AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She follows my lead, wearing that same gentle smile on her face.
“I really do wish you two the best of luck, Layla. Life has been unnecessarily cruel to you both, and I wish I could tell you that you are an exception to what I see coming into the office every day, but files like yours are more common than I’d like them to be. It would do my heart good knowing that at least you girls were heading on a different path—one filled with joy instead of tears.”
Again, my heart feels like it’s being squeezed into a pulp with her words, but they give me the necessary strength to walk out her door with my head held high.
Since her office is smack-dab in the city center, I take advantage of being here and start walking down the busy streets of New York, praying that I’ll find a help wanted sign somewhere.
I’m not naïve enough to think I’ll get some paid desk job at my age with my lack of experience, but I can cook and clean. I’ve had plenty of practice these last few years to prove it. I stare up at all the tall buildings, wondering if there is a family or a single mom or even a single dad who needs someone to give them a hand around the house.
I guess there is only one way to find out.
With rigid shoulders, I start to walk toward a lobby of a swanky building, only to be stopped by a doorman.
“Anything I can help you with, miss?” He eyes me up and down, and I know by the raggedy chucks I have on, he can tell I don’t belong here.
“Maybe.” I paste on a smile, hoping it does the trick of easing his stiff upper lip.
Unfortunately, when his bushy brows come together at the bridge of his nose, I know a nice smile won’t get me through this building’s doors.
“I . . . Um . . . Do you know if anyone in this building needs a maid? Or a cook? Maybe a family who has small children and is looking for a nanny? Maybe? Anything like that?”
His eyes keep trailing up and down my body, and unlike the way Uncle Dave sometimes looks at me, or even my evil stepfather used to back in the day, this man’s glare holds nothing remotely close to sexual interest. It’s the look someone gives another when they think they are out of their depth.
It’s pity mixed with a smidge of worry that someone might walk by and see me standing here talking to him, polluting that perfect IG lifestyle the people living inside this building wish to maintain.
“No one here matches what you’re looking for,” he replies with a strict tone.
“Oh.” I kick the ground at my feet. “Well, thank you anyway,” I reply on autopilot, turning my back on him so I can continue my search.
I only have a few more hours before I have to return to Charleston and back to Aunt Lucy. She was okay with me coming into the city today, thinking it preferable that I see my social worker at her office than have Ms. Berry make an unannounced social call at her place.
If there is one thing my aunt hates more than me, it’s having to fake that she likes me for the sole benefit of getting child services off her ass. I know she gets paid for having Zoey and me living with her, but whatever the amount is, it must be pretty low since my aunt doesn’t seem to think it’s enough to justify nice treatment, even if only for an hour while Ms. Berry takes inventory of our care.
I’m just a few steps away from the building when the doorman behind me calls out for my attention.
“Miss? Miss?”
“Yes?” I ask, confused on why he’s calling me since it was very apparent he didn’t want me loitering in front of his building.
He takes a few steps toward me but stops when he’s satisfied that there is still a safe distance between us—enough that people passing by might think he’s only giving me directions or something. I guess I do look like I’m lost and in no way, shape, or form belong in this side of the city, much less this street.
“I’m sorry if I came off rude before,” he says, a little contrite.
“I don’t think you were being rude, just merely doing your job of keeping people like me away.” His shoulders slump, and his severe expression morphs into that god-awful pitying look I despise. “No need to apologize. I understand. I’ll be on my way,” I add, turning my back to him again.
“Wait,” he pleads, taking another step closer to me and coaxing me to face him. “How old are you? Nineteen? Twenty, maybe?”
“It’s actually my eighteenth birthday today.”
He lets out an aggrieved exhale. “Damn it. I knew you were just a child.”
“Believe me, sir, I haven’t been a child in years,” I rebuke a bit too harshly.
He takes a long look at me, and to my confusion, smiles. “I have two daughters roughly around your age. I’ve made it my life’s mission to make them comfortable enough that they don’t have to have the spirit you do now.”
“Good for them,” I reply sarcastically then bite the inside of my cheek for being so mean. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m glad your girls have a father who cares enough for them to give them a good life.”
His smile is timid, but I see that my words hit a chord inside him. “You’ve been to hell and back, haven’t you, kid?”
