“Heartbreakingly handsome. How’s the tree?”
“Stronger than me. You still going to Tala’s tonight?”
“Uh-huh.” My dad usually lingered when he was chewing over something on his mind he wanted to discuss with me. “What’s up?”
He took his time. He went to the water cooler and grabbed a cone paper cup. “Getting colder now. It’ll be winter soon.”
“Dad, spit it out.”
He just gave me a smile, his eyes patient. And worried. “It’s one of our busiest seasons. People wanting to get their vehicles ready for winter.”
“I’m sure they all don’t want to ride their dog sleds to work.”
“Smartass.” He winked at me and took a sip of his drink. “Want some?”
I shook my head. He finished his water and pitched the cup into the wastebasket before he walked back to the counter.
“Your uncle thinks we need to let go of Ekon.”
“What? Why? We nee
d Ekon!” My words came out in a rush, angry and hot. “A lot of our customers come for oil change, brake checks, inspection. Dyl and Ekon are our only maintenance guys. And you and Vlad do the heavy work orders. What’s going to happen if we get bombarded with customers wanting an oil change? Turn them away?”
“I already—”
I was so furious and frustrated I made a fist and slammed it on the counter.
“Just because Andrew comes here twice a week to help, he thinks he can fire people who are more useful and hardworking than he could ever be?”
Andrew’s face was very clear in my head, and so was my fist as it connected with it.
“He doesn’t even stay a full day, Dad. He leaves whenever he pleases. Always complaining about his bunions. Charity said he doesn’t even have them! He thinks he can act like King Kong, king of the jungle, oh-em-gee, raise your hands up in the air! King of the jungle!” I snorted derisively. “More like joke of the jungle.”
My dad snorted out a laugh at that. But I wasn’t done. I was so fired up.
“Dylan won’t be able to do all of it if you let Ekon go, and you or Vlad are going to have to help him. You know both of you are more than busy enough. I’m going to have to give that guy an epiphany and talk to him. He’s dumb as a doorknob, Dad.”
His dumbness was oozing out of every orifice, and I was going to plug every one of them so that he wouldn’t be able to infect us.
“Don’t worry, Kar,” my dad said placidly. “I already told him I don’t agree with him. I just wanted to tell you, so you know what’s happening if he brings it up.”
“Ekon has been working for us for years.” I heard the whine in my voice now. “He’s going to school. He needs this job.”
“I know, sweetheart. He’s not going anywhere.”
I let out a sigh. I could always count on my dad.
He had built a good reputation in the community, both in business and socially. Business was good, but we were only breaking even.
Since the shop was owned by my dad and Andrew, the profits were split fifty-fifty. But instead of putting the profits back into the business, like my dad did, Andrew insisted on keeping his share.
A huge chunk of the savings in my bank account was to buy the leech out, and that money I refused to touch until it was ready. I wouldn’t even use it to pay for my tuition. It was going to buy Andrew’s share of the shop. He’d already told me his price.
“Sorry, Dad. Rant over. I don’t like your brother.” I took out my parka from the closet, shrugged it on, and grabbed my purse. “Time for my shift at the coffee shop. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Are you sleeping over at Tala’s?”
“No, but I’ll come in late. Don’t wait up for me.”