Chapter 8
"Wrong move," Mom chuckled as I moved a piece of chip across the board. "There is no way you can move in that direction."
"What? How? Why not? Isn't checkers the same thing as chess?" I asked in confusion.
"Yes, they're similar but you'd never moved vertically in chess either. You always move diagonally." mom informed me. "You're playing something else completely."
"Okay, maybe I'm not so good at these board games at all." I chuckled. "We should probably just play cards instead. I can't go wrong with Uno or go fish."
"You always were hopeless when it comes to board games." Mom laughed.
"Yeah, but I can sure beat you at card games." I grinned.
"Want to test that theory?" Mom smiled.
"You're on," I said to her. "You clear the table; I'll go get the pack of cards.”
I had decided to visit the nursing home and spend most of the day with my mom. It has been years since I've gotten the opportunity to really sit down, relax and hang out with my mom. I haven't felt this relief and at peace in years. Mom and I were playing checkers as we catch up but I honestly had no idea what I was doing. Therefore, I figured it was best if we played cards –I was sure to beat her on that.
"So mom, how has everything been you know... with your..." I trailed off as I shuffled the cards.
"My heart?" Mom finished with a slight smile. "Honey, you know you don't have to be afraid to talk about it or ask."
"I know mom, it’s just that I find it a little hard to talk about." I replied not looking at her. "So? Has there been any more issues or is it you know... somewhat better?"
"Well, it's the same as when I was just diagnosed." mom replied as she took up her hands of cards. "Occasional tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and minor pains... But that's mostly when I exert or worry myself too much."
"I wish there was some way we could make it better." I sighed as I played the first card.
"Well Dr. Nelson had told me about possible procedures that could fix the issue but..." Mom began but I cut her off.
"Then what are they? If it would help you get better, then we'd definitely have to try it." I said to her a bit excited before frowning. "It's not open heart surgeries is it?"
"There are surgical procedures that could help fix my problem but there's a none surgical procedure as well." Mom informed me.
"And what is that procedure? How is it done?" I asked her quite interested.
"There's this particular procedure, it’s called Percutaneous coronary intervention I think. It is more commonly known as angioplasty or at least that's what I thought he said it is called." Mom said to me. "This is a nonsurgical procedure that opens the blocked or narrowed coronary arteries"
"I still don't understand." I responded in confusion. "If it is going to do all that then how is it performed if not surgical?"
"Dr. Nelson said that a thin, flexible tube with a type of balloon thing or other device on the end is threaded through a blood vessel to the narrowed or blocked coronary artery." mom recited. "He said that once it is in place, then the balloon is inflated to compress the plaque against the wall of the artery and this restores blood flow through the artery."
"I'm not a doctor so I have no idea what that means really but to me it sounds quite technical." I said to her. "But that's the beauty of technology these days I guess."
"Yeah and he said that during the procedure, the doctor may put a small mesh tube called a stent into the artery. This stent helps prevent blockages in the artery in the months or years after the angioplasty." mom said to me.
"So this procedure is safe and legitimate then?" I asked.
"Yes but it won't be possible for me," Mom responded solemnly aid.
"What do you mean? Why not?" I asked curiously.
"It is too costly." mom announced.
"How much exactly?"
"Sweetie, we don't have that kind of money right now. In fact, we don't even have any money and probably won't be able to get that anytime soon." mom said to me instead of answering the original question.
"Mom, how much?" I asked once again.
"Approximately $4600." mom said to me causing me to gasp.
The amount may not sound like much to some people but to us, that was a lot since we were practically broke. However, if this procedure would help my mom to be healthy again, I would do anything to get that amount of money— well anything that is within a morally accepted field. I seriously needed to get a job and start saving up.
"Hey, look I won. I thought you said you could beat me at this game." mom laughed as she dropped her final cards. She was obviously trying to lighten the mood. "Looks like I just kicked your butt."
"You just got lucky." I chuckled as I put down my card. “I let you win.”
Mom and I talked and played some more and I had also beaten her four times until it was getting late and I decided to leave. As I said goodbye, I went and got a taxi to Katie's apartment.
I was feeling sticky and hot from spending the entire day out. The minute I had settled back in the apartment, I grabbed some clothes and headed straight to the bathroom which Katie and I shared. I took a quick shower before all the hot water ran out. The hot water doesn't stay on for more than ten minutes. I was sitting on the couch eating the easiest thing I could find to prepare –Ramen noodles – when Katie got home.
"Hey babe," she greeted as she placed her bag in the couch beside me.
"Hey, how are you home so early again?" I asked in surprise at seeing her home.
"I just told Sebastian that I'm tired so he should take over. And I headed straight home." Katie said as she sat down. "Anyway, I've got some great news for you Ames."
"Really? What?" I asked looking at her.
"So I talked to George and he agreed to add you to our staffing list." Katie smiled.
"What!? Seriously!?" I shrieked excitedly. "How did you...just like that?"
"Just like that." Katie chuckled snapping her fingers. "I'm that influential and I put in a good word for you. Now all you have to do is show up and I'll show you the ropes. You'll be a waitress but also helping me out at the bar."
"Katie, wow. That's great. That's...thank you." I smiled gratefully at her. "So uhm when do I start?"
"Tomorrow." Katie replied with a smile.
"Tomorrow? That quick?" I said surprised.
"Yeah, is tomorrow a bad time?" Katie asked me concerned.
"No, no, it’s just that I never thought I would get a job this soon." I told her honestly.
"Well you have work at 5:30pm tomorrow sweetie." Katie said as she dug into her bag. "And I thought I'd get you familiar and coming to terms with the uniform."
