Working for Tomorrow

Evie looked down at her phone in the back of the small, rustic-style downtown pub she worked at. She had been working for 7 hours already, long for a waitress on her feet all day, and just got a text from Shay that she's sick and can't work her shift tonight.

Great, thought Evie, Chad's gonna make me work a double. But then, rent's coming up, and Jaxon has that field trip with his class next month. That's gonna cost me. He'll want lunch money too. Last time I sent him with a packed lunch on a field trip the other kids teased him saying, “Our parents gave us money why can't yours?”

Evie called her sister. “Hey Brittany, how's Jaxon doing?”

“Oh he's fine. Just made him dinner. I can tell he misses you. You've been working too damn hard! He wanted Kraft dinner and hot dogs then complained that it 'didn't taste like mom's'. Apparently you cut the wieners up differently”

“That sounds like him.” Evie stated with amusement. “Listen, I'm sorry to ask again, but can you stay late tonight? Shay called in, and there's no one else to cover.”

“Evie I need you up front!” Chad called from the bar.

Damn.

“Again?” Replied Brittany. “Yeah, I can stay. Not like I have plans tonight. I'd probably just be in pyjamas with wine and Netflix anyway. I'll just have a glass of your wine when Jax goes to bed. I saw you stashing a bottle in the back of the fridge.”

“Haha do what you must. Thanks Brittany, I really appreciate it. I'm hoping to get ahead of the bills for next month. It should be busy tonight, being Friday. Can you put Jaxon on? It might be easier on you if I tell him.”

“Sure, he's right here. Jaxon, it's your mom!”

“Mom? When are you coming home?” Jaxon's sweet little 8 year old voice came on, tugging Evie's heart knowing she'll be disappointing him again.

“Hun I don't think I can come home on time tonight. My friend called in sick, and someone has to stay and work for her. I'm so sorry. I know you wanted to watch another episode of our show together. Maybe you can watch it with Brittany, and I'll watch when I get home tonight while you're in bed and we'll be in the same spot tomorrow?”

“Mom you promised! I don't want to watch with Aunty Brittany! It's Our show!” Jaxon was yelling, but Evie could hear his voice quiver as he tried to mask his feelings with anger. Good job, she thought. Let the kid down again. That's all you've been doing lately.

“Evie!” Chad shouted. “Get up here, it's Happy Hour!”

Ugh, better go before that vein in his neck pops and I gotta cover his shifts too, Evie thought.

“Jax I'm so sorry. We can watch three episodes tomorrow, I promise. I have the whole day off, and since Mommy is staying late we can go for ice cream too. I love you!”

“I love you too.” He said reluctantly.

“ I love you three!”

“I love you four.” She could hear a little more life coming back to his voice as her considered her promise.

“I love you infinity!”

“I love you more. Bye mom.”

Normally Evie would say this to him every night before bed, it became their thing after his dad died four years ago from a brain aneurysm. The memory of that moment will never fade. Watching Jaxon and James playing in the backyard through the kitchen window, Evie felt so full and overflowing with love. Then, almost in slow motion, James collapsed to the grass, Jaxon not understanding why his dad stopped playing, a wave of anguish slamming into Evie. Instantly and instinctively, she knew her universe had shattered before her eyes.

But she still needed to be strong for this confused little human who reminds her everyday of the person she built her life with. Every time Jaxon smiles his dad shows in those deep dimples, and you can't help but smile with him.

What I'd do to keep him smiling always, Evie thought. To see that sliver of his dad shine through him, know I was being a good mom on my own. Making him happy. Not hearing the hurt in his voice and missing another tuck in. How many more of those until he doesn't want his mom doing it anymore? It feels like he's growing up faster that I'm not there for half of it. That will change after saving up enough to go back to school to get a daytime job that pays the bills. Even if I just had a vehicle, I could make it home in time most nights. The damn bus takes an extra 25 minutes and I always just miss his bedtime.

Evie grabbed her serving pouch and walked briskly up the short hall to the front of the pub. She approached the table of an older gentleman who had been coming in lately to sit with a coffee for a couple hours each day. He always had this small black notebook with him and always paid by cheque. Just sat, drank, and read quietly for hours at a time.

“What tables Chad? I was calling my babysitter.”

“There's two. I started them for you. You got Shay's text? I need you to cover for her tonight. I can't, I'm leaving in ten minutes.”

Evie rolled her eyes, turning away to greet her customers before her irritation showed.

