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“Feel free to take a moment to read before you sign.” Claws opens her contract to the signature page. “I’ve taken the liberty of signing for the matrons.”
“Gotta tell you, lady,” Jayden signs without hesitation. “Y’all might want to reconsider that name.Matronssounds like a bunch of feeble old ladies.”
“I’ll be sure to bring that up at our next board meeting.” She folds the signed contract and hands him the check. Her browsrise, and her expression is light. “Or you can drop your idea for a new name in the suggestion box next time you’re in the office.”
“I’ll let you handle it.” Jayden hops back, folding the check and slipping it into the breast pocket of his blazer. “I’m on my way to the Ozarks. Right after I stop by the bank.”
“Let me save you a trip.” Claws takes out her phone. “Give me your bank information, and I’ll send the payment electronically right now.”
His eyes widen, and he hops forward again. They exchange information, and I have to walk away from what’s happening. As much as I care about Edward, as much as I love Rachel, I don’t like seeing this guy walking away with another win.
“Did it go through?” Claws’s tone is bright, and I shake my head.
Jayden holds his phone a moment, then waves it in the air. “It went through.” He does a little bow. “Thank you, ladies and sucker. Have a nice life.”
“Now don’t forget, the downtown office opens bright and early at seven a.m.” Claws calls after him, turning to tuck the contract into her expensive leather bag.
“Good for you, lady.” His hand is on the door when she turns, arms crossed, voice coming down like a hammer.
“You just signed a contract to be the sanitation clerk at our original office building downtown. It’s a 100-year-old edifice, and unfortunately, those old sewer lines need constant maintenance and attention or they overflow.”
“What’s that?” Jayden leans forward, confused.
“The Matrons don’t simply dole out money, you silly man. You signed a contract to pay back our generous gift through service to our organization as sanitation clerk for the next twelve months. Our retiring clerk, Mr. Applewhite will be ready to train you bright and early Monday morning.”
A laugh explodes through my lips. “It takes a special kind of smarts to be you, Jayden. Have fun cleaning up shit. Excuse me, ladies.Poop.”
“You can’t do this!” Jayden yells. “I’m not taking your money!”
“You’ve received the money, and the contract is signed. If you fail to follow through on your end of the agreement, I’ll have the judge issue a bench warrant for your arrest.” There’s the Claws I know and now love. “Give my regards to Rachel and Eddie, and let Gina know the matrons got her call and took care of it.”
She walks straight to the door without looking back, and like some kind of uncredited superhero, she’s gone.
Adrenaline replaces the acid in my stomach, and I’m ready to run all the way to Newhope.
“She can’t do this!” Jayden whines.
“Actually, she just did.” Liv’s hazel eyes sparkle, and she turns a big smile on me.
I give her a hug, but my arms ache for Rachel. “How soon can we get on the road?”
Olivia steps back, checking her watch, and I can tell she’s as amped as I am. “Give me an hour to pack, and I’ll pick you up at your hotel.”
We leave Jayden in the principal’s office still pacing and whining and trying to figure out what went wrong.
30
Rachel
“Have you heard anything?” Dylan stands at the large kitchen table mixing her Dare Dish for the night.
It’s a blend of Scotch Bonnet peppers with mangos and pineapple.
“We texted this morning. They had a meeting scheduled with the judge this afternoon, but they were also meeting with Jayden first.”
“Is that a good thing?” Her nose wrinkles, and I shake my head.
“I don’t know. Liv was worried it would be difficult to terminate his parental rights. Can you believe that?” I pick up one of the bright yellow peppers by the stem. “You can ditch your kid for years and years, but you can still come back and make trouble.”