"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.
"I meant this." Katie said as she pulled out the materials from her bag and gave them to me.
"What is this?" I asked as I started to unfold them and hold them up. "Oh my God."
I was going to be parading around a bar full of drunks with all my body parts practically out in the open. I was starting to wonder out of this and the strip club experience, which would be worst.
Next Day
I was at the club now for probably just over an hour. I had actually started working about half hour ago. Katie had shown me around and explained to me all that was needed to be done. There was a downside of the job which I had experienced in less than two hours. And as a result, I was positive that I was either going to quit soon, get fired or have slap somebody in the eye if another drunk guy smacks my butt.
If I was correct, in precisely only 30 minutes since I had gone to deliver few tray of drinks—I had gotten smacked on the butt over three times. One of the guys had even referred to me as 'fresh meat'. These were similar types of behavior that I was used to experiencing at Lollipop Tease but at least it wasn't by aggressive drunks. As far as I could see, this was the normal behavior for men at this bar. I saw other men did it to the other waitresses. I had only started working not even a day as yet and I didn't want to get fired, so I decided to deal with the repulsive behavior while I had to. I had spent five years being owned by Alfredo and if that didn't prepare me enough for instances like this; nothing else will.
"Ugh!" I groaned in disgust as I slammed the tray down on the bar counter.
"A rough first day sweetie?" Katie chuckled.
"If I'm being touched by another drunk guy, I am going to hurl." I said wrinkling my nose.
"Sorry babe, it's just part of the business though." she shrugged before giving me a sympathetic smile.
"Are the employees allowed to drink while on the job or get discount on drinks?" I asked frustrated.
"You know what? I know what can help." Katie said as she took up a bottle and pour whatever it was in a shot glass before passing it over the counter to me. "Here, try this. It’s on the house."
"What is this?" I lifted the glass up to my nose while sniffing its contents before tipping it back then shuddered. "Damn! That is strong."
" I know right." Katie giggle. "Think of it as a welcome to the job shot. Now get over here so I can start teaching you about all the liquor and beverages."
“Awesome.”
"So my first week of work wasn't all that bad." I told my mom after visiting her.
"I don't know; I still don't like the idea of you being back in the club scene Amy." Mom replied.
"I know but mom this isn't like that type of club. I'm serving drinks there not performing for them." I said to her. "I don't really feel as cheap and degraded like before."
"You still have to be around disgusting men and even worst the drunks." Mom said to me. "It’s still just..."
"It's going to help me get back on my feet. So I'm going to stick with it for now until I can get something better." I replied. "I'm even thinking of searching for a second job—that way I can save enough money for your heart procedure."
"Amy no. I don't expect you to be working your butt off just to make a few dollars to help me. It is not..." Mom started but I cut her off.
"It is my job now. You'd do the same for me, so let me do this for you Mom." I said to her. "Or at least let me try."
"You know; I've always wondered how on earth I got so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter like you." Mom said with a small smile.
"I guess you were just lucky enough to be my mom." I chuckled.
Lucas's POV
I was going to discuss some important business about a new casino opening—that Gio had put me in charge of. He had told me to get back to him when there was any new development. So here I was at his and Lexi's house. I had the access to come here whenever I wanted –seeing I was his right hand man and best friend. Earlier when I had informed him that I was stopping by he had told me to go to his office when I arrived but the minute I had arrived, I began wondering if I should probably return another time.
I was pretty sure that it sounded like Gio and Lexi were arguing. The argument sounded a bit intense. Was there already trouble in paradise? This was an awkward situation for me. I was expected to be here, so here I was but with him and Lexi arguing about whatever, I wasn't sure if I should go and interrupt. Lexi already hated me and if I went and interrupt, she was most likely to blow up more. In addition to that, Gio was most likely in a really foul mood too. This could go either of many ways. Gio didn't like to be messed with whenever he was upset. And if he was upset with his wife or if she was upset with him and I go in there, I was most likely the one that everything would be taken out on. I considered waiting for a while but since I was already here, I decided that I would just have to be on the receiving end of any wrath from this conflict. The sooner I discuss things with Giom, the sooner I could leave.
I walked to Gio's home office door and knocked. After my first knock, the arguing stopped and seconds later the door was opened roughly by Giovanni himself. By the look on both their faces, whatever they were arguing about was definitely intense and they did not like the idea of being interrupted.
"You wanted us to discuss business." I said to him. "Did I come at a bad time?"
I watched Gio’s eyebrow twitched with anger and his jaw clenched but instead of snapping at me like I had expected, I was surprised by his respond.
"No you didn't. Come in. I called you to discuss business and we are going to discuss things." Gio said seriously before turning to his wife. "I'm going to be busy now, we'll talk about this later."
"Gio…" Lexi said in a defeated tone I wasn't expecting.
"I said later Lexi." Gio said a bit harsh surprising me completely.
Gio practically worshipped Lexi. They hardly had much disagreements after they had gotten back together. They were together before then broke up because of a huge disagreement and misunderstanding. Ever since they had gotten back together and gotten married, I had never seen them having an open argument like this.
"Fine," Lexi sighed shaking her head. "I'll go."
"You should." Gio replied in the same tone.
Sighing; Lexi turned towards the door and brushed passed me as she exited the office. After slamming the door behind her, Gio then turned to me.
"So what's the development?" He asked me completely ignoring the fact that I just witnessed all that a minute ago.
I could have asked what the hell was up with them but decided to stay in my lane and not stick my nose where it didn't belong –especially when Gio was clearly that furious. If it was something that he wanted to talk about then he would when he was ready.
"I have got a perfect location for the new casino."