Oops, he'd missed a call

Checking his phone, Matt discovered he'd missed a call and voice mail. Between Cai's party and Tanya's party, he simply hadn't bothered checking.

"Matt, it's Mrs. Hartman... Eliza. I wanted to talk to you about, well, just call me."

Could Mrs. Hartman be coming onto him? He'd certainly gathered that her marriage wasn't perfect. Then again, it didn't seem like any of the marriages he'd come across recently had been anything special.

He hit redial. "Mrs. Hartman, it's Matt. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but--"

"Not a problem, Matt. I have a sort of strange request for you."

Sounded promising. "How can I be of service."

"I appreciate you dancing with Amy on Friday. And it was very gentlemanly of you to turn down the money I offered."

"Mrs. Hartman, Amy is a sweet girl. Of course I wanted to dance with her."

"It's Eliza. And sure, Amy is sweet. She's also got a broken face that needs some serious surgery. Did you know you were the only boy to dance with her?"

"No, I guess I didn't notice that."

"Well, she noticed. Karen danced with her also, but girls dancing together... you know what they say about that."

"Actually I don't."

"They're either lesbians or they can't attract a boy."

"I'm sure that's not--"

"The point I'm making is that Amy was super-happy you danced with her. And I want her to be happy."

"Of course I'll dance with her again if I go to any other dances this summer."

"I had in mind something a little more regular. If I pay you a hundred a week, would you be Amy's... friend? You know, be nice to her, take her with you when you're out and about, that sort of thing?"

A hundred a week? That would make a serious impact on Matt's lifestyle, starting with being able to afford to buy breakfast in the school cafeteria and moving on to being able to pay for real dates. There was just one problem. Once Amy found out, and she was certain to find out, the job would be over, tutoring would be over, and Karen would lose both her best friend and her job, not to mention any chance of riding horses.

"Sure, Mrs... I mean Eliza. I'll be happy to help Amy out. But there are some conditions."

"Conditions?"

"First, you don't tell Amy. Second, this is not exclusive. I don't want Amy to miss out on having a real boyfriend because she thinks she has to commit to me. And third, that you deliver the hundred, in cash, every Monday."

"Oh, I was thinking I'd write you a check."

Right. Like he'd jog down to San Pedro, about eight miles each way, just to cash a check.

"Sorry, I need cash."

"Fine. I'll hit up an ATM. But I won't be able to get it to you until Tuesday."

"No problem. And remember, if you tell Amy the deal is off."

"It'll be our secret."

Matt wasn't sure where to go with that but he figured having Eliza a little bit grateful couldn't be a bad thing... and making sure he saw her, in private, every week wouldn't be bad either.