was an angel, like usual,” Mrs. Fritz adds. She’s only watched my daughter on two other occasions, but now that I have my job, she’ll be helping me out regularly.
“Why don’t you go clean up the dollies and then we’ll go home, okay?”
Lizzie nods, running off to the second bedroom where Mrs. Fritz set up a small twin-sized bed and some old garage sale toys for the kids she babysits. “She was no trouble?” I ask, taking a seat on the floral couch that’s older than me by a good decade.
“None, dear. She’s a good girl.”
I instantly smile at the compliment. Even though I might be a tad biased, I think Lizzie is a wonderful little girl. Smart, funny, and compassionate, even at the young age of three. “I’m glad to hear it. Are we okay to start tomorrow on a regular basis?”
“Yes, I’m good. Just as long as you remember I have Bingo at the community center on Wednesdays at four thirty. I never miss Bingo.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. I get off work at four, and I’ll buzz straight here to get her. You’ll be sitting in that folding chair by the time the first ball is called,” I assure her, praying I’m right. Isaac said it’s rare I’d have to stay past my four o’clock quitting time.
“Well, if anything ever happens, I supposed I could drop her off to you.”
“We’ll call that our backup plan, Mrs. Fritz. I’ll do everything in my power to get here by four-fifteen so you can get to Bingo.”
The older woman nods. “I appreciate that, dear. Coverall is creeping up again. Last time it got up to six hundred dollars before someone won it.”
Wow, six hundred dollars. What I could do with that money. Hell, I wouldn’t even complain about half of that amount. Anything to put more food on the table and make sure Lizzie has what she needs. What little savings I had went toward our move. Burgers and Brew was the third place I applied to and the first offer I received. I’d be silly not to take it, at least for now. I can rebuild my savings, and maybe then, if it’s not working out, I can find another job. Until then, I’m all-in as a day shift server at the local gourmet burger restaurant.
“I’ll run and check on Lizzie and help her clean up her mess,” I say to the old woman watching the television.
When I slip inside the small bedroom, I find my daughter throwing the last doll into the basket. I grin as she heads my way, her arms already extended up. “Thank you for picking up. You’re such a good girl,” I say before kissing her small cheek. She giggles as I use my nose to tickle the side of her neck.
“Mama, stop it!” Her laughter makes me smile and fills my heart with joy. My daughter’s happiness is my only goal in this life. To love and protect her, to give her the life she deserves.
The one we’re creating here, in Stewart Grove.
“Okay, Mrs. Fritz, I’ll see you tomorrow morning at nine forty.” I wave at the woman and lock the door behind me as I go.
Even with the open doors downstairs, the second floor is humid and stuffy. I can only imagine what the third floor is going to feel like. As we trudge up the old, dirty steps, Lizzie tells me all about her short time with Mrs. Fritz. I slip my key in the knob and release the lock, grateful to be inside. The air isn’t much cooler, but it’s better.
After relocking the door and sliding the chain into place, I say, “Let’s go see what we have for a snack.”
Lizzie grins from ear to ear. “Cheese!”
I chuckle as we head into the tiny kitchen, my foot catching on the corner of the ripped, worn linoleum. There isn’t much in the fridge, but there’s enough to get us through a few days. I’m hoping the tips start rolling in tomorrow, and we can restock the cabinets and fridge quickly.
Finding a cheddar and Colby jack cheese stick, I remove it from the wrapper, help my daughter hop up on her booster seat on one of the two chairs left by the previous tenant. No, they don’t match the table, but I don’t care. We have a place to sit and eat, and it didn’t cost me anything. I’m hoping I’ll be able to paint that too, when money starts to come