The Bet

11

The warm water on her body felt heavenly, the steady beads of heat pressing against her hair and face, effectively easing any tension and calming her out into complete relaxation. She wasn't sure how long the shower took but every minute of it was worth it and she felt like a whole new person stepping out and going back to her room.

Another notification from Eli was present on her phone screen, his simple reply causing a smile to break out across her freshly washed face. "Always."

Snapping out of her daze, Aspen got ready as usual with bounce in her step. "Are you leaving again?"

"For work, I keep getting raises so I might as well."

"Are you receiving enough business to be getting raises like that?"

"Mom," Aspen huffs out, head bent down and eyes trained on tying the laces of her shoes. "MJ is loaded."

Smacking her hand on her thigh and playfully rolling her eyes, Daphne could barely contain her words. "Stop calling her MJ, it's Miss. Melody and if she was bathing in money she wouldn't be living here."

"MJ loves my nickname," Checking her appearance in the hallway mirror, flicking around some of her waves. "Give her some credit, she's old but she's not dumb. Staying in the suburbs is cheap and easy, she's elderly with plenty of kind people living around her to help." Unlocking the door and pulling it open, her brown eyes made eye contact with her mother. "Her husband owns the ice cream shop and about a hundred others all around the U.S. So, like I said, she's loaded. Bye!"

Leaving her perplexed mother behind, Aspen got to her car and pulled off for the quick five minute drive to the ice cream parlor. The elderly woman was waiting for her at the door with her apron on and worn tennis shoes. "Hey, MJ."

"Been a while since I've seen you."

"Only a week, M. Plus, you know I always come back to you." Soft laughter emitted, a wrinkled hand coming up to pat on Aspen's back. "We get any new shipment?"

Nodding and pointing a finger to the freshly opened boxes, Aspen started setting everything up, pausing her movements every time someone popped in. "Is it a boy?"

"Come again?" Aspen sent her elder a look, curious to how she always seemed to know what everyone was thinking.

Melody knew that look all too well, it was the same look she had when she was young and falling in love with her husband. "You heard me, child. There's a boy in your life that's making you glow like that."

Aspen's fingers fumbled on the ice cream scoop she was holding, the customer before her not even bothering to hide her eavesdropping. "We're just getting to know each other. It's nothing serious yet."

"Yet, mmm?" Giving her a loving tap, MJ smiled silently, her teasing resulting in the young girl blush. "He any good?"

Aspen's gaze returned to the boxes, hiding a blush behind fresh cartons of flavored ice cream and sorbets. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, forcing herself to remain calm even though her heart was nearly beating out her chest. "I wouldn't know," She finally confessed sheepishly, the words barely above a whisper but MJ heard all she needed to.

She remembered what it was like being young; being chased by every eligible boy in town, going on dates—her first time. She saw so much of herself in Aspen; admired the good head on her shoulders and wishing nothing but the best for such a promising young woman. MJ was prepared to prod further, her mouth opening before abruptly closing as the front bell rang; signaling the beginning of the mid-day rush. "You finish unloading those boxes; I'll man the front."

Aspen let out a sigh, grateful for the distraction as she continued organizing the contents of the freezer. A gel pen rested between parted lips, a clipboard held in her grasp as she checked off her list of the day, moving around MJ to refill empty containers up front.

She'd finished rather quickly, wiping her hands on the front of her shirt as she breached the back room once more, stepping around MJ with a gentle smile. "You work the register," Aspen took over, noticing the impatient looks on the growing line of customers faces; all too caught up in theirselves to have any sympathy for the older woman. "Ever think about hiring more help? I'm sure it would take some stress off of your shoulders."

"Thought about it," MJ confessed, her fingers tapping at the registers buttons with intent, collecting cash and holding out change. Her hands were shaky, a symptom of the medication she took on a daily basis. "Just haven't found the right fit yet—not anyone quite like you."

Aspen pursed her lips, passing the cone to the last customer in line. Her elbow rested on the counter, hip jutted out as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I know a person. She's nice, punctual—I could see if she's interested."

"A friend of yours?"

"Yeah, Tori's great. She'd be a big help—if she says yes then maybe you and Jim can finally take that trip to Greece." The door ringed once more, a new group of needy customers with sweat on their brow and ice cream on their mind strolling up to the front, their eyes scanning the menu in silence. "Think about it?"

MJ rested a hand on Aspen's shoulder. "No need. If you trust her then I do too." She sighed softly, checking her wrist watch while making her way to the back. "Bring her in tomorrow and we'll get her on the schedule."

Aspen's smile grew so wide her cheeks hurt, happily taking care of the customer with a newfound glee. "I won't let you down."

"You never do."