really dressed for that…” Maddy scrunched her nose as she looked down at her outfit.
“Don’t worry, you look fine… perfect.” The last word came out in a whisper, and Maddock’s eyes grew soft as he gazed at her. Even in sweatpants with her hair disheveled, she still looked beautiful.
Maddy blushed at his scrutiny but was pleased by his approval. Earlier, she had convinced herself not to get emotionally involved with Maddock, but if he was willing to take her to the shelter she didn’t want to mess up his lunch plans. Besides, one lunch together couldn’t hurt, and she hadn’t had Thai food in forever. “Meet you right here at noon, then?”
Maddock resisted the urge to touch her and instead merely nodded, smiling. He had a feeling it was going to be a long couple of hours.
Maddy floated to the bathroom on a cloud of mixed emotions. She didn’t know what to think about Maddock and his unexplained concern for her. Did he have a thing for her, or was he just the world’s nicest grocery cashier? She decided it didn’t really matter. She couldn’t imagine why he would care about her either way, but he didn’t seem like a threat to her.
She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and combed her hair in the bathroom, suddenly wishing she had a little makeup and a clean shirt to put on. The weather had been cool, so it wasn’t like she had been sweating, but she was still wearing the tee shirt she bought on Saturday. She wondered if the shelter had a place to do laundry.
When she felt a little more presentable, she bought a banana for breakfast and sat outside on a bench, thinking and people-watching till it was time for Cindy to arrive. She waited five more minutes, just in case, then made her way back to the front office. This time, a thirty-something woman with curly hair and a plain but friendly face sat behind the desk instead of Mr. Hinkleman.
“Hi, I’m Maddy. I applied for a job last week, and —”
“And Mr. Hinkleman told me I should hire you,” Cindy interrupted with a smile.
“He did?” She didn’t realize she’d made that much of an impression.
“Said you’d be a great addition to the team. When can you start, Maddy? I’m short-handed and could use someone right away.”
“Uh, right now! I mean, any time you want me. I’m available.” Maddy stumbled over her own excitement.
Cindy looked at her curiously. She didn’t know what Mr. Hinkleman saw in the girl, but at least she was enthusiastic. “Well, if you want to, I can start training you today — show you the ropes at least.”
“That would be great, Cindy, I mean, Mrs…”
“Wazinski, but Cindy’s fine. Less of a mouthful.” Maddy chuckled in agreement. “Let’s get some paperwork filled out and we’ll find you an apron.”
Ten minutes later, Cindy led Maddy past the registers on the way to the stockroom, and Maddy whispered in Maddock’s ear as she passed him. “I got the job!”
Maddock’s mouth fell open in surprise as he watched her walk away, clad in the green employee apron. She’d taken off her jacket, and he could see how thin she was underneath it. The apron wrapped all the way around the back of her. He was definitely ordering her one of everything on the menu.
Cindy spent a few hours showing Maddy the ins and outs of the grocery business, including how to bag groceries properly, which would be her first assignment. Maddy kind of wished she was bagging on Maddock’s line, but he was so fast she didn’t know if she could keep up with him. She didn’t want to ask how long Cindy wanted her to work, but she wondered if she’d still be able to go to lunch with Maddock. Her question was answered when Cindy came by at 11:30 and told her to clock out at noon. Maddy grinned at the perfect timing.
She walked with Maddock to the time clock, then he followed her to the front office so she could ask when her next shift was. Cindy looked thrilled when Maddy told her she would work any shift they needed. Cindy jotted down a few days and times on a piece of paper and handed it to Maddy before her eyes landed on Maddock, lingering outside the office. Her eyes shifted curiously back and forth between them. “Did you need something, Maddock?”
“No, I’m good. Just waiting for Madison.”
Cindy raised her eyebrows and nodded, finally understanding. Maddock was the golden boy around there, and Maddy must be his girlfriend. That’s why Mr. Hinkleman wanted Cindy to hire her. Cindy didn’t really mind; Maddock was a good kid and a great employee, and Maddy was looking very promising. She watched them walk away, noticing the electricity that sparked between them and the careful way they kept their bodies from touching.
Maddock could barely contain his excitement as he walked with Madison to his vehicle. Not only was he finally able to tell her about the shelter, but he had helped her get a job, and if his friend Zeph had come through for him, there would be a gift waiting in the car for Maddock to give to her.
