"Sorry, I really didn't mean to," I said, trying to look properly chastised. Leah burst out laughing, and the sound made me want to wrap my arms around her waist and pull her off the ground.
"What did you want to say?" she asked as I stood silently, staring at her.
"Oh, just that I really do want to keep this company running smoothly," I said. "I'm not trying to be the Big Bad Wolf."
"All right, well, I'll take you at your word and try not to treat you like the enemy," she said with a small smile that made me want to kiss her even more than I had when I first walked down to the warehouse.
"I'd appreciate that," I nodded as I fought back the urge, and turned and walked away.
Chapter Sixteen
Leah
It wasn't until Jack was safely out of view that I finally exhaled. Being that close to him put all of my senses on high alert and made it incredibly difficult to focus on anything but how much I wanted to feel his arms around me again.
"What are you, some kind of silly high school girl?" I muttered to myself as I walked back into my office and sat down in front of the computer. I punched the keyboard as I continued chastising myself, "Quit being an idiot! Whatever happened was obviously a mistake, and he has zero interest in you. Stop acting like a lovesick teenager. Ridiculous!"
"What's ridiculous?" Burt asked as he tapped on my door. "You okay, Leah?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just thinking out loud," I said turning to face him. I was immediately alarmed by how pale Burt looked. "Are you okay?"
"I think I ate something bad at lunch," he said waving me off. "I'll be fine with a little Pepto and rest."
"Are you sure?" I asked eyeing him warily. Burt was one of the best warehouse guys, and I couldn't afford to have him out sick right now. "We need you, man."
"I know, I know," he grinned as he kept one arm wrapped around his midsection. "I'm going to cut out a l
ittle early and go to Urgent Care just to make sure."
"Go, go!" I said waving him away. "And call me to let me know if you're okay or if we need to start collecting for Gloria's widow fund!"
"Ha, ha, very funny," Burt said rolling his eyes. "I'm fine. I'll be in tomorrow morning."
"Take care of yourself, Burt," I said seriously. "We really do need you. Jack's got plans for upgrading the warehouse, and I can't afford to lose even one of you guys when they start this crazy renovation."
"I'm going to be here, boss," Burt assured me yet again. "No worries!"
I sat at my desk for a long time, thinking about all the changes that had happened and all the ones that were about to follow it. I didn't like the fact that we were being run by someone who had no idea how the business had been run, nor did he seem to care about the traditions we held dear. He was intent on turning the business into a competitor with all the other online baby product suppliers, and I had some serious doubts about whether his plan would work.
"100,000 products?" I said, shaking my head as I powered off my computer and began packing up to go home. Riley would be waiting for me to make dinner, if my mother hadn't already hauled her down to the bodega and stuffed her full of junk. That reminded me: I needed to pick up chicken and tortillas for dinner, and stop by Gordy's for the dry cleaning. I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair and wished that I didn't have to do all of this alone.
"Dammit, Molly, where are you?" I whispered as I grabbed my things and headed to the train.
*
By the time I got home, it was almost dark, and Riley was waiting for me on the front steps. I waved at her as I came up the walk, but she didn't smile.
"What's up, buttercup?" I asked as I climbed the stairs.
"Gram is really sick, Leah," Riley said as she picked at her right hand. "She's been lying on the couch all afternoon and she won't talk to me anymore."
"What? She what?" I said, suddenly feeling sick in the pit of my stomach. I turned and went into the house calling, "Mama? Mama! Talk to me, Mama!"
My mother was lying on the couch with one arm draped over her forehead and the other across her stomach. I couldn't tell if she was breathing. I dropped the grocery bags and ran to her side, shaking her as I called her name again and again. When she didn't respond, I shook her harder.
"Mama! Mama! WAKE UP!" I shouted into her ear. That got a slight response, so I kept yelling until she somehow pushed her way out of her drunken stupor and opened her eyes.
"Why the fuck are you screaming in my ear?" she mumbled in a drunken voice that I recognized as having had way too much vodka in entirely too short a time period. "Knock it off, Leah. You're being a nag."