Lindsay did get the job at the clothing store.  The woman who hired her was a middle-aged woman who hadn’t quite taken notice of what decade they were living in.  At least, her clothing choices were anything but trendy.  Everything about her was outdated, but when she gave Lindsay a tour around the store, it was clear she did know what she was talking about.  Her name was Amy and she liked the idea of Lindsay working there because Lindsay wouldn’t have to park her car anywhere near the store and parking by the marina was a chore and a half, so she was onboard.  

Lindsay’s work schedule was set so that she would work Thursday and Friday nights, and then all day on Saturday and all day on Sunday.  

She was planning to do her training that night (Friday night), after work.  Gavin seemed like he wanted to ask her out when they left the hotel at the same time at the end of the day, but Lindsay blew past him before he could say a word.  She cheerfully shouted, “See you tomorrow,” and hecked off.

He got into his truck with a confused look on his face.  He didn’t know where she could have to be in such a hurry, but she was in a wicked hurry.  

She had drywall dust in her hair, so she needed to have a shower and shove some food into her mouth before she worked a three-hour shift.

The saddest thing about working at the clothing store was that it wasn’t much money.  She was making more money working for Gavin, but she needed all she could get.

The second saddest thing was that she didn’t know how she was going to afford groceries after she sent her mother her last two hundred dollars.  She did a search on her phone for a local food bank, but there wasn’t one nearby since the marina, where she was living, was an off-the-beaten-track tourist spot.  

She still had a few groceries in her apartment.  She’d be okay for a week.  After that… she wasn’t sure.

When her shift at 999 Things to Wear ended, she was more tired than she had ever been in her life, though she did feel blessed that she didn’t have to commute somewhere in the rain when she was finished.  

It had started raining again.  

It was only two steps to her apartment.  

She didn’t need an umbrella.

Lindsay went up to her apartment, made herself two slices of toast with butter and honey on them, and poured herself a glass of water.  

She was lucky she had enough food to feed Gavin breakfast the next day like she promised.

***

By the time Gavin showed up at her place on Saturday morning, Lindsay was already ready to go to work.  Her hair was done in curls, her makeup was done (she even had on fake eyelashes), and her clothes were her best.

“Uh…” he stuttered as he took in her appearance.  “Is all that for me?”

“Don’t I look healthy?” she asked with her nose in the air.  “Like I wasn’t attacked in the night by your ex-girlfriend?”

“You weren’t, were you?” he responded with wide eyes.

“I was not,” she reassured him.  

He took off his coat like he was right at home and hung it up on one of her hooks.  “Excellent.  What are we having?”

“Avocado toast.  Just like mother used to make.”

“My mother didn’t make avocado toast.”

“Of course,” she laughed.  “Mine didn’t either.  No one’s mother made that.”

“Hilarious,” he said.  He noticed how much work was left to be done in the kitchen and, seeing it was hardly any, he sat down in the dining room nook.  “I just want to tell you that you don’t need to doll up like that for me.  I see you at work all the time with dust in your hair and grime on your face and I think you look fine.”

Lindsay leaned her elbows on the counter and peered at him.  “That’s very sweet, but this isn’t actually for you.  I took a job downstairs working at the clothing store and I start at ten, so we’d better start eating so that I can be on time for work.”

He looked at her incredulously, astonishment all over his face.  “You took another job?”

“Yeah,” she said, attempting to keep her voice light.

“Because the backbreaking labor I put you through Monday to Friday just wasn’t enough for you?”

Lindsay was tempted to lie to him, to blow him off, to fudge over the situation, and not tell him what was happening.  But it wouldn’t work.  Even if what she told him ruined her chances with him, she needed his understanding more than she needed him to be in love with her.  

“Uh…” she said softly.  “Do you remember what I said about having borrowed money inappropriately while I was trying to be an actress?”

He nodded.

“Well, all that has come back to bite me.  I’m low on cash and I need to repay some money soon… By the end of the month.  The more I have, the better, so I took another job.”

He took in what she said and then he stood up to speak to her on the other side of the counter.  “Are you sure you have to?  Working for me is going to take it out of you and you need a day off.  Aren’t you sore from all the grunt work I have you do?”

She was sore, but she had already shared all she was willing to share with him.  “I’m fine.  I didn’t complain yesterday.”

“You’d complain if I worked you too hard?” he asked sincerely.

“Absolutely,” she lied with clear eyes and not even the tiniest hint of self-pity in her voice.  It was times like that that being a trained actress really came in handy.  She was the best liar in the world.

She handed him a plate and told him to sit down with a little shooing motion.  She picked up her plate and joined him, offering him a glass of orange juice.

He looked at her sideways.  “What are your plans after work?  Can I make you supper?”

“Uh…” she said, hesitating.  She wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell him that she was planning on working all day Sunday as well.  It would come up if he didn’t get her home at a decent hour.  She was about to give him a well-crafted excuse when she remembered her grocery problem.  Until she paid her mother back, she had to accept any invitation that promised food.  The little breakfast she was making Gavin had to be the last time she cooked for anyone until her debt was repaid.  With that thought, she smiled and said, “Yeah, I’d love that.”

He was suspicious of her, but he let it go.

They flirted as they ate.  She kicked him out at a little before ten and then she went down for her shift.  She worked until five.

Gavin picked her up.  She pulled out the elastics and pins that were holding her hair up, reapplied her lipstick, and hoped that she looked date-ready.

He took her back to his place and made her steak with french fries and salad.  It was delicious.  Afterward, they sat on the couch to watch a movie and Lindsay was so tired, she fell asleep without voluntary control.  

Gavin put her head on his thigh and did not wake her.  She was trying too hard.  Even Lindsay, though she was asleep, knew she was trying too hard.