“Are you ready to go downstairs?” Robert asked her. She looked so cute in his t-shirt, it hung to her knees.

“I can’t go down there like this. They’ll think we had sex,” she whispered with a giggle. “I need to go to my room and change.” He wished they had had sex. Robert smiled at her cuteness.

“Why don’t we go down to your room and get all your stuff and bring it up here. Then you can change into something else before dinner.”

She nodded her head. “Okay. I don’t have very much.” They went down to her room and Robert was amazed at how little she had.

“You didn’t bring very much with you.”

“It’s all I have.” He didn’t realize she meant exactly what she was saying.

“Well, we’ll get your roommate to send the rest of your things.”

Heidi hung her head and let out a sigh. “This is all I have.”

 “Are you telling me, this is it?” Robert knew what happened in Oregon and he knew that the Agency bought everyone the bare necessities. It looked like that was all she had.

“Yes.”

 “Why haven’t you bought yourself any clothes?” Heidi didn’t say anything.

“Heidi?” He was getting furious and she could hear it in his voice. “Why didn’t you buy any clothes?” He knew what the answer was going to be. Her boss.

“Don’t be mad at me.” She started to cry again.

“Sweetheart, I’m not mad at you. Come here.” He put his arms out to her and she went into his embrace. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m mad at that sleaze bag ex-boss of yours.” Robert had to control himself before he exploded. Having his arms around her helped to calm him down. “Did he pay you at all?”

“Just enough to pay rent and buy a little food, but not very much. He kept the rest. He said he was saving it for us.”

“For us? He was withholding wages from all his employees?”

“I think so.”

“Okay. First things first. We’ll go into town on Friday and get you some clothes. You need warm clothing if you’re going to live here. You also need boots and a warm coat. No wonder you didn’t want to go outside.”

He let her out of his arms and picked up what she had. They took it back to his room.

“You get changed, I need to go downstairs and start dinner.” He kissed her forehead. “You come down when you’re ready. Okay?”

“Okay,” was all she said.

Robert needed to talk to Charles, he was so pissed off he could scream. He knocked softly on Charles bedroom door. When it opened, he asked if he could come in.

“Hey, Robert, what’s up.” Charles looked over his shoulder at Jackie to make sure it was alright. When she gave a nod, he let him come in.

“Thanks. I am so pissed, I could spit nails. Heidi’s boss has been keeping most of her pay. She has no clothes other than a little more than what she has been wearing.  She doesn’t even have a coat.”

“What!” Jackie was appalled. “She has no clothes?”

Robert shook his head. “Her boss said he was saving her money for her.”

“Shit,” Charles said in disgust. “I’ll call Agent Adams again. He’ll want to know about this. I’m sure that man has been doing the same thing to all his workers.”

“Heidi said he was.”

 “I heard Heidi say he ran a sweat shop. Well, it’s time to put him out of business. I have to make a call.” He gave Jackie a kiss. “You alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m going to look through some of my things. Heidi is so much shorter than I am, I doubt I have anything that would fit her.”

“I’m going to take her to town on Friday and get her everything she needs.” Robert told her. “Maybe Franny will go with us. I’ll need someone to help her.”

“That’s all fine and good, but I imagine it would be nice to be able to come to Thanksgiving dinner wearing something other than what she has being wearing every day,” Jackie told him. “I’ve been in that situation, remember. Maybe between Franny, Becky and myself, the three of us, we’ll come up with something.”

“Thanks, Jackie. You always know what to do. I’d better get downstairs. Don’t worry about dinner, I’ve got it covered.” Charles and Robert left Jackie looking through her closet.

                                                        *****

Robert started to fix dinner when Fletch came in to give him a hand.

“Fletch, do you know where Heidi was working?”

“Yeah, a laundry. They do dry cleaning, laundry, sewing and alterations. I picked her up there last week and gave her a ride home.”

“Do you do that often?” Robert asked.

“No. She’s only called me that one time. She was upset and crying when she called. She said she wasn’t feeling well and needed a ride. Why.”

“I was curious. Apparently, her boss has been skimming off her pay checks. Hers and everyone else that works there.” Robert started to set the table.

“I can do that.” Fletch took the silverware. “That lousy bastard. No wonder she never had any money. So, what are you going to do?” He asked as he set the table.

“Me! Nothing. Charlie is contacting Agent Adams. The agency is going to handle it.”

“Good, I hope they hang the bastard. Heidi never seemed to be very happy after she started working there. Now I understand why.” Fletch finished setting the table. “I hope she gets all the money she’s owed.”

“She will if I have anything to do with it, plus interest.” He threw the spaghetti into a pot of boiling water and fixed garlic bread. He told Fletch to let everyone know that dinner was almost ready.

The girls had gotten together and found some clothes that would fit Heidi. When she came down to the dining room, Robert was pleasantly surprised. Heidi was wearing a pale green cardigan sweater, buttoned almost to the top, and a pair of black stretch pants. The sweater made her eyes look greener. Her long, straight black hair hung down her back.

Robert greeted her with a kiss. “Wow, you look nice.”

“Thank you.”

He showed her where to sit so she would be next to him.

Fletch helped serve dinner. He even remembered to pull the garlic bread out of the oven before it burnt.

“My compliments to the chef. Robert, that was the best spaghetti, ever,” Fletch pushed away from the table. “I’ll have to get up early and run an extra lap around the lake. If I don’t, I’m going to gain ten pounds. Gotta keep the bod in shape. Can’t disappoint my ladies.”

“Woohoo, your ladies? Just how many ladies do you have?” Charles asked with a laugh.

“Well, none yet, but when I do, I want to be ready.” Fletch gave the girls a big smile. “Present company included. If you girls ever go out and need some man candy on your arm, I’m available.”

“Man candy!” Becky was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. Robert and Charles couldn’t help but laugh, it was contagious. It wasn’t long before they were all laughing.

Jackie finally caught her breath, “Fletch, I think you are marvelous man candy material. Any of us would be proud to have you on our arm, but I prefer my personal man candy.” She smiled at Charles. “And I don’t plan on sharing.”

Heidi looked at Robert and blushed.

“So, is it official? You and Heidi are mates?” Becky asked Robert.

“Yup. Heidi is staying here with me.” He put his arm around her and gave her a hug. “We’re going to go to town on Friday to get her some proper clothes. Maybe you and Franny could you come with us? I think Heidi would like a girl along. I’d ask Jackie, but the doctor said no car rides yet.”

“Yeah, sure. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Robert replied. Heidi gave her a bashful smile. She didn’t quite know how to behave.

“Well, Becky and I will do the dishes and clean up,” Franny announced. “Thanks for a great dinner.”

“I’ll wash, if you girls dry,” Fletch volunteered. “I think Charles and Robert have earned the right to relax with their mates.”

“I’ll second that,” Robert piped up. “Heidi and I have some things to talk about, so if you guys don’t mind, we’re going to retire.”

“I hope you’re going to do more than talk,” Becky called out as they disappeared up the stairs.