Into the Sweet Hereafter by Kaye George

Author:Kaye George
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published: 2021-01-03T14:54:32+00:00

13

Yolanda was pleased to see Raul already at work when she got there Saturday morning. She started to sing out a “hi” when she noticed some water spilled on the floor and went to the sink in the back to get something to sop it up. She heard Raul’s voice around the corner, in the supply closet, and stopped to listen, wondering who he’d be talking to.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I didn’t ask for a raise…Because I know I can’t get one…Everybody always needs more money, Teo. Just because I could use it doesn’t mean—Teo, you’re gonna have to get another job…”

Yolanda held her breath. She didn’t want Raul to think she was eavesdropping on him. He must think he should get a raise. But he hadn’t asked for one. Surely he knew she couldn’t afford it yet. Maybe that’s what he meant.

“Don’t worry about that. You didn’t kill Sutton, so they can’t get you for that…I know you worked together. That doesn’t mean you killed him…They don’t know you were doing that. Nobody knows who’s doing the smuggling, do they? Just keep quiet and no one will find out…You had better keep quiet. You know those people. They’ll kill you. The rest? What do you mean, the rest? There’s more?” A brief silence, then Raul said goodbye.

Yolanda stood still and silent, shocked at what she was hearing. Raul and Mateo. And smuggling. She grabbed the roll of paper towels sitting on the counter and glided soundlessly to the front. She knelt and began mopping up the puddle before she called out.

“Raul? Are you here? Did you spill something?”

“I’m back here.” Raul appeared around the corner. “Oh no. I must have tipped the vase when I took out the flowers.” He held a bunch of lilies and a basket, his phone nowhere to be seen.

Yolanda started sneezing as soon as the lilies were within five feet, even though she’d taken her new allergy pill that morning. So much for that. She would try to remember to always stay away from lilies in the spring when her defenses were being pounded by everything blooming outside. Maybe she would quit using lilies. There were lots of other flowers.

She waited the rest of the day for Raul to ask her for a raise, if his cousin had talked him into it. But he never did.

* * * *

It had been a long, busy day. Tally was so tired she could hardly stand up, but Yolanda sounded like she needed to talk. “I’ll meet you for a glass of iced tea, okay? Then I have to get home. We had an incredible day.” It seemed that the more complicated her life got, the busier her store became.

Yolanda agreed to a brief meeting. “It won’t take long, but I just have to tell you something. Just so you know.”

Tally bent to put the last of the baking sheets away in the cupboard.

“I’m off, Tally,” Lily called from the front. She usually stayed until every single thing was in order.

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