***
I allowed myself the rest of that day to wallow in my self-pity and then I spent the next week searching online for a job. I changed my number before I started filling out applications and Rose, Myra, Joe and my mother’s facility were the only people I gave it to other than potential employers. I trusted them all not to give it out. I doubted Aiden would bug them again anyways. I do think he got the message when I went to see him. I was actually relieved now that I hadn’t let myself blurt out anything about being pregnant. His attitude was as bad as ever, if not worse. I was more convinced now than ever that I was doing the right thing.
I called and talked to my mother again and she said she was doing so well that they were going to start letting her have visitors and then day passes not long after that. I started thinking that it might be nice to be closer to where she was. Maybe she and I could work on getting our relationship back, and I could get a fresh start at the same time. I found a restaurant in Scarsdale that was hiring and filled out an online application. I was surprised and happy when the next day I got a phone call from the manager of the restaurant.
“Hello is this Holly Valentine?”
“Yes it is,” I said. For a second I got a little worried. I was afraid it was a trick and Aiden was going to get on the phone. I was getting paranoid. I had already changed my number. The man on the other end continued.
“This is Frank Grant. I’m the manager of Tagus Ranch Restaurant. I was looking over your application and it looks great. You seem to be just what we’re looking for here. I was wondering if you might be available to come in for an interview on Friday?”
“Yes,” I told him, ecstatic. “Thank you. Friday would be perfect.”
“Good, let’s say, two o’clock. Does that work for you as well?”
“Two o’clock is good too. I will be there, thank you again so much.” I hung up, ready to dance on the rooftops. That only lasted a few minutes before I began to wonder what I should do about my pregnancy. I was only two and a half months along so it wasn’t apparent yet, but it would be soon and I hated to start off a new job with a lie. Would he be willing to hire me if he knew that I was expecting? It would be a headache to him when it was time for me to go on leave, I’m sure. But I couldn’t wait until the baby was born to get a job. I had some savings but not enough to last for six months and get ready for a baby in the process. I decided to go see Joe. He would know what my chances were of getting a job while I was carrying a child. He would also know how bad it might be if I lied about it. After I already had the job, he couldn’t very well fire me for being pregnant. I hated lying though.
I got up early the next day and took a cab down to the café so that I could catch Joe before the rush. I found him peeling potatoes in the kitchen.
“Hi Joe.”
“Holly girl! Look at you! Come here and give me a hug.” I melded into his meaty hug. When he let me go he looked at my face and said, “Are you okay? You look peaked.” I almost laughed. I had never heard anyone actually use that word.
“I’m fine, just a little tired,” I told him. He went over to the side of the dishwasher and got a chair that was sitting there.
“Here, sit,” he said.
I sat and I smiled at him. He had a worried, mother-hen kind of look on his face and I knew that he knew…
“Myra told you that I’m pregnant?” I said.
He sputtered for a minute, trying to think of a way to deny it, but then he finally gave up.
“She didn’t really come out and tell me. I heard her and Rose talking about it, and I actually almost had to throw that Scott boy outta here one day.”
“Oh Joe, I’m sorry. No one mentioned to Aiden that I’m pregnant, did they?”
“No, we didn’t say anything to him. That’s your business. And don’t apologize; it’s not your fault. He was trying to get Rose to tell him where you’re staying. She wouldn’t and he wouldn’t let it go. At first he was polite, but then he started to get a little agitated and rude. I had to step in, but there was no scuffle. He left of his own accord.”
“Well, I am sorry for being the source of the trouble,” I told him with true regret. “I just really don’t want to see him right now. Rose and Myra are awesome for putting up with that. I’m sorry again. Today, I came to ask your advice.”
Joe pulled his own chair over next to mine and sat down, “Sure honey, what’s up?”
“I have a job interview on Friday and I’m not sure what to say about the pregnancy. Would you hire me if you knew I was pregnant?”
“Yep, you’re hired. You can start tomorrow.”
I laughed, “Thanks Joe. I’d love to come back. But, I need to get out of the city. My mom’s in a place out in Scarsdale so I thought maybe I’d look out there for a job and a place…I’m looking for a fresh start, you know?”
Joe was nodding, “It’s a tough one hon. A lot of employers don’t want to hire pregnant women because they know in a matter of months she’ll be taking time off and they’ll have to replace her for that and then let her have her job back afterwards. And then of course having a newborn doesn’t usually make for the most stable employee…”
I knew all of that, but I guess I just needed to hear someone say it out loud.
“So you think he won’t hire me if I tell him the truth? You know me, Joe. I’m a terrible liar, mostly because I hate it so much.”
“It’s hard to say, hon. I wish I had a better answer, but it’s going to depend on who’s doing the hiring and what they’re looking for. A woman is more apt to hire you because she’s probably been there herself and she understands. What kind of a place is it?”
“It’s a family place, but a nicer one. Kind of like a higher end Denny’s.”
“What’s it called?”
“Tagus Ranch Restaurant.”
Joe smiled, “I’ll be damned. Is Frank still the manager?”
“Yeah, that’s who I have the interview with,” I told him.
Joe laughed, “Then you’re in luck little lady. Frank’s my buddy from way back. We used to work a taco stand together over on a 131st street back in the day.”
I smiled, I could see Joe’s wheels turning. This wasn’t what I came for, but I wasn’t going to turn the help down if he offered it, and fortunately he did.
“You got his number on you?” I took out my cell phone and rattled off the number to Joe who put it in his. He hit send and a few seconds later I heard him say, “Hey! Is this Frank Sinatra?” Then he busted up laughing in his raspy voice. After the catching up was out of the way he said, “I got this little girl who worked for me for a few years. She was the best waitress that I ever had. She had to leave for some family issues and now that she has all of that under control she’s looking for work. I asked her to come back here, but she’s looking to relocate to Scarsdale.” Joe listened for a few and then he said, “Yeah, I knew you were looking because she actually has an interview with you on Friday. Listen Frank, her only concern is that she’s a couple months pregnant. You can’t tell by looking at her, but she didn’t want to start off a new job with a lie. She’s a good kid.”
He was silent again for a minute or two and then he said, “I sure do appreciate it, Frank. You know I wouldn’t steer you wrong. You’re gonna be thanking me. Hey, we need to get a beer and catch up. Yeah, I got your number now, I’ll call you.” He hung up and turned to me and said, “He’ll have your hiring paperwork ready when you get there on Friday.”
I jumped up and threw my arms around his neck, “Oh thank you, Joe! You’re awesome, I love you! Thank you!”
He laughed again. I loved the sound of it. Then he said, “I didn’t tell him nothing that wasn’t true. You got the job on your own merits, but I wish you’d been around for my last three marriages, you could a told ‘em how awesome I am.”
“Well you call me before the next one. I’ll make sure she knows,” I said with a grin. Joe’s multiple marriages were a source of amusement for us around the café. He said he would, “Keep going through ‘em until he found Mrs. Right.”
I left there feeling blessed to have such great friends, and for the first time in a while, looking forward to a new beginning. I’d saved enough money from my weekly pay that I should be able to get a place and pay for the first two months. I’d like to find a two bedroom and when Mom finishes her program maybe she’d like to stay with me and the baby for a while before going back to her own house. Me and the baby, it sounded strange, but amazing at the same time. I suddenly processed it…I’m going to be a mother.