AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hello,” she answered.
He cleared his throat. “Is everything okay? The school called and said Ivy didn't come today.”
She got so distracted dressing Ivy and doing her hair that she'd forgotten to call them. “I'm so sorry. Rachel and Ivy slept late. I figured Ivy needed to eat before school and seeing the shape Rachel was in, I didn't want to leave that up to her, so I brought her to Cricket's Diner. I intended to call the school, but I forgot. I'm so sorry.”
He let out a deep exhale. “I'm relieved. I thought maybe my mother had absconded with her.”
“Would she do that?”
“I wouldn't put it past her these days.” A phone rang in the background. “I have to go, but when I get back, can we talk? I have something I need help with.”
“Yes, without a doubt.”
He hung up, and she thought about what he might need. A new nanny, for sure. Realtor, local secretary, tutor? It hardly mattered because it looked like she'd have plenty of time on her hands and was more than willing to help. Just that morning, Charlotte had spoken to the insurance company, and she was certain that she had made serious errors, most notably hiring the restoration company before the adjuster arrived at the location. Everyone knew she shot first and aimed later, and this was no different. Her knee-jerk reaction was to hire someone right away. With any luck, the restoration team had taken photos of the store before they began the work, in addition to Charlotte's photos of the space after being finished.
Cricket set down two drinks—a coffee and a hot chocolate—alongside the breakfasts they had ordered. When Charlotte asked for the bill, Cricket shook her head.
“Not today. It's part of the Willow Bay flood relief fund.”
“Cricket, I'm not a charity case.”
Cricket shrugged. “I know. So ... let's pretend this is like one of those casseroles we deliver. Let's face it, your shop bit the dust. Seems appropriate.”
She had no words except, “Thank you.”
“I'm not charging for the meal, but don't skimp on the tip. The waitstaff here is top-notch.” Cricket laughed all the way to the kitchen.
Ivy ate her pancakes and drank her hot chocolate with enthusiasm, while Charlotte only ate a few bites of hers. She was too stressed to take much pleasure in the meal. Although Cricket’s kind gesture of providing breakfast had brightened her day.
Finally, it was time to go. Charlotte left a generous tip and said goodbye to Cricket before heading out with Ivy. They got into the car and drove a few blocks until they reached the school.
“Don't forget to go to the library after school and Marybeth will bring you home. You'll eat school lunch all week.” She pulled through the drop off lane and one volunteer opened the back door for Ivy, and she climbed out. She took off running toward the door but stopped and turned around and blew Charlotte a kiss.
Her heart felt like it would explode with happiness. She blew Ivy a kiss back and watched her disappear into the crowd before turning around and heading back home.
Now she would focus on what she was going to do about the store. She was determined to get it restored and running again as soon as possible. She had no choice.
As her car came to a stop in the driveway, Charlotte noticed Rachel was sitting on the front porch swing while a suitcase was propped on the first step. Her initial feeling of warmth from saying goodbye to Ivy was replaced by an icy sense of dread.
She climbed out of the car and made her way to the porch. “Hey Rachel, what's up?” She stared down at the suitcase.
Rachel stopped swinging and rose to her feet. “I can't do it anymore.”
Charlotte stood still, bracing herself for what she knew was coming. Rachel bent over and gripped the handle of the suitcase before stepping closer, so that only a whisper of salty air passed between them. “What can't you do?” Charlotte asked, leaning against the banister for support.
“I messed up last night, but honestly, my heart isn't in any of this. It was a summer gig and summer ended weeks ago. I didn’t sign up to be an end-of-life nurse or a full-time mother. It’s just too much. If I leave now, I can still enroll in a few classes, but if I don't, I'll have to wait until next semester, and I don't want to wait that long.”
“Did you tell Bastien you're leaving?” By the looks of it, Rachel wasn't staying another second, and Bastien wasn't around to take over.
By the fall of her head, she knew Rachel hadn't before she shook her head. “I don't know what to say.”
“Exactly what you told me.”
“I know, but he'll try to talk me into staying.”
Charlotte took several breaths. “What about Ivy?”
Rachel clasped her suitcase to her chest and shut her eyes tight. “Can you watch her until he returns?” Tears slid down her face. “It's too much for me to handle. I watched her mom die and teach her little girl to accept it, move on, and keep her memory alive with joy and a love of life. Damn, I barely knew her and I’m not moving on, let alone feeling joy. I don’t feel like I can live up to Ivy. She’s five and handling life better than me. I don’t want any of this. I’m 19 years old, not old like you.” Charlotte bristled a little at the thought of being called old, but she got the point. “People are expecting way too much from me. You all live in some kind of bubble where everyone pitches in and looks after each other. It’s great until it gets real, and I end up taking the place of a dead mother to an active little girl twenty-four hours a day. I have to go.”
