Ruben shifted on the sofa, grunting. One lazy eyelid lifted. When he saw her, he sat up. “Did you get the job?”
Grace set her bag of groceries on the small kitchen table and began to pull things out. “I don’t know yet.” She focused on the bag, not wanting to face him. “They’re supposed to get back to me.”
She wouldn’t mention that morning’s flat out no, in her first interview. The sofa rattled and squeaked, and she knew he was getting up. “Well the rent’s not gonna pay itself. Your mom’s piddly check, from the few hours she puts in at that cafeteria, ain’t cutting it anymore.”
He came up from behind her and she walked around the table. He had a habit of standing too close to her and it repulsed her. “Well, maybe you should start looking for a job.”
He cackled. “No way, and give up my unemployment check? Don’t be stupid.”
“You’re not gonna be able to collect that forever. It’s been almost a year.”
“Yeah, well when the checks stop coming I’ll start looking.” He walked around the table in the small kitchen. “In the mean time… ” He paused when he saw her make her way around the table again. She didn’t care if he noticed her obvious disgust for him.
“What the hell’s your problem?” The smirk on his unshaven swollen face was teasing. “I ain’t gonna bite you.”
Grace said nothing. She grabbed her purse and headed to her room down the hall. She could still hear his cackles even as she closed the door behind her. The small room she shared with her sister was a complete contrast to the rest of the apartment. While the front room and kitchen were always a cluttered mess, her room was immaculate.
She couldn’t stand clutter. Though she did her best to try to keep the rest of the apartment as tidy as her room, it was impossible with both Ruben and her mom being slobs.
A few stray rays of paling sunlight seeped in through the blinds as she walked to the closet. Lately, she’d been checking and double-checking the wooded box tucked up behind her sister’s stuffed animals. In it was all the money she had. Money she’d worked long and hard to earn. She’d sooner trust a stranger than her own step-dad. He’d be out of money soon and just like before he started collecting unemployment, he’d come sniffing around her room.
Ruben knew she’d been saving up for years to move out. She was this close to moving in with Joey and Taylor. They had an extra room in their apartment and could use the help with the rent. She was more than anxious to, especially since her younger sister Rosie confessed to her that their step-dad had been giving her the creeps. The depraved animal had been sizing up a fifteen-year girl. It was disgusting. Joey had actually offered to let her sister stay with them as well for only Grace’s share of the rent. Then of course, she lost her job.
Knowing she had no choice but to stick around, Grace had decided they’d tell her mom about her step-dad. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the pain of her mother’s reaction when they’d told her. She dismissed them immediately, calling them both liars and accusing them of hating Ruben to the point they’d make up outlandish accusations. When they tried to argue their case, she tried to make them feel guilty by crying and saying they were ganging up on her.
This was months ago and both she and Rosie had agreed not to bring it up again. It was pointless. Their mother was intent on keeping Ruben around. At least for now anyway. Her mother hated work of any kind. The only reason she’d taken the job at the school cafeteria was because it was only two hours a day. But Grace knew the minute her mother was able to, she’d quit. Her only chance of that, was if Ruben, or any man would be there to support her. So until she found a replacement for Ruben, he wasn’t going anywhere.
Grace had already threatened to move out just before she lost her job. Now she was forced to suck up her pride and hang around at least until she could afford to not only get her own place but to take Rosie with her. Her mother wouldn’t object to Rosie leaving. She’d never made it a secret that both Grace and Rosie were nothing but a burden to her, especially after their dad died.
She’d just tucked the box back behind the stuffed animals, when the bedroom door opened. She flung her hands behind her, not wanting whoever it was to see where they had been.
“What happened with the job?”
Her mom was done up again. Grace knew she was making every effort to find a replacement for Ruben already. Ruben was husband number four since her dad died. But since Ruben was laid off and showing no promise in finding another job anytime soon, her mother had gone on the lurk. Grace recognized the signs immediately. The sexier clothes, heavier makeup and perfume. Yep, Ruben had one foot out the door already.
“They said they’ll get back to me.”
Her mom stepped all the way in and closed the door behind her. “Have you applied as a bartender anywhere?”
Grace looked away without answering.
“Graciela, I asked you a question.”
“Not really.” She pulling a bag out of the closet. “But it’s on my résumé, that I’m certified… ”
“It damn well better be. I didn’t pay for that bartending course for nothing. Why haven’t you applied? I thought you said as soon as you turned twenty-one, you would?” Her mother crossed her arms. “Your birthday was over a month ago.”
Grace sat down on her bed and pulled her notebook out of the bag. “The restaurant I applied to today has openings for bartenders. They said they’d call me.”