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“Yes, sir?” He answered.
“I need you to come pick me up. By the library near South Street.”
“Of course, sir.” Five minutes passed, and he pulled up in front of me. After entering the car, he spoke.
“To headquarters, sir?” He asked.
“You know it, George.” He pulled off, and I turned on my phone to answer a few of the hundreds of emails I received this morning. As I tried to concentrate, the image of Brielle kept clouding my head. It seemed that she didn’t know the slightest bit about me, and I obviously knew nothing of her.. but just the thought of her made the hand that just shook her own twitch. For some reason, I felt the need to see her again.
Chapter two
Brielle
Looking back to the shelves, I groaned internally as the blush refused to leave my face. Walking back to the cart, I started to push to the next book aisle I had to fill. As I entered the horror section, I took a sip from the latte Delilah had gotten me.
I would have to talk to her more about running off, but being surrounded by books and toys she’s played with repeatedly, she was bound to find something else to occupy her time. I knew she was only trying to be nice. She doesn’t know I’m struggling with money at the moment.
If I had help from my family, I feel I wouldn’t be stressing as much. My parents were always a bit distant during my childhood, and just the fact that they left me alone in my childhood home one day when I was 17 with just $1,000 and a note broke my heart. I had to get a job and learn how to manage our home because my sister had also decided I would be fine on my own.
It was only when she called me to come to visit her in the hospital that I got to see her after seven months. However, when I arrived at the hospital and went to her room, she was nowhere to be found. I found Delilah in an incubator since she was premature, and I didn’t leave the hospital until she was able to.
I smiled at the thought of the doctors and nurses who thought I was crazy. They even ensured I showered and ate three meals every day. I only left to get baby supplies from the Target across the street. I never got anything for me, only for her. And every time I finished, I walked right back over to the hospital.
I was given legal rights to take care of her since I’d turned 18 and her mother was gone. I named her Delilah Newman, and after three long weeks, I was finally able to take her home. A month after realizing I couldn’t manage a baby, my job, and the house bills, we moved to the tiny one-bedroom apartment I have now.
I’m thankful both of my bosses never mind that Delilah came to work with me daily. They loved her. They’ve supported me the most, and I couldn’t be more appreciative. I never got to go to college or live out any of the dreams I had when I was younger. My only wish is that I can send Delilah off to college so she can pursue her own dreams.
I turned towards the cart and began to fill the shelves. Being a bit short, it took me a lot longer than others to get things done. Soon, I’d grabbed the final book off the cart and put it in its place. When I checked the time, it was already 1 PM. I walked over to the kids’ section and saw Delilah reading in one of the bean bag chairs. I wandered over to her and crouched down.
“Hi, baby.” She closed the book and grinned up at me.
“Hi, Bribri.”
“Do you want some lunch? I have your favorite.” She squealed as she jumped off the chair and grabbed my hand. I laughed as she pulled me over to the back storage room, which I now used as a lunchroom. I grabbed the lunch bag on the table and handed her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“Thank you,” she said politely as I set a small water bottle for her.
“You’re welcome, baby.” I used to tell her daily always to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ I didn’t want her to grow up being impolite. Now she’s so good, I don’t have to remind her.
We talked about her interests for a while as we ate, and when we finished, I sent her back to the kids’ section. Grabbing the romance and erotica book cart, I rolled it over to the aisle. I picked up each book and blushed slightly as I put them in their proper places. I’ve never been the one to read romance books, much less erotica. Though.. it always crossed my mind that testing those waters would never hurt.
A few hours passed by, and Mr. Burkley came and found me. He was a nice older man. He ensured he wasn’t out of shape and kept his look fresh.
“Brielle, it’s already six. You should be getting home. Don’t worry, I’ll finish up here.” I put the book down and turned to him.
“Are you sure? My shift’s not over for another 45 minutes.”
“I’m quite sure, sweetheart. You have helped me more than enough already.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, and he nodded his head.
I walked towards the back, and he called my name. “Brielle?” I turned to him and gave him my attention.
“If you need any help… You come find me, okay?” I smiled again.
“Yes, I know, Mr. Burkley. You tell me every day.” I waved goodbye and walked to my back table. With the help I get from him, I make sure to keep it at a minimum. I don’t want people to think I’m a charity case.
But with Mr. Burkley, you never know what you’ll get. Two months ago, when I called out sick, he came to my apartment with a few pizza boxes, saying he didn’t want his favorite girls to be hungry. He also brought me over some medication for me to take, and still, to this day, he continues to be as caring as he was.
