That afternoon, after the hearing, I called Jess at the time we had agreed on.
I told her how the court had ruled. I didn't ask her to give me a job out of sympathy.
"If you'd like, I can provide documentation that doesn't reveal my address. My hand is still healing, so I can't lift anything heavy yet. I won't hide that from you."
She asked what else I could do.
I told her I could manage reservations, check ingredient inventory, and prepare cost sheets. Ben had once praised me for being good at those things too.
I paused and kept that last part to myself.
"Tomorrow at 2 p.m.," Jess said. "We'll keep the interview as planned."
After the call ended, I stood in Ruth's kitchen for a long time without moving.
That morning, I had almost lost the chance to explain myself at all.
Ruth bro
