Page 22 of The Love We Deny
“Like, walk around and ask people to hire me?”
“That’s generally how it works.”
He’s quiet, staring down at the desk. I can see him weighing his options. Spending the afternoon with me or going back to the empty motel room. Facing the world with someone he hates or spending another day in seclusion.
“I don’t have a resume or anything.”
“That’s okay. We don’t have to commit to anything today.” I push off the counter. “Go get your jacket.”
He narrows his eyes. “You know I’m not one of your kids, right?”
“Jacket, Will. I don’t have all day.” He mutters something under his breath, but he gets up.
Our first stop is the hardware store. Will doesn’t mind the idea, nodding when I point at the sign. “This place might not be so bad.”
Joe, the owner himself, is behind the counter when we walk in, a man in his sixties now, but still strong as ever from years of hard work. He looks up when the bell over the door rings, doing a double-take when he sees who I’ve brought with me.
“Nolan,” he says, setting down the lawn magazine he was flipping through.
“How’s it going?”
“Oh, you know.” He doesn’t finish that sentence, his eyes moving to Will behind me, taking in the store with genuine interest.
“Joe,” I say, pulling my gaze from him. “You mentioned a few months back you were looking to hire some help.”
The man frowns, confusion wrinkling his face, but I can see the exact moment he understands what I’m doing here. That I’m looking for a job for Will. And he’s not mean about it. He doesn’t scoff or turn us away, but I know the answer before he says anything.
“I appreciate you thinking of me, Nolan. I do.” He pulls his glasses off his forehead, setting them on the counter to meet my eyes. “You know how it is. I got people coming in here every day, families, and I can’t take on somebody like—”
“A criminal,” Will interrupts, his voice more stony than it was a few minutes ago. “You can say it.”
Joe has the decency to look apologetic. “I’m sorry, son. I really am.”
The bookshop is next.
I pop in here once in a while, when I have time to read, so not much lately. Donna has owned the place all my life, and she’s one of the nicest people in Rosehill. I can only hope her kindness extends to Will.
She comes out from between the bookshelves, smiling a bright smile when she sees me that doesn’t so much as flicker when she sees Will. “Will Davis,” she says, going right up to him, craning her head back far to see his face.
“Hey, Miss Donna,” he says, sounding shy as he scratches the back of his neck, not meeting her eyes.
“My goodness.” She looks him over from her short stature. “You look well, dear.”
“Um… thanks.”
She has a few girls from Rosehill High that help after school, and she’d love to have someone on full time, but her daughter manages that sort of thing these days, and she’s not sure she’d go for it.
“It’s all right,” Will says, and he doesn’t sound too angry this time. You never can be with Donna. “Thank you anyway.”
She touches his arm before we leave, and I think that surprises him, the way his eyes drop to her hand. That someone would dare showhimany sort of affection. “Make sure you take care of yourself, boy. We care about you ‘round here. Would hate to see anything else happen to you.”
He nods while my throat goes tight at her words.
The new coffee shop in town won’t see us at all. The young woman at the front desk, someone I don’t recognize, takes one look at Will and tells us they aren’t hiring, even though there’s a sign in the window.
The man working the little grocery store on the corner outright tells me I should be ashamed of myself, parading someone like him around. He turns and leaves the store before I can say anything to defend him.
I find him outside taking a deep breath, releasing it through his nose, long and slow. I don’t say anything. I know there isn’t anything I could say that wouldn’t make it worse, but I’m not ready to give up yet.
