Unconditional Love (Book #2)

Chapter 21

~*Mama Lynn*~

I walked around my restaurant carrying five hot plates at once. I loved lunch time rush hour but also hated it. Rude customers because they have a set time to be back at work and people that take advantage of it being so busy that they dine and dash. I loved it because most of the money came from this time.

   "Here you go." I said sitting a plate in front of a white older man.

   "Why do you work yourself to death Maelynn?" He asked taking a sip of water first.

   "Jerry please don't have this talk with me right now." I said trying to walk away but he pulled me back by my belt loop.

   "Not today Maelynn."

    "At least let me drop these plates off." I said looking down at the plates I balanced on my arms.

Jerry nodded and I walked away. These plates were getting hotter to me each second. I quickly dropped the plates off then tried to go back into the kitchen to get more.

   "Maelynn!"

I mumbled under my breath and took a deep breath. I went back to Jerry table and sat down. He was already finished with his food and was just staring at me. Jerry was okay looking but he was white. I wasn't down with the swirl so I wasn't attracted to him. Not to mention he was about five to ten years older than me.

   "Why must you work so hard?" He asked raising a brow.

   "Because I have to."

   "No you don't. If this is your place then you should be sitting back collecting money while these employees work for they check."

    "They are." I said defensively.

   "Look at Joe." He said pointing to one of my employees that was suppose to be busting tables but was in a booth knocked out.

I shook my head and gave up. I was tired.

   "Between me and you Jerry, my restaurant is going down. I'm getting bad reviews left and right, bad reports from the health inspector and everything is just bad." I said wiping a tear away that threatened to fall.

   "I told you that you won't have to worry about anything in life if you were mine." He said seriously.

This was a subject I didn't want to bring up. Jerry was a regular customer and I enjoyed him on certain days but he was always trying to wife me. It was a good thing but I didn't like him in that way.

   "Jerry I am 52 years old. I'm damn near about to be deemed a senior citizen. You are what? 65 years old? We are too old for this foolishness. Not to mention I have a man. A younger one at that."

   "A man that only wants your money."

   "Stop the lies Jerry. Keith wouldn't dare do me like that. In fact I think we are falling in love.

   "Love my ass. You? Possibly. Him? Certainly not! Be smart about it Maelynn and pay attention to the signs." Jerry said sitting back.

   "What signs?" I inquired sitting forward.

   "He only comes around on bank deposit days and he always ask for over $500 when ever you take your share home. He also doesn't have a job and he most definitely don't have pocket change."

   "I will not listen to this." I said standing up.

   "I'll let you go this time but when he robs you blind just know I was right." Jerry said throwing a fifty on the table then walking out the door.