After two weeks working at the Happy Days Café, Molly earned her first paycheck. It wasn’t the first of her life, but it was the first of this new stage of her life, her independent stage, and for that, it would always be special. So special that Molly planned to take picture of it before she cashed it.

“Congratulations,” Kelly said she handed Molly the check. “I don’t want to see you go, because we get nothing but compliments on the food you cook, but I know you’ve got bigger things ahead of you that making fish sandwiches.”

“Thank you,” Molly said. “And it’s not like you’re losing me yet.” The paycheck was nice, but it wouldn’t be enough to get the car fixed and get all the way to Virginia. Or would it?

Molly’s eyes did a double take when she saw the amount on the check. Could that number be right? Sure, she’d pick up a few extra shifts when she could over the past couple of weeks, but even at the double-time that Kelly promised to pay her for those, the numbers didn’t add up. Not at all.

“This can’t be right,” Molly said. “I didn’t earn this much.”

“Yes, you did,” Kelly said. “It includes your tips.”

“Tips?” What the heck? “Since when do cooks earn tips?”

“Since a waitress with a big mouth starting tellin’ the customers about your situation,” Kelly said. “It was all Trish’s idea.”

Molly turned to the waitress. “What was?”

“Oh, please, stop implying I’m a blabbermouth, Kelly,” Trish protested with an eye roll. “I just told a few people that you’d fallen on tough times, and this being the South, and generous folks, they asked what they could do to help. I know you’ve got this pride thing, and wouldn’t take any handouts, but I told them if they liked the food, they could tip the cook, too.” Trish’s eyes met Molly’s. “That’s where the extra money comes from.”

“I... wow. I don’t know what to say.” Had they really done this for her?

“Just say thanks, and that you’ll accept it, Trish told her. “Because it was earned. All of it.”

Molly sucked in a breath. She was about to cry. “This is unbelievable. It’s so generous of you, and everyone,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Does that mean you’ll accept it?” Kelly asked, causing Molly to laugh.

“Yes. I may be hard-headed, but not that hard-headed.” How could she not accept such generosity, especially if meant she could get to Virginia within a few days, and not a few more weeks?

“Good, then get out of here,” Kelly said. “That handsome writer friend of yours ought to be here to pick you up any minute.”

“Just make sure you come back before you leave town,” Trish told Molly. “Have dinner. Let someone else cook it for you.”

“I’ll do that. I promise,” Molly said with a chuckle. Still holding her paycheck in her hand, she said goodbye to Kelly and Trish and went outside. She didn’t see Dak’s car yet, so Molly began to fumble in her purse for her phone. She could take a picture of the check while she waited, and then maybe he could take her to cash it.

“There you are. You worthless ho.” Molly recognized the voice before she lifted her head to meet the cold blue steel of J.D.’s eyes. “Did you think you could get away from me?” He moved his head from side to side. “Silly little Molly. You didn’t make it very far, did you.”

“Leave me alone, J.D.” Molly wanted to sound strong, tough, but instead, the words came out sounding like the desperate plea that they were. So much for the strength and independence she thought she’d gained over the past few weeks. Thirty seconds with J.D., and she was ready tower again. Molly hated that he had such a hold on her. Where are you, Dak?

“Or what?” His face contorted into a sneer. “Are you going to cry? Because I can give you something to cry about.”

Has she really found him attractive once? Now he only disgusted her, and Molly wanted to close her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at him anymore. Instead, she stood up straighter, wanting to show J.D. that she wasn’t scared.

“What’s this?” He grabbed the paycheck out of her hand and held it up to look at it. “Oh, wow. Did you work for this? You mean you’re actually good for something?”

Molly could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he smiled greedily. “Well, that changes things. I’m still pissed at you for trying to run away from me, but if you can make your useful, I’ll take you back.”

J.D. reached out and put his arm on the wall, pinning Molly between himself and the building, leaving her defenseless. Exactly the way he wanted it.

And she let him do it, just like she had since the very first time. She knew better than to fight. He was bigger, stronger, and could always overpower her. If she tried to fight back, he’d only make her pay even more.

“Good, baby. I think we should take this money and go celebrate, but first, why don’t you give me a kiss and show me how much you missed me?” He lowered his head, and the smell of cheap beer and tobacco almost made Molly retch.

“You touch her, and I’ll rearrange your face. And don’t think I can’t do it.”

Dak! Out of the corner of her eye, Molly could see him approach.

“Who are you?” J.D. took his hand off the wall and began to turn around, giving Molly the chance to move away from the building and into a less defenseless position.

“Are you fucking her?” J.D. demanded, before looking at Molly again. “Is that how you got the money? Have you been spreading your legs for this asswipe, like some cheap slut?”

Before she could answer, Dak’s fist encountered J.D.’s face.