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Haddie
I grab my Fundamentals of Nursing textbook, my notebook, and my laptop, stuffing them into my backpack. “Only six months left,” I whisper to myself. Since my senior year of high school I’ve worked my butt off. First, it was taking all my prerequisites, and then it was starting nursing school.
Ever since I was a little girl I’ve known I wanted to be a nurse. Right now while I’m in nursing school, I work part-time as a hospice at home healthcare aide.
I go into homes and help with showering, bathing, and any other daily cares that they have trouble with themselves. I see patients who are in our hospice program, they’re at the end of their lives and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
The manager for the hospice program said she’d hire me to be one of their nurses as soon as I graduated and passed my NCLEX. Hopefully I pass them on the first try. Doing hospice I get to meet so many wonderful people. Some I get to take care of for a long time, and some are only with us for a short time.
I get strange looks when people hear I’m in nursing school, and they hear the area that I want to work in, hospice. I’ll hear people say, “Oh that’d be so sad.” or, “how morbid.” I’ve learned to ignore it.
I’m only able to work part-time while going to school, getting the bulk of my hours on the weekends, which means I don’t have much of a life, not like I did much anyway. My parents help pay for my apartment even though I’d had quite a bit in savings when I moved out. They just didn’t want me having the added stress—I’m the baby, they spoil me.
Don’t get me wrong, I could afford this place on my own, but they didn’t want me working all the time, and having it affect my studies.
I straighten up my little apartment, which thankfully takes no time at all. My dad was against me moving into my own place, which I get—my dad has always been overprotective of us girls.
My mom worked whatever magic she had on Dad, convincing him I was old enough and mature enough to live on my own. It could be possible that he didn’t want me to leave because I was the last kid at home.
You’d think after raising four kids he’d want the quiet, but they’re always having family dinners. The only one we usually miss is my brother, Parker. He’s living in Charleston right now while he does his electrician apprenticeship. In his place we’ve got Chloe, Joe’s wife. She’s amazing and I love her for my brother.
She’s pregnant with their second baby. She’d miscarried around twelve weeks the first time around, but this time she’s almost to her due date. They’re having a boy, but they aren’t going to name him until he’s born.
It seems to be babypalooza around here. My sister has four, my cousin Carrington has three, my cousin Violet has one. Soon Joe and Chloe will be adding one to the ever-growing brood. I’m not sure I want kids, but I’m only nineteen—almost twenty, I’ve got time to decide.
In the bathroom, I brush out my strawberry blonde curls and throw my hair up into a haphazard knot. I grab my toiletries and carry them into my room, tossing them into my duffle bag on top of the clothes I’m taking with me.
My sister’s husband works for the police department and needs to work third shift the next couple of nights and I’m going to go stay with them to help Abby. The kids keep her crazy busy. They’re good kids, but if I can help lighten the load, I will.
I carry my bag into the living room and set it by the door. With a quick look around, I make sure I’ve got everything. I throw my backpack over both of my shoulders, and grab my duffle bag. I step outside, it’s still freaking hot out, and it’s seven o’clock.
I shlep my bags to my tricked out candy apple red Toyota Corolla. I bought it off a friend of my brother-in-law’s. The color was custom, the windows are tinted, it’s got a sweet moonroof—I don’t know about the engine, but it’s really fast and purrs like a kitten.
I toss my bags in the backseat and shut the door.
“Haddie!” I close my eyes, sucking in a breath, and turn to fake smile at my neighbor, Lance. He can be irritating sometimes and constantly asks me out. “Where are you off to?”
I have to constantly go down to his apartment and tell him to turn his music down. I still haven’t figured out what he does for a living. I know he works from home, and it’s something with computers.
“I’m heading to my sister’s.” I open the driver’s side door, “Well, it was good seeing you.”
Lance grabs the top of my door—I freaking hate when he does this. “I’m having a party this weekend. Say you’ll come.”
Because I’m a glutton for punishment I always say yes, and I always go. He’s harmless, as are his friends. I shouldn’t say it’s punishment because I do enjoy myself, We’re just very different and have nothing in common. “I’ll try to make it, but you know I work every weekend.”
He does a fist pump. “That’s great. Everyone is going to be stoked to see you.” Lance steps back from my door. “Tell Abby I said what’s up?”
I nod, and give him a wave.
Reaching Abby’s, I pull into the driveway next to Ben’s cruiser. I climb out and then grab my bags. My niece, Natalie, opens the front door and comes running out to me.
“You’re here.” I drop my bags and pick her up. “I’ve missed you, Aunt Haddie.”
“I’ve missed you too.” I set her down and she tries to carry my book bag, which is heavy. I swap her and give her my duffle bag.
Inside the house is pure chaos—my nephews come tearing through the house. The boys, Rion and Dalton, are only a year apart. Princess Paisley tries to catch up with them until she sees me, and changes course.
“Pay pay.” I squat down and she flings herself at me. She looks more and more like her big sister. They both have light tanned skin, hazel eyes, and light brown curls.
