Trust

Chapter 8

January 2017 | N O W | Empathy

I watched from the living room as Monice stood to the living room door, directing Sterling and his frat brothers, Arnesto, Julian, and Luke, as they brought in her heavy furniture, earlier this morning. Once they'd made it upstairs with her dresser, Monice followed up the stairs behind them with her hands on her hips as if she'd been working right along with them and I was off to work with my brain damn near oozing from my ears due to overthinking.

Sterling had taken his time clearing out the guest bedroom that used to be the office he never bothered to use. On behalf of Monice, he cleaned it up for her in order for her to bring her bedroom things and every other piece of furniture that she didn't sell at the yard sale she'd had a few days ago in order to pay the last of her rent.

I was finishing up a client's hair and was extremely nervous. I knew that my nervousness showed in my work today, no matter how hard I tried to remain focus, I just couldn't help but think back on what Drew had said to me last week about moving Monice into the house. It was just getting under my skin. No matter what doubt came into play, I knew that I had to trust her. I just had to. I can't let this one situation screw up everything.

After finishing up at work, four hours later, we were closing down shop. Theresa was cleaning up her station. Janis had left already after handing me over the booking schedule to write onto the white board for the girls to see. The other four girls that worked in my shop had finished up the last of their stations and headed out, leaving Theresa and I alone.

For some reason, I couldn't help but feel that Theresa was taking her time on purpose just to buy more time alone with me. I wasn't too certain, though, but that's the feeling that I had.

I walked to my office to grab my purse and keys so that we could head out. When I locked my office door, I looked towards Theresa who was sitting in her chair, her index swiping across the screen of her phone as if she were playing a game. When she saw that I was looking at her, I heard her phone lock just before standing and grabbing her clutch.

"Theresa, you didn't have to stay behind with me. I'm alright." I assure her as I close my office door behind me.

"I know, Boss Lady, but ..." she paused for a quick second, "I just couldn't help but realize that you seemed a little out of it today. Is everything okay?"

The genuineness in her voice allowed for me to understand that this was more than just concern. She actually cared, for real. She walked over to me in order to walk with me outside of the salon. I smile and let out a small laugh.

"Yes, I'm alright. It's just that my sister just moved in with me and I'm just wondering how it's all going to play out with her being there. That's all." I say to her as we step outside for me to lock the door.

"I understand what you're going through, Boss Lady. My brother just got out of jail on bond and although they haven't set him up with a court date just yet, I have a feeling he's going to be going away for a little while." She said, sounding down. "My mom got tired of him being in and out of jail so she kicked him out after this time and he didn't have nowhere to go so I had to take him in with me and my kids. The adjustment is rough." She snickered.

"See, he's been in so much trouble with the law, it ain't even funny. He's got a rap sheet so long, you'd think it was a child's Christmas list because it's so long. And it's like he feels like he's untouchable or some mess because he goes to jail and get out on bond all the time, not really understanding the financial strain it's always putting on me and my mama." She shook her head. "And this time, the little bastard had the audacity to burglarize somebody's house." She sucked her teeth before shaking her head again. "Somebody that was supposed to be our family friend. Somebody that trusted him with everything they had. And he betrays them in the most hurtful way all because he wanted to be a part of some gang. So now, I have to watch my stuff and hide my babies' games in my room so he won't steal them and try to sell them."