Renzo + Lucia: The Complete Trilogy - Bethany-Kris Page 0,12

have made other arrangements, and some are still in the process of finding a job or getting prepared to go out and look for a job.”

“That leaves a lot of space open.”

Laurie stopped at a second set of double doors with colorful flowers and small handprints painted on the window. “It does. I found we usually have about ten open spots, and knowing this area like I do, because I grew up around here, there are always more people in need than what we see. I put out word that the shelter daycare was going to be taking children from morning until evening, Monday through Friday.”

The woman leaned against the doors, and her gaze drifted over the hallway where cubbies had been set up with a row of small closets. Each one had a rack for shoes, and a small hook to hang a tiny coat.

“I knew by not putting it in the paper, we wouldn’t have an influx of those who really didn’t need it. Instead, I told a select few who would pass the word around to those who might not otherwise be able to afford daycare for their kids, and were barely scraping by with the arrangements they had. Some of those probably weren’t safe. I made it a first come, first served sort of thing to allow those who truly needed a safe space for their children while they went out to work, or whatever was the case. Come that first Monday, the eleven spots we had open were filled within fifteen minutes of the daycare opening.”

“And that was it?”

Because that sounded like a way for people to abuse the system, really. Lucia wasn’t exactly rude enough to say it out loud, of course, but she could think it. If all someone needed to do was get up early enough and arrive at the shelter before anyone else to get their kid into the daycare, then anyone could do it. Not just those who really needed it.

Laurie laughed like she knew exactly what was going through Lucia’s mind without being told. “We have a file on each child—those from within the shelter, and those who come into the daycare from the outside. A questionnaire has to be filled out, and everything a parent or guardian puts on it has to be validated or confirmed in one way or another.”

“Things like what?”

“Residency. Job situation. School. Whatever the case may be that causes the person to need the daycare. We also want to make sure this isn’t just a drop off for people who don’t want to see their kids for the day, you know? I get needing a break from your kids—I have three teenage boys of my own—but that’s not what this place is. But having the open spots in the daycare does help the community, so despite the logistics that we have to keep up on, I do allow it to continue.”

Lucia nodded. “I get it.”

“Good. You’re going to be a great addition here, Lucia. And I’m sure it’s going to look great in your portfolio, as well.”

She couldn’t hide the cringe that flitted over her lips at that statement. Laurie wasn’t wrong. The shelter would look good on her portfolio to the kind of people who would never matter to the people who needed to use this shelter. But to people like Lucia who needed as many good marks on her portfolio as she could get to show a board of people who someday might decide whether or not she was good enough to join their ranks—be it for furthering her education, or a job—then this volunteering gig for the shelter would certainly be great for that.

That was only part of the reason she was here. Another part of it was her need to have a little bit of freedom before she finally went off to college later in the year.

But right now?

Lucia was thinking she needed a dose of reality. She was so sheltered in her life that she’d never even had to think about what happened to people who weren’t as fortunate as her. She’d never once had to consider anything other than getting good grades. Her parents would take care of the rest.

“It’s not about the portfolio,” Lucia said as the woman opened the doors to the main section of the daycare, “I want to be here. I’d like to help.”

Laurie let out a quiet sigh. The sound reminded Lucia of the one her mother would make whenever her older brother