Chapter 17

The next morning, I woke up next to a dead phone. I didn't know when the phone call had ended. Maybe Jay had woken up and done it or one of our phones had died.

Suddenly very awake, I frantically searched for my charging cable between the bed and the nightstand and hooked the phone up to it.

What if Jay had tried calling me this morning or during the night, but hadn't been able to reach me? I also needed to know the time because today was the first day that I had to be back at work at the restaurant. I didn't have to be there until the afternoon, but since I'd let myself sleep in late this week, I didn't trust my internal clock anymore. A quick look outside didn't help me determine the time either because it was a gloomy and overcast day.

My phone's display lit up and I hastily entered my pin to log in. The clock showed up, and it was only 8 am. I had all the time in the world. I waited a few seconds to see if any messages or missed calls from Jay came in, but nothing popped up. Only a message from Zoe reminding me of the interviews today.

Later that afternoon, I would be conducting the second round of interviews to find an accountant for the restaurant that would take my place once I started at the police academy. The first round, two weeks ago, had been a complete bust. That hadn't surprised me though because we were looking for an accountant that could also take over my duties as a waitress if needed.

I lay in bed for a few minutes, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead, then typed out a quick message for Jay before getting up.

Good morning. How are you feeling today? I miss you.

I took a quick shower and got ready for the day. I was sitting at the kitchen island, eating my breakfast when Jay called.

"Hey," I greeted him after picking up and was anxious to find out his mood and emotional state this morning and if his sentiment towards yesterday's events had changed at all.

"I miss you too," he said in the casual tone of voice I was used to hearing from him instead of the anguished tone from last night. "I'm on my way to work right now, and I wanted to use the time to thank you for being there for me last night. I'm sorry that you saw me like that."

I didn't like that he was apologising for letting me in and showing his emotions.

"I'll always be there for you, whenever and however you need me to be," I told him earnestly.

There was a short pause. "Usually, I'm better at dealing with situations like this one and can keep my emotions in check. I've dealt with worse things on my own before and have always been okay. I don't know what was different yesterday. Maybe the lack of sleep this week is to blame. The case is too urgent to take breaks. I guess due to the fatigue and stress we've been under, my armour that helps me deal with emotionally difficult situations was down last night," he concluded his reasoning.

"You don't need to explain or justify your feelings," I objected vehemently. "You have a huge heart, and it's good that incidents like the one yesterday still affect you instead of leaving you cold. And since they do, it's good to let someone in and help you with them. I'm glad that you let me in because trying to deal with everything on your own only makes things harder. That's something I'm still learning, but I've let you in and you've helped me so much. It's only fair for me to return the favour if I can," I tried to reason with him, hoping that I got my message across.

"I guess you're right," he sighed after a few seconds of contemplation.

I nodded to myself, relieved that he'd agreed. "Did you get any updates on the kid?" I asked.

"Yeah, he's still stable and doing well, considering," he informed me. "I think I'll visit him later today. Try and talk to him and his parents to apologise."

"Yeah, that's a good idea," I agreed even though I was worried about how the parents might react to seeing him. "Let me know how it goes."

"Alright. I have to go now, I'm outside of the office. I'm already much later than everyone else because they let me sleep this morning to catch up on some rest. I'll talk to you soon."

"Talk soon."

I put the phone down and continued eating my breakfast absentmindedly, thinking over our conversation.

A few hours later, I walked into my office at the restaurant and got to work. Since it was Saturday, I had to get the envelopes with this week's paychecks for the employees ready.

The kitchen staff trickled in first to pick them up.

"Hello, Hailey," Andrew said with the usual intensity in his eyes when he walked into the office. "I'm glad to see that you're doing well."

I greeted him with a smile, "Hey Andrew, thank you. That's nice of you."

He took the envelope and did an awkward, little half-bow to thank me.

"Have a good shift," I told him and was surprised to see a smile flit over his face before he left.

Zoe walked in next. Incredulously, I picked up my phone to look at the time.