As the night dragged on the pub got quieter. Time crawled, and Evie's feet ached in her flats. She hadn't worn proper shoes for an 11 hour day. What the hell? Thought Evie. It's Friday night, where is everybody? This shift was supposed to be worth giving up time with Jaxon. My tips will barely cover the ice cream tomorrow!

In the corner, the older gentleman still sat alone at his table, thumbing through his book. She'd asked him a few times if he wanted anything, refilled his coffee cup. He wasn't very chatty. Usually older people might come in looking for company and happy to have some conversation. He'd asked a few offhand questions about her, but Evie typically deflected personal questions from customers. Bringing up Jaxon often lead to questions about his dad, and Evie didn't like talking about him during work. She never knew what memories might bring tears, and there's no sense in crying at work.

At nine Evie's last table got up and left.

“Thanks guys have a good night!” Evie called as they left. The trademark of a good waitress, perfect acting.

With all hope lost of a money-making night, Evie decided to ask the gentleman to pay.

“Can I get you anything else?” Evie asked.

He looked up from his notebook. She had noticed him paging through more than usual.

“Well sweetie, I see you have pie on special tonight. I was thinking, could you bring me my bill and wrap up two slices to go? It's my favorite.”

“Sure thing!” Yes! She thought. He's leaving!

Evie nearly skipped as she went to print the bill, setting it on the table with a mint.

“I'll go to the kitchen and make sure the cook wraps it up tight so it doesn't slide around in the box on your way home.”

The gentleman noticed the excitement in Evie's step as she bounced to the kitchen. He'd been watching this young lady for awhile. She reminded him of his wife when they met, those warm green eyes. You pick up on a lot when you don't fill a room with your own voice. He had heard a little about all the servers lives in the past couple weeks coming here, sitting alone with his coffee.

Glancing at the bill, he read $15.79 and pulled out his cheque book. Not many places took cheques anymore, but he was an older generation. Loved the legitimacy of penning fresh ink to paper. The gentleman smiled thoughtfully to himself as he got up and left the pub.

“Here's your pie!” Evie exclaimed as she came around the corner, stopping short. He left? But I was only in the back for a minute? At least he paid the bill.

Walking over she cleared his table. He left his book behind. Guess I'll put it in the lost and found for when he comes back, she thought.

Picking up the cheque she went to the computer to enter the total – No. No way. That can't be right. Clear as day Evie read, Twenty-Thousand Fifteen Dollars and Seventy-Nine Cents. This must be a joke. I mean, you hear of stuff like this happening, but only to people with actual luck. Yet there it was. Not even made out to the bar, her name was on it and everything. It must have printed on his bill. This was for her.

Evie stared in shock. There was nothing but a number at the top where his name and address should be. She decided to cash out the bill and put the cheque in her purse. This must be a mistake. Maybe his journal has an address, and I can return the book and the cheque. There's no way I am keeping this.

Grabbing the book, Evie put it with her things then proceeded to close the bar. An hour later she was on the bus, the small black notebook burning at her curiosity.

Taking it out she began paging through. There was no address, nothing to identify him. In fact, there wasn't much written at all. A few touching quotes about kindness, life and love. Evie flipped to the middle of the journal. There was a longer entry here. As the bus drove, Evie read.

My Love.

Remember the day we met? I took you to the fair that night, we shared the apple pie. We rode round and round on the carousel five times; I was so dizzy, but never could tell if it was because of your eyes or the ride. I hear your laugh in my memory; I knew in that moment I wanted to take you around the world, not just the carousel.

Nurturing and warm, I should have told you more times the things in you I adore. I dreamed of our future and always wanted more. I put in late hours, came home each evening, you and our little Sam already retired.

I worked so one day I could take care of you the way you cared for us. Sam grew, then moved. For a regretfully short time it was just us two, as all too soon cancer took you.

I could never make enough money to give you the world, if only I believed when you said you had it in me. Now you're gone, and I am in a house that without you is not home, echoing memories through halls empty, and alone.

I wish I could have seen while you were still here with me, that it isn't about the money, but having just enough to make love the priority.

So I leave this gift for the young lady Evie. Her life, a reflection of mine, works too hard and has the world but not the time. I like to think these long years have made me wise. I see the hand made bracelet on your wrist, and hear you talk of a little one at home that you miss. Working double shifts you told me of the goals you've set.

Take this money and don't forget, when you've achieved them, slow down, take a breath. Pull your loved one close, take time, and connect.

A single tear fell to the paper. This was the last tuck in Evie would ever miss.