Page 25 of Burning Embers
“Hey, love. What brings you back so soon?”
“Unexpected expenses,” I say, forgoing any pretence.
He nods in understanding. “What can I do for you today?”
I unclasp my Rolex. It slides from my wrist, and I hold it out to him. A whistle escapes his lips. It’s the most valuable item I own. “I have the certificate of authentication,” I say.
He nods, eying me. “You sure you want to pawn it?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“How much did you want?”
I know these sell well, even used, but I want to be able to get it back. “Ten percent of the value,” I reply, my mouth dry.
He asks to see the documentation I brought with me, and after nearly an hour, I have a bank transfer of two grand. Should be enough to cover the costs I need for my car, Molly’s childcare fees, rent, and other amenities. If I’m lucky enough—more art supplies.
I have to make a payment each fortnight to get it back. I hope like hell I’ll be able to. This is the one treasured gift my Nan ever gave me, and not because of its value, but its sentiment. Yes, she had money, but she wasn’t frivolous. For my eighteenth, she purchased my car; my twenty-first, my watch.
I finger my bare wrist, missing the weight of it already.
I pull out my phone and type out a quick text to Nate. I need to find out if he can fix my car. It will require a tow from Olly’s, and that’s all going to add up. Truth is, by the time I’ve forked out for the repairs, I might have well just bought a runaround. But I love my car, and hopefully, once she’s fixed, she’ll be good for a while yet.
Nate replies almost straight away. He’s just finished a job, so he can fit me in as soon as I want. Finally—something going my way. I tell him the sooner the better, but I will need to have it towed to him.
He rings me. “Hello?”
“Rach, have you broken down?”
I smile and walk as I talk. “No—I mean yes, I did over the weekend. Betty is currently taking up residence outside Olly’s house.”
“Oh yeah? Something you want to share?”
I pause to check the road and dash across. “Not particularly. Anyway, I appreciate you being able to take a look at it. I’ll need to arrange recovery to get it to you.”
“No, I’ll sort that out, don’t worry about it. I just need your keys.”
“Shit, yeah, of course. I’m just picking up Molly now. I can try and get them to you later.”
I hear a rattling in the background. “No, I’ll come by to grab them. How are you going to do that with Molly and no car?”
He’s right, of course. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not. Anything for a friend.”
I agree to call him in an hour after I’ve gotten myself together. I could almost cry. It’s not lost on me how I pretty much came between him and Felicity. It wasn’t my proudest moment, and everything turned out as it should. I flick my gaze to my wrist, cringe, then check the time on my phone.
Thankfully I make the bus in time and get to Molly before they charge me for being late.
“How would you like a Happy Meal for dinner?” I ask, swooping her up onto my hip. She’s growing so fast.
“Yes,” she squeals.
I smile and tweak her nose before putting her back on her feet. We make our way to the bus stop. “Did you have a nice day?”
“Yeah, I did a drawing.” She pulls out a crinkled piece of paper from her book bag.
“That’s amazing,” I say, holding it up to examine.
