As she went to grab the employee purchase list, I took it out of her hand.
“Today’s breakfast is on me. Besides, you guys are going to be working crazy hours this week with the festival, I think you deserve a treat.” I put the page away. “So how’s the library event planning going? Everything going to be ready next week?”
She leaned on the counter and nodded. Swallowing the bite she’d just taken, she sipped on her coffee before answering. “Cat Latimer is confirmed for the event. She just launched the second book in her teenage witch series. The kids loved book number one, so I’m sure we’ll have a good turnout. Jackie wanted to go with someone more established, but I like the idea of spotlighting a new author. Of course, if ticket sales tank, it’s all on me.”
“I’ve sold quite a few just during my shift. I think we’ll be fine.” My aunt had mentioned that she wasn’t happy with Sasha’s insistence on the author to invite, but the girl had stood her ground. I supported Sasha’s choice, mostly because she’d been spot on with her decisions about the teen group in the first place. Since she’d started the afterschool book clubs, our young adult sales had tripled.
Sasha nodded. “Probably why I’m not sleeping. I just want the event to be successful. The library deserves a boost.”
“We’ll be fine. Between the sponsorship from the city, Darla throwing in the drinks, and Sadie and us taking care of the food costs, every dollar from the ticket sales will be a direct donation. Think of how many books the library can buy next quarter for the kids.” The thought of the lost check nagged at me. I knew Sasha wanted the event to be successful. Why would she spoil it?
“I don’t know how you do it.” Sasha finished her muffin and threw away the wrapper. “I get so stressed trying to make ends meet and you have your home and the shop to worry about. And now we’re doing this project. Don’t you ever worry about money?”
“It’s not something I stress about now.” Of course, I had the Miss Emily Fund to fall back on if I really needed something. Sasha lived paycheck to paycheck while she was finishing school. I predicted once she finished, she’d get a much better job and we’d be looking for someone new to hire, but I refused to think about that day until it happened.
“I wish I could do that. The financial aid office is running late and if the money doesn’t come in before the second week of school, I’ll have to push back classes until next semester.” She refilled her coffee cup.
“Won’t they give you a grace period if it’s their fault it’s late?” I was starting classes this fall and though I wasn’t getting financial aid, I’d been surprised at all the deadline warnings the school sent out, even though I’d already paid for my classes.
“I don’t know. I’ve talked to the office and they keep telling me not to worry.” She grinned, “Which makes me worry all the more. Enough about me, where do you want me to start today?”
“Hold on a minute, I need to ask you a question.”
Sasha paused, a clean bar towel in her hand. “Do I need to work more hours? I know I said I’d work full time in the summer, but it’s been hard keeping Olivia in daycare so long, especially since I had to register last week.”
“It’s not about the hours.” I jumped in. She was going to hate me either way, so I might as well rip off the band-aid. “Did you happen to find the check for the city sponsorship and deposit it?”
“Where would I find a check?” Sasha shook her head. “The only time I do bank drops is when Jackie sends me at the end of my shift. And I don’t think that’s happened in over a month.”
When I didn’t respond, she sank into a chair.
“Seriously, you think I might have messed up a deposit.” She looked into my face and awareness crossed her face. “No, that’s not it. You think I took the money.”
“No.” I sat in front of her and
“Today’s breakfast is on me. Besides, you guys are going to be working crazy hours this week with the festival, I think you deserve a treat.” I put the page away. “So how’s the library event planning going? Everything going to be ready next week?”
She leaned on the counter and nodded. Swallowing the bite she’d just taken, she sipped on her coffee before answering. “Cat Latimer is confirmed for the event. She just launched the second book in her teenage witch series. The kids loved book number one, so I’m sure we’ll have a good turnout. Jackie wanted to go with someone more established, but I like the idea of spotlighting a new author. Of course, if ticket sales tank, it’s all on me.”
“I’ve sold quite a few just during my shift. I think we’ll be fine.” My aunt had mentioned that she wasn’t happy with Sasha’s insistence on the author to invite, but the girl had stood her ground. I supported Sasha’s choice, mostly because she’d been spot on with her decisions about the teen group in the first place. Since she’d started the afterschool book clubs, our young adult sales had tripled.
Sasha nodded. “Probably why I’m not sleeping. I just want the event to be successful. The library deserves a boost.”
“We’ll be fine. Between the sponsorship from the city, Darla throwing in the drinks, and Sadie and us taking care of the food costs, every dollar from the ticket sales will be a direct donation. Think of how many books the library can buy next quarter for the kids.” The thought of the lost check nagged at me. I knew Sasha wanted the event to be successful. Why would she spoil it?
“I don’t know how you do it.” Sasha finished her muffin and threw away the wrapper. “I get so stressed trying to make ends meet and you have your home and the shop to worry about. And now we’re doing this project. Don’t you ever worry about money?”
“It’s not something I stress about now.” Of course, I had the Miss Emily Fund to fall back on if I really needed something. Sasha lived paycheck to paycheck while she was finishing school. I predicted once she finished, she’d get a much better job and we’d be looking for someone new to hire, but I refused to think about that day until it happened.
“I wish I could do that. The financial aid office is running late and if the money doesn’t come in before the second week of school, I’ll have to push back classes until next semester.” She refilled her coffee cup.
“Won’t they give you a grace period if it’s their fault it’s late?” I was starting classes this fall and though I wasn’t getting financial aid, I’d been surprised at all the deadline warnings the school sent out, even though I’d already paid for my classes.
“I don’t know. I’ve talked to the office and they keep telling me not to worry.” She grinned, “Which makes me worry all the more. Enough about me, where do you want me to start today?”
“Hold on a minute, I need to ask you a question.”
Sasha paused, a clean bar towel in her hand. “Do I need to work more hours? I know I said I’d work full time in the summer, but it’s been hard keeping Olivia in daycare so long, especially since I had to register last week.”
“It’s not about the hours.” I jumped in. She was going to hate me either way, so I might as well rip off the band-aid. “Did you happen to find the check for the city sponsorship and deposit it?”
“Where would I find a check?” Sasha shook her head. “The only time I do bank drops is when Jackie sends me at the end of my shift. And I don’t think that’s happened in over a month.”
When I didn’t respond, she sank into a chair.
“Seriously, you think I might have messed up a deposit.” She looked into my face and awareness crossed her face. “No, that’s not it. You think I took the money.”
“No.” I sat in front of her and
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