"Zoe, what are you doing here? Your shift only starts in ten minutes," I teased.

"I've been early all week!" she exclaimed. "You just haven't been here to see it."

I raised my eyebrows, "Really? Is this something you're going to stick with?"

"Maybe. We'll see," she shrugged and grinned.

I chuckled, "You wouldn't guess what just happened, Andrew smiled."

"No!" she exaggerated her astonishment and grinned wider. "I've been talking to him a little more than usual this week, and I think he might be warming up to me. He's actually a pretty nice guy."

She turned around and raised her arms to a big shrug as she walked off.

I liked the idea of Andrew slowly coming out of his shell.

My eyes scanned across my desk and fell on an envelope with Elias' name on it. He hadn't picked up his paycheck last Saturday and hadn't returned to the restaurant since. He'd also ignored all calls and messages from my dad. I twisted the envelope in my hands and wondered if he would ever reach out again. If one day he would apologise or if we'd seen him for the last time. When a waiter walked in, I quickly shoved the envelope into a drawer and greeted him.

I handed out the rest of the paychecks and organised a few more things before the job applicants started coming in.

Two boring, one infuriating, and two average interviews as well as one cancellation and one terminated interview due to tardiness later, I walked into the dining room and over to Martha sitting at her usual table with Zoe.

"I'm guessing that's a no on the applicants?" Zoe guessed when I slumped down in the seat next to her.

"I'm starting to believe that wanting an accountant who also has a small amount experience in waiting tables is too much to ask," I sighed, feeling defeated. "The only lady that had the proper qualifications for the accounting part of the job is five months pregnant. We can't have her waiting tables and running around the restaurant for hours. All other applicants just didn't have the right skill set. I think one guy even showed me a fake certificate. He had no idea what Excel is!" I exclaimed in frustration.

"Even I know what that is," Martha chuckled.

Zoe and I stared at the old lady in disbelief. Martha didn't even own a cellphone.

She ignored our expressions, "I'm sure you'll find someone, princess."

"Thank you, Martha, but I'm starting to run out of time," I told her, "my training at the academy starts soon, and I need someone to take my place by then."

Martha's heartwarming smile, that never left her face, wavered slightly. "Even though I'm very happy for you that you got into the academy, I'm still sad that you won't be working here anymore," she mumbled.

I grabbed her hand. It felt tiny and bony in mine. "Don't worry, Martha. I'll still come by on Saturdays to chat with you as often as I can." I watched her face light up and her smile return. "And Zoe will be here!" I added and turned to Zoe, searching for confirmation.

She looked lost in thought, then her eyes snapped up and connected with mine. "Train me," she blurted out.

I stared at her questioningly.

"Teach me how to do the accounting for the restaurant. You already know that I'm a good waitress and that I know my way around the restaurant. You could teach me the business side of things. I'm good with numbers."

"Are you sure you would enjoy that?" I asked, still a little sceptical.

"Yeah," she sighed confidently. "I've wanted to expand my horizons for a while now. I think this might be just the right thing."

"That … would be amazing!" I gushed, still surprised by her sudden proposal but felt relief wash over me.

"How wonderful!" Martha exclaimed and clapped her hands together.

"Thank you, Zoe," I said genuinely.

"No problem. I'm looking forward to it," she smiled and squeezed my shoulder. "But for now, I'd better get back to work."

She excused herself and greeted a group of customers entering the restaurant.

Martha sat at the table across from me and studied my face intently.

"How are you doing, Martha?" I asked her with a smile.

"Oh, I'm fine, princess. The real question is how you're doing. Zoe just told me about what happened to you after I'd left last week. I remember hearing sirens that night, but I had no idea that it had something to do with you!"

"Did she now?" I noted and shot a glance at Zoe.

Once again, I told the story of the attack and everything that led up to it and happened after. Since I had already told her about how I'd met Jay last week, a short version of events sufficed.

"How are you feeling now that it's been a week?" she asked empathically.