He noticed she had been wearing the same outfit for the last several days, and her other outfit was probably stuffed in the plastic grocery bag she was carrying, desperately in need of laundering.
Between Zeph’s wife and his sister, Zeph had access to lots of girls’ clothes, so Maddock had begged him to ask his women to scrounge up a few things for Madison and put them in his car. Sure enough, a pretty, Vera Bradley duffle bag stuffed full of clothing was sitting in the passenger seat, and Maddock would bet that the clothes inside were some of their favorites, not unwanted handoffs. That’s what you got when you asked for favors from half-angels.
Maddy looked at the floral-patterned duffle bag curiously as she opened the car door.
Maddock could tell she was resistant to taking handouts, so he tried to tread lightly. “My friend gave that to me, asked me to donate it to someone at the shelter. Just throw it in the backseat. Or, maybe you’d like to have it?”
Maddy pulled the zipper and reached inside, extracting a matching cosmetic bag. She gasped, and her eyes began to cloud over as she opened the bag and rifled though the travel-size products — every bath and beauty product a girl could ever want, even a matching set of cherry blossom-scented body sprays and lotions.
Maddy wiped a rogue tear from her cheek and started pulling out clothing — pretty blouses and sweaters, jeans, even cute pajamas. She held them up to check the fit, but they were clearly perfect for her. When her hands landed on an unopened pack of lace-trimmed panties, Maddy sank to her knees and began sobbing.
Maddock rushed to her side of the car and knelt beside her, wrapping his arms around her convulsing shoulders. “Madison? What’s the matter? Are you okay? Is something wrong?”
She shook her head no, unable to calm her crying enough to answer. Finally, after several more minutes, her breath caught and she shuddered as she exhaled, wiping her cheeks with her hands and daring to look up at him. Her face and eyes were red and swollen, and strands of hair were plastered to her face with tears. Maddock had never seen anyone look so happy.
“This is just… really helpful. And everything’s so pretty!”
Maddock released the breath he had been holding. A crying girl was always so confusing.
“Did this stuff belong to your girlfriend?” She whimpered. She couldn’t help herself from asking. Not that it should matter, she wasn’t supposed to be interested in him anyway.
Maddock chuckled. “No, no girlfriend. Just a friend of mine.”
She found it hard to believe that someone was just giving all this perfect stuff away, and Maddock just happened to have it. But what other explanation could there be? He didn’t know she’d be here today. She hadn’t e
ven shown up the other day when she told him she would.
Maddy stared at him in bewilderment. Whatever the explanation, she wasn’t going to say no to this blessing. She hated relying on other people, but right now she was so desperate she’d take any help she could get. The reality of her situation fell on her, and her shoulders sunk under the weight of it. She wallowed for a moment but then shook it off, determined not to let her current circumstances define her. She would get past this.
“Thank you, Maddock. This is really amazing.” She pulled herself up and wiped her face again, releasing the strands of hair that were stuck to her cheeks.
“You’re welcome. Glad it could go to use.” He grinned, thrilled she had been willing to take it.
“Would you mind if I took a minute to try some of these on?”
“No, not at all. Take your time. I’ll just hang out here till you’re ready.”
Maddy carried the whole bag to the store bathroom and dug through it, trying to decide what would be appropriate to wear out to lunch but also to the homeless shelter. She chuckled as she realized the irony; she would probably fit in better at the shelter if she kept her old clothes on. But she couldn’t resist changing into one of the cozy sweaters. She had been wearing just a thin tee shirt for so long, she could barely remember what warm clothes felt like.
The jeans were the size she normally wore, but they felt a little baggy. She suddenly realized how much weight she had lost, subsiding on next to nothing.
The fancy bottles of shampoo tempted her, but she didn’t want to make Maddock wait that long, so she settled for a few squirts of the body spray and a swipe of deodorant. There was even some make up in the cosmetic bag, and Maddy indulged herself with a coat of lipstick and mascara.
Lastly, Maddy pulled a brand new pair of Keds out of the bottom of the bag, and her feet practically moaned when she replaced her broken-down old pair. She’d walked so much the past few weeks, her feet were in constant agony.
Date with Destiny Collection: Angel Romance Series: Books 1 - 4 Page 32
