and went to The Blue Mesa to work for a pittance because they were willing to pay her under the table and not ask questions.
Her mom got off work just in time to drive her rusted out Chrysler Cordoba to the kid’s school and pick them all up. Then, after her shift was over, Luci would come and get them. They usually ate dinner together and then she took the kids home, gave them a bath, read them a bedtime story, and put them to bed.
Then she got up the next day and did it all over again.
Only how am I going to do it without a car? Luci wondered worriedly. How am I going to get the kids to school tomorrow?
She supposed she would have to get everyone up when her mom got up and drop her mom off at work before she borrowed her mom’s car to take the kids to school. Then she could bring the car back to her mom and take a bus to her own work. After work, she would take the bus to her mom’s house to collect the kids. But without a car, she would have to drag them all home on public transport and what would they do the next day? And the next and the next—without a car, her life became about a hundred times more complicated.
What was she going to do?
Luci sighed and put her head in her hands. Despite the hardships of living below the poverty line, she usually thought her divorce from Tony had been worth it. Frannie was starting to lose the timid, frightened look she’d worn all the time and the twins no longer started howling when someone walked into the room. Her children were happier and emotionally healthier and so was she. Also, none of them were walking on eggshells anymore, afraid that any little thing they did or said would set Tony off.
Another good thing was that Luci got to work with animals, as she had always wanted to—and keep pets too, which Tony had never allowed, except for Lady, which her mom had gotten for the kids when he was gone on a business trip. He had flown into a rage when he’d seen the puppy but Luci had managed to sell him on the idea of the dog as a protector—to keep them all safe from burglars whenever he was out of town.
Her ex had always hated the dog though, a feeling which Lady returned with a vengeance. She was one reason Luci had felt safe enough to tell Tony she was divorcing him in the first place. Though Lady was supposed to be the kids’ pet, she was fiercely protective of Luci herself. She had growled menacingly and wouldn’t allow Tony to lay a hand on Luci during the heated conversation when she told him she was leaving for good.
But despite the good things that had come out of leaving her abusive ex, right at that moment, Luci couldn’t help wishing she was back at the neat little house in Carrollwood where she had lived when she was still married. After all, when Tony was away on one of his frequent business trips, the little house had been a place of peace and love.
Her mom had come over to help with the babies and they had laughed and played and baked together, filling the air with the warm smell of her mom’s menudo and tamales. She had told Frannie and the twins stories of their abuelo, who they had never gotten to know, since he had died before Luci had gotten married.
Back then, Luci had never had to worry about whether she would have enough money to feed herself and her kids and the pets, or if her car would last for a few more years so she could keep getting herself to work and the kids to school. She hadn’t had to worry about anything except…
Except when Tony was going to hit you or shout at you or scream at the kids, Luci reminded herself firmly. Stop wishing for the past and look to the future, Lucia! Things will work out somehow.
Though she had no idea how.
When the bus came to her stop, Luci left with a sigh. She knew she would be getting right back on in a few minutes, as soon as she had gotten a change of scrubs for herself and clothes for the kids. They would have to stay at her mom’s place tonight, which