CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
(part five)
“Hi,” Mike said to Jill. 
He had carried her to Jacob’s apartment and laid her on the bed. Jill sat up with a gasp.
“Drink this,” Mike said. He held a glass of chocolate milk out to her. “Do it.”
Jill took a sip and set it down.
“Drink it.”
Jill sighed and drank the milk.
“I can’t help it. I feel awful. I don’t have a job! I don’t have a way to take care of my child! And all this bull shit. I’m going to be some spokesmodel and marry some rich guy I don’t even know. The guy I almost got KILLED because I’m too incompetent to even keep a job. And diamonds? I mean come on….”
Mike hugged her to him.
“I’m sorry,” Mike said. “I’ve been so caught up in Val being home I never thought to ask if you had money.”
“I’m not your responsibility,” Jill said.
“You’re my sister, Jill. Yes, you’re my responsibility. So is Katy, but I can’t imagine you’ve let her suffer at all.”
Jill shook her head.
“Sandy said you painted as a way to pay for your rent. Is that true?”
“I’m no freeloader. It’s nice that they let me and Katy stay here but….”
“How did you pay for it?” Mike asked.
“I know the guys at Belcaro Paints. They give me seconds and returns.”
“And you give them?”
“I work as a color consultant,” Jill said. ”It’s easy and…”
“JILL! That’s what your third job?” Mike was so exasperated he could barely speak.
“Forth. But….”
“When did you eat last?”
“At Pete’s on Wednesday. I always eat at Pete’s when I work. It’s one of the reasons I work there. But Pete won’t let me work so…. What am I going to do Mike?”
“You’re going to let me give you money,” he said. “I make really good money, Jill. When your feet are healed, and you take in all that’s happened, you’ll decide what you want to do.”
“I will pay you every penny back,” Jill said.
“You will not. I won’t let you.”
“But….”
Denver Cereal continues tomorrow….
