Free Three Days of Rain by Christine Hughes

better herself or the lives of those around her. She broke a boy I’ve known since he was in his mama’s belly. No one deserves what she did. And that is all I have to say on the matter. Tread lightly, Lily. Just tread lightly. That boy’s hurtin’ a whole lot.”
    “All right. I’ll figure it out. Thanks for talking to me about it.”
    Billy stood up, adjusted his pants over his soft belly. “Anytime. Listen, you hungry?”
    “Sure, I could go for something.”
    “All right, then. I’ll tell Randy to whip you up something. He’s on a roll today with the creative crap. That boy fried tomatoes and made a salad out of it. Who would've thought of sticking fried tomatoes with lettuce and that mozzarella cheese? It’s good, but what a strange way of cookin’, huh?”
    “Actually, that sounds kinda good. Have him make one for me.”
    “No problem, Lil. I’ll send Marta over with a beer. You look like you could use one.”
    “Thanks, Billy.”
    Billy walked to the kitchen and placed Lily’s order before retreating back to his office. He knew his niece wouldn’t listen. She was too caring to allow someone to walk around empty. She was just the opposite of Madison, and he walked around with guilt over the fact that he never told anyone what Maddie had done...
    ***
    It was a busy Thursday night, busier than usual and Maddie was twenty minutes late. She was always late anymore. Billy toyed with the idea of firing her but, truth be told, she hustled when she was there. She turned tables like no one else. And besides, he liked her family. He figured she was going through something, so he gave her a little time and space. Maybe he’d ask Jake what was going on. He knew she had been in the hospital not too long ago and he knew why. He just hoped she wasn’t falling back into that pit.
    It had just about hit the hour mark from the time her shift started when she hurried in. Billy’s first thought was that she looked like hell. Her normally-shiny blonde hair was disheveled and greasy. Her skin was tinged with gray and her uniform was dirty. Not at all like Maddie. Even when she was going through trouble, she always took pride in her appearance. With her propensity for drama, often her looks were all she had going for her. After all, she wasn’t the nicest person you’d ever meet.
    Serving up a beer to a customer at the bar, Billy yelled over to her, “You’re late.”
    “I know, Billy. I’m sorry. Just had to take care of something.”
    “You coulda called. I was about to call the house to see where you were.”
    “I said I was sorry, Billy. What do you want me to do? Give you my first born?”
    Snippy, he thought. At least she usually faked pleasantries.
    “We’re a little backed up. Those three booths just sat down. Go and take care of them, would ya’?”
    “In a minute. I have to use the bathroom first.”
    “You couldn’t have done that before you got here? I’m swamped here.”
    “How ’bout I piss in a beer mug and serve it up? You want me to do that? Didn’t think so. Now, let me pee.”
    She hurried off to the bathroom. Billy wasn’t in the mood to deal with her shit today. Maybe he’d just send her home. Then, he’d take care of the booths. Later, he’d have to talk to her.
    Quite a bit of time had passed and Maddie still wasn’t back from the bathroom. He dropped his towel on the bar and headed towards the back. He lightly knocked on the women’s door. No answer.
    “Maddie? You in there?”
    No answer. He jiggled the doorknob but it was locked.
    “Madison! Open this door!”
    When she didn’t answer, he grabbed keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door. Madison was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. She looked dazed.
    “Maddie! Are you alright?”
    She rolled her head back and looked at him with glassy eyes. Something was definitely wrong. He kneeled down beside her. An empty syringe lay next to her and her arm was tied with rubber tubing.
    “What did you do?”
    She