AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I already owed Thelma for the Uber and the plane ticket.
“Snow White!” Ivy shouted, frantically waving from the swing as she pumped her little legs. Grayson was digging in the dirt at the base of the slide.
I waved.
“Come here!” she yelled. She turned a commanding expression at her dad. “Daddy, stop the swing.” Her voice carried across the street. Powerful lungs on that one.
His frown deepened when his gaze touched on me. I was in a souvenirNorth Dakota—Legendaryshirt from the airport and a pair of cutoffs quickly made from an old pair of Thelma’s jeans from the nineties. They were back in style now—a win was a win, and I’d take all I could get. My only other outfits were the velour tracksuit and the extra shorts and shirt I had packed. Those were in the laundry, and I didn’t have money to buy more.
I needed to find an income. I needed to secure Mom’s care and figure out how to get my accounts free of Frederick.
“I’m sure she’s busy,” the hot dad uttered. I never got his name.
“No, she’s not,” Ivy insisted. “Snow White, come here!”
I could pretend I was busy, but I couldn’t resist getting under the disgruntled man’s skin. He wasn’t Frederick, but my pride needed the boost. I sauntered across the quiet street, struggling not to put an extra sway in my hips. A silver band on the man’s left hand that I hadn’t noticed earlier when I was ogling his pecs glinted in the sunlight. My walk turned stiff. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, nor was I looking to interfere in a marriage. I’d had enough angry wives, girlfriends, and mistresses up in my business for doing nothing but my job—which didn’t include flirting or fucking with their man. Usually, I flirted with the women when I worked the crowd before my show—better tips and less jealousy that way. My performances were for the audience, not any one individual. But that didn’t stop the rest of the bullshit I dealt with.
His words carried toward me as I stepped off the road and onto the grass. “Her name’s Tova.”
My steps stuttered. I didn’t think a guy like him would be bothered to remember. Frederick had called me Fannie Grace until our third date.
“She looks like Snow White,” Ivy said.
I’d take her compliment. I was dressed like the airport had lost my luggage.
“Princesses recognize each other,” I said, twisting my hair over one shoulder so it wouldn’t tangle in the breeze. I’d always enjoyed working with kids and their youthful exuberance and energy.
Ivy’s grin melted my heart. She fluffed her skirt and tried to bow. Her hair was a few shades lighter than mine, and her ponytail was crooked. Was her mom in the picture? Not that moms couldn’t be crap at doing hair. When my grandma styled my hair, I looked like I’d been run through a car wash.
“Do you know how to curtsy?” I asked. Ivy shook her head. I lifted my chin, adopted an imperial expression, and waved to the spot next to me. “Come, I’ll show you.”
She jumped off the swing and stopped beside me. I grabbed at my imaginary skirt. “Now, watch my feet.” I put my right foot back. “Keep both feet straight. There you go. Now bend your knees.”
“Isn’t it like this?” She dropped to a low bow and stumbled sideways.
“Are we doing Disney bows or royal bows?”
Grayson jogged toward us. “Whatcha doing?”
“Curtyseeing,” Ivy said in a singsong voice.
He positioned his feet to mimic us.
A warm wall of heat hit my side. The dad approached us, a scowl in place. I tensed, waiting to get yelled at for his son trying to curtsy.
“You have to bow, Grayson,” Ivy said hotly. “You’re aboy.”
Grayson’s lips pursed a lot like his dad’s. Scowls ran strong in this family. “You don’t know how to bow.”
“You do it like this!” She swooped into a low bow, crossing an arm over her waist.
Surprisingly, the dad didn’t speak up, like he was waiting to see how his kids handled the disagreement.
Grayson did a perfunctory bow.
“That’s pretty good,” I said. “Do either of you know how to do a stage bow?”
The boy wrinkled his nose. “Is there a difference?”
