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Especially with Taylor’s insurance career taking off.
After five years, I was sure she was tired of hosting the two of us, even if she never said anything. Taylor had been the kind of friend who stayed up late into the night, helping me figure out diaper changes and the best feeding times. Without her, I had no idea how I would’ve managed the past five years, much less how I would’ve raised Ron as a single, struggling mom.
Living in LA wasn’t what I thought it would be.
Not only was I still bouncing from one job to the next, struggling to find some stability and consistency, but I was also no closer to finding my own place. Given how generous Taylor had been, the last thing I wanted was to continue to take advantage of her kindness.
“You sure you want to send him this year?” Taylor looked at me over her spoon, her eyebrows drawn together. “You could probably get away with not sending him another year.”
I licked ice cream off my spoon and exhaled. “I could, but I don’t think I should. He didn’t get to stay in nursery for long, remember?”
Although the nursery in Taylor’s block had been a good fit, keeping Ron occupied for hours at a time and introducing him to all sorts of friends, I hadn’t been able to keep him therelong. Between my hours at the restaurant and the nights I spent cleaning, I hadn’t been able to scrape up enough to keep him there.
Ron had been devastated and spent a whole week sulking and pouting.
I hadn’t known what to do.
Thankfully, he’d long since forgiven me and moved past it.
Taylor cracked open her can of iced tea and took a few sips. “Yeah, but it’s not your fault. You did your best.”
I set down my spoon and ran a hand over my face. “I need something that pays better and has steadier hours.”
Taylor nodded and set down her own spoon. “I wish we were hiring, but you know we’ve been on a hiring freeze for the past two years.”
I reached across the table and took Taylor’s hand in mine. “Tay, you’ve already done a lot for us. I’m not going to ask you to do this too.”
Taylor shook her head. “You know I’ve loved having the two of you here, Rach. It’s been a lot less lonely.”
“And a lot messier,” I added with a small smile. “And loud.”
Taylor squeezed my hand. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, and you know that.”
Without Taylor, I don’t know what would’ve become of us.
Convincing me to keep Ron had been the best thing she could’ve done for me.
Ron filled my life with so much meaning and purpose that it was hard for me to imagine doing any of this without him. Now and again, I tried to picture what my life would’ve been like if he hadn’t come along, but all I kept seeing was myself at La Mesa, stuck with Ander as a boss while my life passed me by.
“I hope you don’t end up regretting it,” I admitted in a quieter voice. “Seriously, Tay. You have no idea how thankful I am for you.”
Taylor gave my hand another squeeze before straightening her back. “That’s what friends are for. You don’t have to keep thanking me all the time.”
“How else am I going to express my gratitude?”
Taylor raised an eyebrow. “Rach, you clean the whole house, do the laundry, and cook. That’s thanks enough as far as I’m concerned, especially because you know you don’t have to do any of that.”
“I want to,” I told her with a smile. “It makes me feel useful.”
And it kept me from agonizing over my CV and why the job offers were few and far between. While I knew that not having a college degree made it difficult for me to rise in the world, I also had a ton of experience in all sorts of fields, and I hoped it was enough.
It had to be.
Otherwise, I was going to be stuck hustling for minimum wage for the rest of my life. For Ron’s sake, I wanted to do more.
I wanted to do better.
On the kitchen counter, Taylor’s phone buzzed. She picked it up and sighed. “I’ve got a few emails to send out and a few phone calls to make. You good?”
