Page 41 of Nyx

"Could I have a piece of it?" Caroline asks. "I'd like something that reminds me of my mom in my room."

"Of course," Juliet responds.

"Let's talk about goals set a little further in the future," Em says. "Traci, what do you want to do after the babies are born and you're recovered?"

"I want to get a job," she answers.

"We'll help you with that," Juliet assures her.

"I don't even know how to fill out an application," she mutters.

"And we'll help you with that, too. There's no failure in not knowing how to do something. Do you know what you'd like to do?" Juliet asks.

"Anything but fast food. I don't want to come home to the babies smelling like grease," Traci answers.

"Understandable," Em says.

"And some place that will let me pump. I want to breastfeed for as long as possible."

"We have a list of postpartum-friendly places in town," Em says. "I'll make sure it's updated with those who are hiring before it's time for you to start looking."

"That would be great," Traci says. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome," Em replies. "Caroline? What about your longer-term goals?"

The meeting continues, and to an outsider it might seem a little juvenile and frou-frou, but having come from a home with a woman simply trying to survive in an abusive situation, I can see how the simplicity of it might be needed for these women to succeed.

A lot of women go back to their abusers because it's hard work to make it on their own. Celebrating small wins and setting simple goals gives them the ability to start learning that they don't have to suffer at the hands of another to be successful in life.

The meeting concludes, and just as I suspected earlier, Holler is ready to head back to the back once it's over.

I head to the front to finish the rest of my shift, knowing I probably won't leave until after Juliet does.

Chapter 12

Juliet

"Very good," Beth says to Dean when he gets a question right. "Now try this one. It requires the same steps as the last one."

"She's really good with kids," I whisper in the doorway.

"The best," Em says, a smile on her face as she watches Beth with the kids when I look over at her.

Victoria walks past, catching my attention, and I turn to watch her open the front door.

A tall woman, slender to the point of looking almost malnourished, steps inside.

"That one out there?" she says, looking at Victoria as she hitches a thumb over her shoulder. "Dark, broody, and full of anger. What I wouldn't give to have him... oh. Hi," she says when she looks at me.

Leona Clark is the only visitor on today's list, so I know who she is.

"Ms. Clark," Emmalyn says as she turns to greet the woman. "What have I told you about shopping for a man in the club?"

Leona smiles widely, making me believe that she's not as grotesque as I initially thought. She doesn't seem at all bashful about her appraisal of the guy standing out front.

I don't know how often they change shifts, but it was the same man from my interview when I arrived for the day. Knowing it's him annoys me for some reason, not that I have any claim or ownership over anyone.

"That I'd immediately have buyer's remorse because he wouldn't let me live the same life I'm living now," she says with a quick laugh.