Don't Turn Back (Coming Home Book 1) (2 page)

I finished getting myself ready for work and grabbed a bowl of cereal. I knew I didn’t have any money to buy myself lunch, so I made sure to eat enough cereal to hopefully make it through the day. Macy loved to cook, and I knew she would have something good planned for dinner tonight. I picked up the rent envelope from the table and walked out the door. 

The light rain that had moved in overnight was now pouring down. I threw my coat over my head and jumped in the front seat of my car. 

“Shit,” I said out loud. I had forgotten last night when I got home that my gas light had been on for the last two days. Now, the car sputtered, and I knew it was not going to crank. I had used every last bit of gas in the tank. I lifted the console cover, hoping to find a few stray dollars in there, but I only came up with some sticky coins that didn’t even add up to a dollar all together. 

I swear sometimes, if it wasn’t for bad luck, I would have no luck at all. I glanced down at the envelope with “214” glaring up at me, knowing it contained cash. I wondered to myself if maybe the apartment manager would allow me to pay a portion of the rent now, and bring the rest later. I would simply explain to her about my new job, the delay in pay, and the running out of gas situation; surely, she would be willing to work with me since Macy always makes the rent payment on time. And, Macy would never know I had borrowed from our rent and needed a slight extension. Surely, they would both be willing to let me keep a hundred dollars of it, since I would be good to replace it in a few day’s time.

I went back inside the apartment and found an umbrella in the hall closet. Pulling my coat on, I started walking down the hill towards the apartment office. I had exactly twenty minutes before I was scheduled to start work, so I really needed to hurry, take care of the rent problem and use the borrowed money from the envelope to find some gas. I got all the way to the office, and discovered a note taped to the inside of the door facing out, so it could be read by anyone on the outside.

Office will be closed until
noon today due to
extenuating circumstances.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I felt like screaming.

About that time, a strong gust of wind inverted the umbrella, and a steady flow of water coming from the covered porch eave flooded down on top of me. I contemplated dropping the rent envelope in the after hour’s slot, but knowing there was cash inside, I was hesitant to leave it. I tossed the broken umbrella into the nearby trash can, stuffed the envelope into my front pocket, and pulled my jacket up over my head as I turned to walk back up the hill towards the apartment. I got about halfway there when I noticed the maintenance man had pulled up beside me. He rolled down the window and asked me if I needed a ride. 

As I hopped in the truck, I introduced myself and told him which apartment I lived in. 

“Oh, you live with Macy. Sweet little thing, she is. Her daddy is my second cousin. I was lucky enough to help her get the bigger apartment when she decided she was ready to move out of her parents’ home.”

Looking over at him, I smiled and said, “Yeah, she’s something else. Do you think you could help me out? I was ready to leave for work just now and couldn’t get my car to crank because it was out of gas. Maybe you have an extra can of gas in one of the maintenance storage rooms I could get from you?”

“Today is your lucky day son. I just filled up all the gas containers yesterday. I was hoping to get the grass cut today, but seeing as it’s raining and all today, it’s going to be a day or so before it dries out enough to cut it. Let me just pull over to the maintenance room and I will grab you a can.” 

I could have hugged him, but seeing that I was soaking wet, I decided to stay put in my seat.

I pulled into the parking lot at work and ran inside to clock in. I was already twenty minutes late, and I knew my supervisor was not going to be pleased with my tardiness. I’m thankful the maintenance guy was able to help me out though. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to come in today at all.

As I put my coat away in my locker, I heard my name announced on the intercom, asking me to appear in the Manager’s office. I dropped my head, immediately knowing my tardiness would not go unpunished. 

I walked into the manager’s office, and I could tell by the look on his face this conversation was not going to go well.

“Brian,” he began, “I brought you in my office today to let you know it’s not going to work out for you here.”

“Excuse me, sir?” I know I hadn’t heard him correctly.

“You were out two days last week, then today you arrived late. When I made the decision to hire you, I clearly told you up front about the ninety-day probationary period.” He’s literally looking at me like he could care less about me or any excuses I was already running through my mind. “Let’s just save my time and yours. Your final paycheck will be here next week. You may pick it up then. I’m sorry it’s not going to work out for you here anymore.”

I just stared at him. “But sir…..”

“Save it. I don’t need to hear your excuses. Please close the door behind you.”

