“You know I don’t like black olives.”

“I don’t think you need to worry,” Cassie said, shaking her head.

“Where will you be?” Amiee asked.

Cassie glanced at her wrist. Time was ticking. “I already told you. I’ll be working at the Habitat house.”

“Can I work, too?”

“I don’t know yet, but as soon as I find out, you’ll be the first to know.” Her daughter had taken only a few tentative bites of the cereal.

“Time to go,” Cassie announced, checking her watch. It seemed every morning Amiee left for the bus stop at the very last second.

Her daughter took one last spoonful of cereal, grabbed the toast, and reached for her backpack, which she swung over her shoulder as she headed for the front door.

“Your cell phone is charged?”

“Mom!”

“Sorry, silly question. Call me when you get home from school.”

“I always do.”

“Right, because I remind you every morning,” Cassie tossed out, “and I do that because I love you.”

“I know.” Amiee headed out the door but turned back and offered her a weak smile. “Have a good day.”

“You, too.”

As soon as the kitchen was cleaned, her own bed was made, and she’d applied her makeup, Cassie left the apartment for Goldie Locks. Rosie was already at the salon and had the coffee made. The scent of it filled the room. Although Cassie had had a cup at home, she reached for a mug and helped herself.

“Thank you for picking up Amiee for me tonight.”

Rosie was busy at the front desk, checking the phone messages. When she’d finished she glanced up at Cassie. “No problem. And listen, before I forget, I heard back from my cousin Russell.”

Cassie’s hand tightened around the mug handle. “What did he say?” If she was able to get on with the caterer for the Sounders, it would mean the world to her. Earning this extra cash was the only way she could think of to collect the furniture she so badly wanted and just as badly needed.

Rosie gave her a thumbs-up. “Can you work this Sunday?”

Cassie nodded. It seemed everything had turned around for her in such a short amount of time. First she’d heard from her sister, then she learned she’d been accepted into the Habitat program, and now this. For the first time since she was a teenager Cassie felt as if she was in control of her own life. For years she’d felt like a salmon struggling to swim upstream. Now that she was out from under Duke’s thumb, she’d reversed her course and flowed with the current instead of against it.

“What do I need to do?” Cassie asked.

“It’s pretty straightforward. Your job consists of delivering food items to the suites, but Russell will give you the details on Sunday. He needs you to arrive early so you can fill out the necessary paperwork.”

“Sure. I’ll be available whenever he says.”

“I told him what a hard worker you are.”

“Thanks, Rosie. You don’t know how much this means to me.” She resisted the urge to hug her friend. It’d taken Cassie a long time to come out of the protective shell she’d built around her and Amiee. Duke had frowned upon any friendships she made—it didn’t matter if they were male or female. Cassie quickly learned there was a steep price to pay if she went against her husband’s wishes. The isolation she’d endured during the years she was married had been one of the worst aspects of that sick relationship. Consequently, Cassie had to relearn what it meant to be a friend and to have friends.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice catching on the words. It was important that Rosie know how deeply Cassie appreciated the other woman’s confidence in her. “I’ll be the best food deliverer Russell has ever hired, I promise.”

Cassie’s Friday was harried. She gave up her lunch break, which was the price she had to pay in order to adjust to keep herself on schedule. She couldn’t be in two places at the same time and she needed to be able to work on the Habitat project.

As soon as she finished with her last client, she changed into an old pair of jeans and a thin sweatshirt, ready to climb on that roof and prove to Steve that he was completely wrong about her. Hard work had never been a problem for Cassie. She didn’t walk away from it or make excuses. She was willing to do whatever was necessary.

Cassie found the address for the Habitat house in South Seattle and parked her car. It was a nice neighborhood with a number of newer homes. The house was well under construction. A couple stood out front and Cassie reasoned they must be Shelly and George Young. Cassie got out of her car and walked across the dirt lot to introduce herself.

“I’m Cassie,” she said.

“I’m Shelly.” The other woman was tall and thin, with long, dark hair and eyes that darted around as if she was afraid of holding eye contact.

“And I’m George.” The bulky, muscular man stepped forward and offered her his hand. “I heard from Steve that this is your first time working with Habitat.”

“First time and first day,” Cassie explained. “I met Steve earlier … don’t think I impressed him much.” She probably shouldn’t have said that, and wished now that she hadn’t.

“How come?” Shelly asked, looking directly at Cassie for the first time.

She ran her fingers through her hair. “I think he dislikes the color purple.”

Shelly smiled.

“And I don’t think he’s that keen on a French manicure.” She held out her hands for inspection. “But I’m determined to work hard and prove myself to him and anyone else who thinks I’m nothing more than fluff.”

“Steve’s a good person,” George said. “He’s been with Shelly and me from the start. At first he was a little gruff, but once he got to know us he let up.”

“Actually,” Shelly said shyly, “I don’t know who changed, if it was Steve or us.”

“You have a job?” George asked.

“Hairstylist,” Cassie told him, and noticed Steve had arrived.

He climbed out of his truck, slammed the door closed, and then started toward them.

“I work at Goldie Locks,” Cassie continued.

Shelly bit into her lower lip. “I’ve been thinking of restyling my hair. It’s been over a year since I had a real haircut.”

“Are you going to stand around and discuss hairstyles or are we here to work?” Steve asked. Although he spoke to the three of them, Cassie had the distinct feeling the comment was directed toward her.

Cassie wanted it understood she was no slouch. “I’m here to work.”

He nodded. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

“I understand we’ll be putting on the roofing material.” George had placed the ladder against the side of the house and already had the roofing gun loaded and ready to fire.

Steve gave the other man a quick nod. “George, you have your assignment.”

George headed for the side of the house where he’d propped up the ladder.

“Shelly, I need you to finish taping the sheetrock.”

“Got it.” The other woman headed inside.

That left Cassie. “What would you like me to do?”

Steve regarded her for an extra-long moment. “There’s a bunch of garbage around the work site. Pick it up.”

Cassie was stunned. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Steve said.

“You’re serious? You want me to collect garbage?”

Steve released a long, slow breath. “The best thing you can do at this point is clear the lot of debris,” he repeated slowly. “I realize it isn’t a glamorous job, but it’s a necessary one. Do you have a problem with that?”

Cassie was convinced Steve was looking to demean her and she was determined to set him straight. “I came here to do real work,” she said.

“That is real work,” he qualified.

Cassie had been ready to climb onto the roof if asked. In fact, she’d been willing to tackle any project he gave her, but cleaning up the job site? She wanted to argue, but she could see it wouldn’t do any good. “No problem at all,” she said, doing her best to rein in her indignation.