Pick-me-up
Page 42
*****
Jerome dropped Jenny and Katelyn off at Ashley’s apartment on the south side of Northrup. Ashley lived in the same apartment building as Jenny had lived before she was kicked out. Only single mothers on government aid could live there. Ashley had one child who was already four years old. She was one year older than Jen.
Ashley seemed happy that they showed up and used the opportunity as free babysitting. “I just have to run to the store and maybe the bank. Are you sure you don’t mind?” Ashley’s daughter, Anna, was home from morning preschool.
Right after Ashley left, Jen went to the couch and crashed.
Now, nearly two hours later, Anna was drawing pictures, and Katelyn was starting in on another fingernail. She looked at her cell phone for the time. Nearly 3 p.m. She was supposed to work at 4 p.m. The thought of going into work and dealing with drive thru customers, along with the assistant manager constantly looking at her order fill times, made her even more anxious. She’d call in sick.
Katelyn waited on hold while the manager came to the phone. It was Brett, the new store manager. Katelyn’s stomach flipped as she told her lie. “You sure you can’t work? You’re leaving us in a tight spot. I can’t get this shift filled with this short notice.”
Katelyn apologized and stored her conscience safely away while he dealt out his disappointment.
She waited a moment after hanging up and tried Tim again.
His line picked up. Katelyn’s momentary surprise changed into shock when a girl’s voice asked, “Hello?”
Katelyn couldn’t immediately answer.
The voice began again. “Hello? Is this Kate-lyn? The same Kate-lyn who keeps harassing Tim?”
“Who is this?” Katelyn’s anger flared. “Where’s Tim?”
“Don’t you worry about who this is, unless you keep callin’. Then you better worry ‘cause I’m gonna have to take care of your ass.”
“Where’s Tim?” Katelyn didn’t let the threat throw her off.
“He doesn’t want to talk to you. What part of that don’t you get. You’re history and it’s time for you to leave him alone. He’s left you behind. Move on.”
Anger and confusion struggled against each other. “Who the hell is this? Tim is my boyfriend. I don’t know who you think you are, but you better get the hell away from him. Put him on the phone.”
“Listen, Bitch. Move off. Tim’s tired of you harassing him. I seen it. I seen him not answer your calls, and you don’t stop calling. Get it through your skull. He left you.”
Katelyn didn’t want to believe what she was hearing, but before she could respond, the girl found a way to make it hurt. “He don’t care about your damn car and your problems. Hell, your calls woke us up this morning. Looks like I’ll just have to get him into bed early tonight.” A cruel laugh followed her words. “Now don’t fuckin’ call him again!” The call was over.