I walked back to the employee break room. I took my jacket from the locker and slammed the door so hard, the entire row of lockers tilted and fell to the floor causing a loud commotion. I gave it a swift kick and walked out.

Macy hung up the phone as I was walking into the kitchen. I knew she was planning to cook a nice meal tonight and have a couple of friends over. She had been busy tidying up our apartment all day.

“Hey Brian, do you still have the receipt from when you paid the rent at the first of the month?” I froze in place as she asked me this. “The front office just called and said they couldn’t find a record of my payment. I told them you had been the one to stop by, but the office manager couldn’t remember seeing you. She said she thinks it’s just an oversight and if I bring them the receipt, she will clear it all up for us.”

Refusing to look up at her, I immediately broke out in a sweat. “Um, yeah, let me check through my stuff. I’m sure it’s probably still in my jacket pocket or something. Or maybe I left it in the car. I’ll look for it and let you know if I find it.”

“Okay.” She had a hint of tension in her tone.

I walked to the cabinet and began pulling out the plates and cups to set the table for our guests, who would be arriving soon.

“What are you doing, Brian?”

“I’m trying to make sure everything is ready for Lucy and John when they get here.”

“I need you to look for that receipt please.” I could still feel the uneasiness in her voice.

“I will.”

“No, I want you to look now. I want to get this resolved as soon as possible. It bothers me knowing there’s been a mix up somewhere.”

I looked at her, not liking to be told to do something now, like a child.

“Damn it Mace, I told you I will.” I raised my voice to her. She hates it when I call her Mace instead of Macy.

“Brian, is there something you aren’t telling me? Why are you acting so weird about this?”

I slammed the glass I was holding in my hand down on the table. “What are you implying? Like I didn’t pay it or something?” I glared at her now, angry she would even consider this thought. There had been several notices taped to the door of the apartment asking Macy to please contact them at her earliest convenience. I always made sure I had destroyed them or thrown them away in the dumpster out in the parking lot so she wouldn’t discover them. There had also been a few messages left on the answering machine, but I was very prompt to erase them. This entire month had me on pins and needles, sick with worry that I would be busted for not paying the rent.

“Given the fact you still don’t have a job, nothing would surprise me about you, Brian. I have begged you to go to work, yet you still stay up all night playing those juvenile video games and sleep half of the next day away.  I’m not happy with the way things are going.”

“Macy, I’m looking. It’s just that no one is hiring right now.”

“Cut the crap Brian. Just tell me. Did you pay the rent or not?”

I finally looked her in the eye and told her the truth. “No, I didn’t pay it. I was having a bad morning, I ran out of gas……”

“Just shut up. I don’t want to hear your lame excuses. Just give me the damn money, and I will stop by in the morning and get this resolved. I can’t believe you have put me in this embarrassing situation.”

“I, uh, will take care of it, Macy.” I tried to remain calm, but it was taking all of my composure not to blow up at her. “Just let me handle it.” If I could talk her into letting me take care of it, maybe I could bide some time until payday next week, otherwise, I’m screwed.

“No, I want the money now!” At this point, Macy was screaming, and I hoped the neighbors upstairs didn’t hear her shouting.

“I don’t have it.” I confess.

“What? I know you just didn’t tell me you don’t have it. What the hell did you do with it Brian?” By now, she’s turning red and I can practically feel the fumes.

“I really meant to pay it. I swear I did.”

“Get out Brian. Don’t bother sticking around for Lucy and John. Just get the hell out! I’ve dealt with your crap long enough.”

“Can I please just explain, Macy?”

“NO! I said get out! You’ve ruined everything tonight. Maybe tomorrow you can stop by for the rest of your things, but I want you out right now! I can’t stand to look at you.”

I can’t believe this is happening. I am being tossed out like garbage, sent to the curb before I could even bother to take my things.  So quickly had she made her mind up to ditch me.

I grabbed my coat and slammed the door, not caring if it closed behind me or not. As I got to the car, I realized I had forgotten my keys. About that time, I heard the door open and looked up just as the keys were flung at me, hitting me in the side of the head.

Looking back at her, I yelled “You fucking bitch.” I was pissed now. How could something that started out so right end this way? I crawled in the front seat, blew out a breath of pent up air, and sat there wondering what the hell I was going to do now. I had screwed up yet again.