Page 6 of Naughty Heart

Lately—for at least the last four months or so—it had certainly felt like I’d been dealing with more than my fair share of troubles in life.

I was accustomed to hardship. I’d dealt with a lot over the course of my life. But these last few months had been particularly trying.

So, sitting on the bus as I rode to work this morning, the sight of all the decorations and people walking around, smiling and feeling festive even at the early hour, made me feel some of the same. My Christmas holiday was going to look vastly different than most others, but I still tried to get into the holiday spirit and enjoy the season.

One day, things would turn around for me.

I wholeheartedly believed that would be the case. I mean, life couldn’t be this cruel. From just a few months after I turned eighteen until now, it seemed it had been one bad thing after another.

I’d taken it all, rolling with the punches. What else could I do?

And it was disappointing. Of course, it was. But I had to believe the struggle would all be worth it in the end. There had to be something good somewhere down the road for me.

Until that time, I had to do what I could to look on the bright side and see the best in every situation. If I didn’t, it would eat me alive.

The frustration, disappointment, and heartache had gotten me down several times over the years, so I knew where it could lead.

As long as I kept doing what I was supposed to do, I’d hopefully get to where I was going.

And it was Christmas, right?

Santa knew I’d been nice. I’d been extra nice. That had to count for something.

And when things turned around for me, I’d still be in the place I loved to live. That place being Landing and not necessarily the apartment where I was currently residing.

I continued to stare out the window at the decorated lampposts and store fronts while I thought about my apartment. There were no decorations to be found there, and that was because I’d faced quite a bit of hardship recently when it came to my living situation.

That hardship—and betrayal—had led to things getting particularly tight when it came to my finances. And now I was behind on rent. Fortunately, my landlord was being reasonable, but I knew his generosity was only going to last so long.

On the bright side, it was Friday, which also meant it was payday. It was crazy because although I often felt relief and excitement about payday, there was another feeling that would settle in later in the day, after I went home and assessed my situation. I’d budget the money I’d brought in, and it would whittle away so quickly. Though I’d be able to get myself one step closer to being caught up, I’d still be behind. And I suspected it was going to be that way for several months.

Eventually, the bus came to my stop. After offering a friendly smile to the woman who’d been sitting beside me, I exited and started my walk to the building where I worked, Hilborne Art Supply. My job duties had seemed to vary over the course of time I’d been working for the art supply manufacturer, but I’d always been a factory worker. It was merely that when the seasons changed, sometimes my duties changed with them.

I made it to the parking lot and immediately felt the smile form on my face as I saw my two closest friends, Pam and Cheryl, standing beside their cars. Even in the cold, this had sort of become our thing. We met up in the parking lot each morning to chat with each other for a few minutes.

Although we worked together in the fast-paced work environment, there wasn’t a lot of time to socialize. We wouldn’t get another chance until lunch.

Just like always, Pam saw me making my approach, and she lifted a hand to wave at me. The smile on my face grew as I waved back, and Cheryl turned around to do the same.

Two of the only bright lights left in my life; I adored Pam and Cheryl, and I was so grateful for their friendship.

Aside from being employed and having an income, Pam and Cheryl were my other reasons for liking my job. If I didn’t have them, I wasn’t so sure I’d get through the days as easily.

“Good morning, Evelyn.”

“Morning, Pam. Cheryl.”

“Morning.”

“What’s going on?” I asked. “You two look like you’re dreading heading into work even more than usual.”

Cheryl shook her head. “I don’t think it’s more than usual. I think I’m just ready for the weekend.”

My brows shot up, silently questioning her. “Do you have big plans?”

“Scott planned a romantic holiday getaway,” she shared, hearts in her eyes. “He won’t tell me where we’re going. He just said to make sure I have my bag packed as soon as I get home from work, because we’re leaving when he arrives home a half hour after I do.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “That sounds incredible.”