Page 51 of Breaking Bristol
She plopped in the chair across from my desk and blurted, “Andy lost his job.” She confessed it as if it was a crime.
“Oh, Reese, I’m sorry to hear that.”
She mumbled a thank-you. “It’s been months, and he’s been looking but hasn’t been able to find anything. He was a supervisor at the lumber yard in Lawless, been there for nearly twenty years, so it’s almost all he knows.” She sighed. “Obviously, he was upset, still is. Money’s getting tighter by the day, and our savings is dwindling. Please don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t.”
“Well, my brother owns a construction company, and I suggested that Andy talk to Blake and see if he’s hiring at all. Andy kind of lost it on me. In all our years together, he’s never screamed at me the way he did.”
My insides got tight at my question. “Did he get physical?”
“No. No, not at all,” she assured me. “But he was really angry. Said that he didn’t want my family to know, that he didn’t need them pitying him and thinking less of him as a man. And he made me promise I wouldn’t say a word to my brother… but the thing is, I already had. That was why I suggested that he reach out to Blake in the first place, because I knew he’d take him on. And now, I’m just… I’m torn.”
“That’s a tough place to be, anybody would feel conflicted in your shoes.”
“I don’t know what to do.” She sniffled and wiped a tear away. “Blake knows, and I begged him not to say anything after Andy got so upset about it, but Bristol, now is not the time for my husband to be proud. I can’t force him to talk to my brother, but I also know that if he did, he’d get a job, and we’d be okay. He’s just being so stubborn, and his pride is getting in the way of him doing what’s right for his family. I don’t know what to do.”
I blew out a breath and leaned back in my chair. “Since he doesn’t want to ask your brother, does he have a plan instead?”
“No. He just keeps applying to places, and during the day, he’s been fixing stuff around the house and getting to things that have been on his to-do list for years. Which, I have to admit, is nice, but it’s not bringing in money.” She half smiled. “Andy and I don’t lie to each other. We’re always honest and open, but I feel terrible for promising not to talk to Blake when I already had, and now I don’t know what to say.”
“I can’t decide that for you, but what if you sit down with him, and together you come up with a plan. If he hasn’t gotten an offer by such and such a date, then he’ll reach out to Blake.”
Her lips turned all the way up, and she shot me a big grin. “That’s a great idea.”
“If he agrees, then yes. And I understand that he’s prideful, most men are, so although he may fight it at first, he may come around and make it seem like it was his idea,” I said with a knowing smirk.
“Men.” She laughed and got to her feet. “Thank you for talking to me.”
“Anytime.” I almost didn’t ask, but after what happened with Matthew last week, I could really use a distraction. “I know you’re dealing with a lot, but if you ever want to get a drink after work or anything, I’m almost always free.”
Her face lit up. “I would love that. Listen, money might be tight right now, but I’ve always got ten bucks for a couple of beers.”
“You’re the one with kids, so let me know your schedule and when you’re free.”
“Friday? I’ll take the kids home and change, then meet you at The Tap, say six o’clock?”
“Works for me.”
For the rest of the day, my mind wandered and I couldn’t stop thinking about what Reese said about her husband’s pride. Of course that got me thinking about Matthew and how he was doing the opposite.
He was sacrificing his happiness being with me to make sure he could give me the best version of himself. Any woman would be lucky to have a man like that. Of course, I feared he’d never come back, but I was trying to be optimistic.
It seemed like forever before Friday got here, but I hadn’t heard from Matthew, and I was looking forward to a distraction for the night.
I didn’t live far from the school, but I didn’t want to go home just to leave, so I changed into a pair of jeans and a deep purple T-shirt in my office and freshened up in the bathroom, then went to the Pickled Pig.
I sat in a booth that gave me a street view, and I didn’t need to look at the menu to know what I wanted. After ordering chicken fried steak and a Diet Coke, I just people watched as I waited for my food.
A truck filled with a bunch of teenagers in the bed drove by, a woman on a horse galloped on the side of the road, and then a charcoal-gray truck stopped suddenly in the middle of the street. I observed with interest as a man jumped down from the truck to help an old lady cross, and when he drove away, a white Cadillac followed. I tried to melt into the vinyl as I followed the vehicle with my eyes, and when I saw the back bumper had three stickers on it, I unglued myself. Shane would never damage his precious car with a sticker.
“Here ya go, Bristol.” Cricket set my food down. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I won’t.” I smiled at her. “It’ll be delicious as always.”
She touched my shoulder as she walked away. “You’re sweet.”
I was right. The salty, slightly sweet goodness ignited my taste buds, and I savored every bite. The restaurant had gotten busy, so I just left twenty bucks on the table and headed to The Tap a little early.