What We Deserve

7. JESSE

          Despite how much he wanted to, Jesse had been avoiding going to Barleys, knowing he would most likely run into Gwen again. He knew her life would be better without him in it and all the baggage he carried around, but he couldn't help but miss the comfort he felt when he had been around her. It only made it that much harder to try and stay away from her.

          To keep himself busy, he decided to try and find a part time job in town. He didn't need it. He had enough cash to last him the rest of his life and them some, but he knew he needed to do something besides sit in his house all day. Not staying busy made it easier for the dark thoughts to consume him.

          He drove around the town for a bit, passing by diners and little shops until he saw a small hardware store with a "help wanted" sign in the window. He walked into the store and was greeted by an older man behind the counter.

          "Hello, there. Can I help you?" The man asked, smiling kindly at Jesse.

          "Yeah, I was wondering if there was a job opening still available?" Jesse asked, gesturing to the sign in the window.

          "Yes, there is. It's not the most exciting job. Mostly just running the register and stocking shelves when needed. I'm getting a little too old to be doing it all myself," The man chuckled, accentuating the wrinkles by his eyes, "Do you have any experience dealing with customers?"

           "Oh, yes I do," It wasn't a total lie. He had a knack for business, though he'd never tell the man that his former clientele consisted mostly of meth addicts.

          "Okay, good. I like this to keep this place running smoothly, I don't have time to babysit you," The man came around from behind the counter to stand in front of Jesse "When can you start, son?"

          "Now."

          The man looked pleased at his eagerness, "Alright. Well, I'm Clyde."

          "Jesse," He held out his hand and the man shook it. 

          "Well, Jesse. I'll go in the back and find you a shirt and then you can get started stocking the shelves."

          "Yes, sir. Thank you."

          Clyde disappeared into a back room, leaving Jesse in the empty store. He looked around. It wasn't much, just a couple aisles of various hardware tools and supplies. Everything looked like it needed a good dusting, but he didn't care. He was just happy to have a distraction.

          He was still waiting for Clyde when the door to the store opened. He looked up and directly into stunning brown eyes. Again, Jesse was stunned by her beauty. He didn't know what it was that made her the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Maybe it was her dark brown eyes, her thick raven hair, her snowy skin. Whatever it was, his heart jumped every time he saw her. However, he noticed her eyes were rimmed with red, like she had been crying.

          "Jesse, hey," Gwen sounded surprised to see him. She held a black bag on one arm and was holding up the little girl attached to her hip with the other. Getting a good look at the little girl, he realized she had the same big brown eyes as Gwen.

          "Here, let me take that from you," Jesse took the bag from Gwens arm, setting it on the counter.

          "Thank you," Gwen replied, adjusting the little girl on her hip. She stared at Jesse with innocent eyes. "Oh, this is Lily. My daughter." Gwen smiled down at her daughter, who looked up and smiled back. Jesse had never considered himself a kid person, but he couldn't help his heart from melting just a little. 

          "She's beautiful. She has your eyes," he said to her.

          Gwen looked up at Jesse, "You think?"

          "Definitely." He smiled at Lily, who smiled back at him.

          "Sorry, I couldn't find the damn shirts," Clyde said, coming out of the back room holding a red tshirt, "Oh! Gwen, what a nice surprise."

          "Hey, Clyde. I was just returning those tools you let me borrow."

          "Oh, thank you." Clyde took the tool bag, putting it behind the counter.

          "Alright, I gotta run. I'm dropping Lily off with Judy before my shift tonight," Gwen turned to leave, "Also, she said to be home at a decent time tonight, she's trying a new recipe for dinner."

          "Ahg," Clyde grimaced, "When is that woman going to learn that cooking is not her specialty?"

          Gwen giggled, "Hey, she's your wife so you kind of just have to deal with it. The whole happy wife, happy life thing."

          Clyde grunted and shrugged his shoulders before going behind the counter to work on something. 

          "Alright, well. See you around, Jesse," She said with a slight wink, then walked out the door with Lily, leaving Jesse standing there staring after her.

          Clyde tossed him the t-shirt, "Alright, son. Enough ogling.  Get to work."