that?”
“Absolutely.” Shannon knew not to hesitate.
“Take a look at your schedule and see how many hours you might have per week or per month. I can be flexible.”
Shannon beat back the doubts in her mind. Between double shifts, Olivia, and sleeping, she had no idea where she’d find time to take on another commitment. She supposed she could cut out a couple of doubles per month, but that would cost her money she needed for school. Somehow, she’d have to work it out. Make more sacrifices.
“We can talk about your compensation when you come in, and you know how many hours you’ll be able to work.”
Shannon couldn’t hold back her surprised smile.
“Of course, she’s going to pay you,” Jonah declared.
“I didn’t expect that. I guess, I shouldn’t say that. Terrible negotiating tactic, huh?” Shannon snickered.
Vivienne winked like her brother. “We’ll work on that. Now, let’s order.”
Falling into this pile of luck stunned Shannon. She had a feeling Jonah pressured his sister to help her, but she couldn’t worry about that.
She still needed to work out a new schedule with Penny. What if she couldn’t get the time off from the restaurant? She made good money with tips. She needed that job. Shannon dug her thumb into the side of her thigh.
Stop it! Shannon vowed not to let desperation make her decision for her. Those decisions always threw her into the ditch. She had to keep her goals in mind. You can get what you want.
Shannon repeated the thought to herself throughout lunch and all the way back to her house, allowing herself to believe that she would.
Chapter Nine
J onah spent the rest of the day pleased he could connect Shannon to the possibility of a new future. That his sister could help only added to the joy he felt. In some small way, they both could improve the family karma.
If ever Jonah forgot the need for familial redemption, the universe always sent a reminder. Today, that reminder showed up as a message from Trevor Stiges. A reflexive sigh escaped Jonah’s lips.
For some reason, writing the young man a check for $ last year led Mr. Stiges to think they had a burgeoning…friendship or mentorship…something. Jonah didn’t understand it. He only met the kid once. Well, not kid. Trevor was twenty-two.
Since that meeting where the check changed hands, Trevor called regularly—not for money, surprisingly. The first voicemail wished Jonah a Happy New Year. Then, Trevor called for business advice when he advanced to a management position at the tech support company where he worked. Another time, he needed an accountant.
Jonah, again and again, felt drawn to help—strange considering how Trevor entered their lives. Even he didn’t understand why he was returning Trevor’s latest call, but he was.
“Jonah. Hey. Thanks for calling me back. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“Neither was I. I keep thinking that when I told you I considered matters between my family and yours settled, I assumed I wouldn’t hear from you again, but I have.”
Trevor met Jonah’s irritation with silence.
“Why did you call, Trevor?”
“Maybe we should talk face to face.”
“No.”
“I think that would be better.”
Jonah grew exasperated. “What do you want, Trevor?”
“It’s my mother.”
Arianna Stiges, Trevor’s mother, had been Tom Moran’s mistress and, at one-time, a Moran Financial vice president. Jonah first came across her name while investigating some accounting irregularities at the company. The ledgers showed regular payments to a consultant with no apparent work product. When the numbers couldn’t line up, Jonah went to his father. Tom Moran’s explanation shocked Jonah—even considering what he already knew about his parents’ marriage.
The affair started nearly thirty years ago and lasted until, according to Tom, Arianna became obsessive. He ended the entanglement, fired her, and did his best to drive her out of town by making sure she couldn’t get
“Absolutely.” Shannon knew not to hesitate.
“Take a look at your schedule and see how many hours you might have per week or per month. I can be flexible.”
Shannon beat back the doubts in her mind. Between double shifts, Olivia, and sleeping, she had no idea where she’d find time to take on another commitment. She supposed she could cut out a couple of doubles per month, but that would cost her money she needed for school. Somehow, she’d have to work it out. Make more sacrifices.
“We can talk about your compensation when you come in, and you know how many hours you’ll be able to work.”
Shannon couldn’t hold back her surprised smile.
“Of course, she’s going to pay you,” Jonah declared.
“I didn’t expect that. I guess, I shouldn’t say that. Terrible negotiating tactic, huh?” Shannon snickered.
Vivienne winked like her brother. “We’ll work on that. Now, let’s order.”
Falling into this pile of luck stunned Shannon. She had a feeling Jonah pressured his sister to help her, but she couldn’t worry about that.
She still needed to work out a new schedule with Penny. What if she couldn’t get the time off from the restaurant? She made good money with tips. She needed that job. Shannon dug her thumb into the side of her thigh.
Stop it! Shannon vowed not to let desperation make her decision for her. Those decisions always threw her into the ditch. She had to keep her goals in mind. You can get what you want.
Shannon repeated the thought to herself throughout lunch and all the way back to her house, allowing herself to believe that she would.
Chapter Nine
J onah spent the rest of the day pleased he could connect Shannon to the possibility of a new future. That his sister could help only added to the joy he felt. In some small way, they both could improve the family karma.
If ever Jonah forgot the need for familial redemption, the universe always sent a reminder. Today, that reminder showed up as a message from Trevor Stiges. A reflexive sigh escaped Jonah’s lips.
For some reason, writing the young man a check for $ last year led Mr. Stiges to think they had a burgeoning…friendship or mentorship…something. Jonah didn’t understand it. He only met the kid once. Well, not kid. Trevor was twenty-two.
Since that meeting where the check changed hands, Trevor called regularly—not for money, surprisingly. The first voicemail wished Jonah a Happy New Year. Then, Trevor called for business advice when he advanced to a management position at the tech support company where he worked. Another time, he needed an accountant.
Jonah, again and again, felt drawn to help—strange considering how Trevor entered their lives. Even he didn’t understand why he was returning Trevor’s latest call, but he was.
“Jonah. Hey. Thanks for calling me back. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“Neither was I. I keep thinking that when I told you I considered matters between my family and yours settled, I assumed I wouldn’t hear from you again, but I have.”
Trevor met Jonah’s irritation with silence.
“Why did you call, Trevor?”
“Maybe we should talk face to face.”
“No.”
“I think that would be better.”
Jonah grew exasperated. “What do you want, Trevor?”
“It’s my mother.”
Arianna Stiges, Trevor’s mother, had been Tom Moran’s mistress and, at one-time, a Moran Financial vice president. Jonah first came across her name while investigating some accounting irregularities at the company. The ledgers showed regular payments to a consultant with no apparent work product. When the numbers couldn’t line up, Jonah went to his father. Tom Moran’s explanation shocked Jonah—even considering what he already knew about his parents’ marriage.
The affair started nearly thirty years ago and lasted until, according to Tom, Arianna became obsessive. He ended the entanglement, fired her, and did his best to drive her out of town by making sure she couldn’t get
Similar Books
