The Guest Book Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Just have Macy stop making those signs if you don’t think they help business.” She’d tossed a conspiratorial grin over her shoulder at Macy. “That way she can just come in and get her real work done. I bet the customers won’t even notice.”
    Hank had bumbled around for an answer, hitching up his Sansabelt pants. “Well, there’s no sense being so dramatic,” he’d sputtered as he stalked away, leaving his customary parting shot: “Just get to work.”
    Macy had smiled a thank-you at Avis for her defense and, after Avis had gone back to her register, turned back to the drawing she’d been creating of a wheel of cheese dancing with a cracker. Hank had criticized her for taking so long and maybe he was right. She could lose herself in her drawings, even the silly ones. There was something so satisfying in the very act of creating—even if it was just grocery-store signs. It was hardly the life of the upscale artist she’d once dreamed of being. But without Avis’s prodding, she wouldn’t even be doing the signs.
    The sound of her name brought Macy’s thoughts back to the staff meeting and Hank’s lecture on time sheets. She looked up to see Avis snickering and Hank glaring at her.
    “I have these meetings to bring the staff up-to-date onwhat we’re doing as a corporation,” he said. “I expect complete attention if you value your job.”
    Her face reddened. “Of course,” she managed.
    Did she value her job? She valued the paycheck. Was it the same thing?
    “I’m sorry,” she added, hoping she looked appropriately repentant. “I just have a lot on my mind.” Her dream from the night before, mixed with Brenda’s announcement and Chase’s play for her, had messed with her mind.
    “Well, get with the program,” Hank shot back —it was another of his customary barbs —and then resumed talking to the group.
    Macy’s mind drifted away again, this time to the day Hank had hired her. She’d been standing in his office, her application in his hands, counting the minutes she had left until she had to get back to Brenda and Emma, who would need to be nursed soon. Chase had left unexpectedly and without explanation just a few weeks after Emma was born, and they’d been living with Brenda ever since. Macy needed the job if she was ever going to be independent.
    “Got any register experience?” he’d asked.
    “I worked at King’s Drugs my senior year of high school,” she replied. She hadn’t added that she hated the job, smiling falsely at the endless stream of people buying candy bars, pregnancy tests, mascara, and NoDoz while she watched the clock hands drag from number to number.
    “Are you good with people?” he continued.
    She’d wanted to say she was. But her child’s own fatherhadn’t hung around, which didn’t say much about her people skills. Still, she needed the job.
    She felt her milk come in and crossed her arms in front of her.
    “Yes, sir. I am very good with people,” she replied.
Especially a certain little person who thinks I am the sun, the moon, and everything in between and is probably searching for me while screaming in her grandmother’s arms right about now.
    “Well, your mom’s a very good customer, and I’ve known her for years. So I am going to take her recommendation that I hire you as a special favor to her. You be sure and tell her I said that now, ya hear?” Even then Hank had had a crush on her mom.
    “Absolutely! Oh, thank you!” she said, reaching out her hand to shake his. She saw his eyes notice the growing spot on her shirt that her leaking milk was causing. He grimaced.
    “You know, it’s been my experience that single mothers do not make for good employees. They’re unreliable.”
    “Well, I won’t be. I really need this job,” she gushed, taking the papers he handed her. That morning, she and her mom had run the figures. If she budgeted just right, she and Emma could have that small place of their own she’d found. They