Small Change by Sheila Roberts Page B

that much in tips tomorrow. As she marched to the service counter a newscript played out in her head, one that completely justified her behavior.
B RIAN : This is not the way to be a team player.
    T IFFANY : Neither is refusing to go on a date with your wife when all she was asking to spend was five measly dollars.
    B RIAN :
    Ha! Nothing to say.
    Still, when she got home she left her purchases in the trunk. Not that she had anything to hide, really. She'd only spent her own tip money. Well, today's and tomorrow's, but that was beside the point. The point was she was in control of her spending.
    She went inside and found Brian in the kitchen, stuffing sand-wiches and wine coolers into a big grocery bag. “What are you doing?”
    â€œGetting ready to take you out to dinner,” he said.
    She looked inside the grocery bag. In addition to sandwiches he'd packed a couple of snack-sized packages of chips and two bottles of her favorite coffee drink. And what was this? She pulled up a Hershey's chocolate bar and looked questioningly at him.
    â€œI had a dollar in my wallet,” he said with a smile. He took the candy bar from her and dropped it back in the bag. “You ready?”
    â€œWhere are we going?”
    â€œSomeplace romantic,” he assured her.
    Someplace romantic. There was hope after all.
    They climbed into the Jeep and he drove her to the public park on the lake. Taking his bag of goodies and a blanket, he led her down to the far edge of the lake and spread out the blanket on the grass. “I know it's not a restaurant,” he said, “but will it do?”
    It would more than do. This was a perfect diva on a dime, romantic date. Why hadn't she thought of it? “Yes,” she said, and put her arms around his neck and kissed him. “This is even better than going out.”
    â€œI'm sorry I'm being a hard-ass,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck. “I don't want you to be miserable, Tiffy. Sometimes I wish I was rich. Then you could buy all the bargains you want.”
    Lack of riches hadn't exactly stopped her. She thought guiltily of the purchases hiding in her car trunk. Buying them had made her feel really good when she got them, but now she felt like a woman who had eaten too many cookies.
    â€œI don't need to be rich,” she assured Brian and kissed him, vowing to cancel her credit cards the next day. All she needed was to keep the empty spot filled. Not an easy task, that, for the empty spot inside of her was like a hungry piggy bank, always crying for more. And what it wanted most she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to give it. “Brian, I'll do better, I promise,” she said, her voice quavering.
    â€œMe, too,” he said, and they kissed again.
    Then they enjoyed their meal while watching the evening sunlight dance on the water. People were at the park, throwing Fris-bees. They could hear the thwunk of a tennis ball as a couple played singles over on the tennis courts. The sound of laughter drifted in to them from somewhere out on the lake, mixing with their own happiness. Now, this was cozy.
    Tiffany had just finished her half of the chocolate bar and sighed happily when Brian cleared his throat. “This probably isn't the best time to tell you this,” he said, “but you need to know. Starting next Monday I have to take two weeks off unpaid.”
    â€œNo pay?” she squeaked.
    â€œI'm not the only one,” Brian said. “We're all taking turns, hoping nobody else will have to get laid off.”
    Two weeks off with no pay. The shoes would have to go back. Again.
    And she would have to do better. For real this time. She found herself wishing she had someone to help her, like an AA sponsor, or even a support group. Wait a minute. She had one in her own backyard.

• 7 •
    S chool was over, for the kids at least. The teachers had a few more days of postschool cleanup left, but they weren't waiting to celebrate. Everyone was