"I'm doing well. For the first few days and nights, my mind felt extremely restless. I couldn't stop thinking about everything and going through that night's events over and over again in my head, but those thoughts are beginning to die down. I try to focus on other things, and I can think back more objectively now without getting emotional."

Martha reached out and patted my hand a few times. "That's right. Time heals all wounds. And the scars left behind, make us stronger."

Her words struck a chord with me, and I quietly let them sink in for a moment. "Are you speaking from experience?"

"Princess, I've lived in Chicago for almost a century. I've had my fair share of run-ins with bad people in my time," she lifted her gaze and stared into the distance thinking back. Then she brought up her favourite topic again, "My Walter was white, you know, and we got married in 1951. Our interracial relationship was frowned upon by many. That made for some … let's call them … unpleasant encounters. But it was more than worth it," she concluded with a smile and winked at me.

I returned her smile.

"Martha, as a firefighter, Walter must have experienced quite a few calamities," I hesitated before continuing. "How did you comfort him when he felt responsible or guilty about something bad that happened on the job?"

Her wise eyes saw right through my question. "I'm guessing you're asking because of your young detective?"

I nodded.

"Walter was a sensitive man, and he had a long career in the CFD. Naturally, there were many difficult calls over the years. Early on, when something had happened, I tried reasoning with him, telling him that it wasn't his fault, that he didn't have to feel guilty, that he did the best he could and that he shouldn't be too hard on himself. We both knew that what I was saying was true, but it didn't change how he felt. Feelings don't listen to reason," she explained. "Eventually, I learned that I couldn't do much except listen to him and show him that I was there for him."

I nodded again and was relieved that I had instinctively taken the right approach with Jay.

"Don't push him. Just be there, and if he feels the need to talk, he will and all you have to do is listen," she added.

"Thank you, Martha. This helps a lot," I told her.

I wondered if Jay had already visited the boy at the hospital and checked my phone to make sure that I hadn't missed a call. He hadn't called.

I shook myself out of my thoughts. "Why is your food taking so long, Martha?" I asked her, looking across the restaurant towards the kitchen.

"I haven't ordered yet, princess," she said casually.

"Oh, your usual?"

Martha nodded contently and retrieved a handkerchief out of her tiny handbag to blow her nose with.

I went to the kitchen and placed her order, then returned and waited with her while she told me about the day she'd met Walter. I'd heard the story before but enjoyed it anyway.

Martha had just finished her main course when my phone rang. I excused myself from the table and went outside to take the call.

"Hey, Hails. What are you up to?" Jay's voice sounded through the phone's speaker.

No matter how many times we talked on the phone, I still felt a warm sensation rush through me every time I heard his voice, accompanied by a strong longing to have him close to me again.

"Hey," I greeted him, "I'm at the restaurant. The job applicants came in today."

"Oh right, that was today. How did it go?"

"Awfully," I chuckled, "but Zoe volunteered to take over for me, which is amazing. How are you doing?"

I quickly steered the conversation onto him because my day wasn't important. I needed to know how his visit to the hospital had gone.

"That's great! I'm back at the motel now after visiting the kid."

"How did it go?"

"Good. He was awake, and his parents let me spend some time with him. I talked to them too and apologised to everyone. They were appreciative and welcoming and don't seem to blame me." The line fell silent. "I'm not sure I deserve it," he sighed.

"I'm glad that the boy is doing well," I said, slowly pacing up and down in front of the restaurant.

"Yeah, me too," he mumbled. "I wish I was in Chicago with you."

"Me too. Do you know when you'll be coming back?"

"No, not yet," he said wistfully, "this is one of those cases that just keeps unravelling. We make progress and then five more things turn up that we need to investigate."

"I hope you finish up soon. I can't wait to see you again."

"I'll do my best to come back to you as soon as possible," he told me and my heart ached and yearned for him. "I should get going, I have to wake up early for a stakeout tomorrow."

We said our goodbyes and hung up. I glanced through the restaurant window where Martha was just being served her dessert. I took pleasure in seeing her excitement and rejoined her for the rest of the night.