9. Chapter Eight
Thank you so much for watching her, Janie said.
Joann, her sister, took Eleanor once or twice a month to hang out with her children. It was a time that Janie could do the things she needed to without having to get a babysitter. It also gave her a couple hours to herself.
It was nice but Janie always missed her daughter by the end of the day. It was a struggle. She wanted a couple hours to herself, but at the same time she didnt.
No need to thank me, Joann said. Brax and Mila are super excited to have her over.
Her kids were three and two years old. They were precious and every once in a while she would look after them, but it was rare. She was a single mom and worked. Whereas her sister was married and was a stay at home mom.
Well, Im saying thank you anyway, she said. What do you have planned today for them?
Always worrying about her. Ive got two kids. I know how to keep them safe and entertained, her sister said.
Janie let out a sigh. Sorry. Its a habit.
Joann waved her hand in the air. I was just teasing. I do the same thing when my husband takes the kids somewhere.
She nodded her head and hoped that she wouldnt have to ask the question again. She hated bugging her sister, but she wanted to know where Eleanor was going to be. What if something happened? What if she needed to get Eleanor?
Were going to an interactive museum, Joann said. I have to warn you that once were in there, I wont be able to take them out.
What kind of place doesnt let you take them out? She asked. Should I be worried?
Janie didnt like the sound of that place.
Until they are done with the interactive tour. Itll be an hour tops before I take them back to my house to eat and hang out, Joann said. You dont need to worry about anything. They just dont want people to leave in the middle. I honestly dont know the reason behind it, but I sighed a box saying I understood.
Janie didnt know if she liked the sound of that.
Are you sure its okay? Janie asked. Maybe Eleanor should stay home.
Calm down, Joann said. My kids have been through it before and they absolutely loved it. I thought Eleanor would like to go. its perfectly safe.
Unease still filled Janie. What place didnt let people leave until they were done with the whole tour?
Today is your day off to get things done, Joann said. Im taking Eleanor and youre having this day. Ill drop her off later.
Are you sure? Janie asked. Im sorry, I just, are you sure?
Joann wrapped her arms around Janie. Its okay. Im sure that everything is going to be okay. If anything happens youre my first call.
Okay, she whispered. Thank you.
Enjoy your day, Joann said as she winked at her.
Janie looked at her with confusion. Her sister never winked at her before when she left. Did she know something was going to happen that she didnt? She wouldnt put it past her sister to do something like that.
Say bye-bye to your mom, Joann said.
Eleanor waved her hand and Joann closed the door. Janie took a deep breath as she got in the car and pulled out of the driveway. No matter how many times she did this, it never got easier.
Janie headed back into her house and let out a breath. She had finished editing a manuscript earlier than she thought she would. Normally, she would go celebrate but she didnt feel like it. She still had another manuscript she needed to start in the next couple of days.
But Janie needed to go out and buy a couple of things. She needed pads and tampons for one. She was almost out, a girl never wanted to be out of those two things. She also needed to get some pain killers and candy. Janie wanted to be fully prepared when the time came.
Would the candy be gone before her period started? Sure, but that meant she could get more if she needed to. And she wanted to. There was no limit on how much candy she could have.
Janie grabbed her purse and keys. She really wanted to be lazy and not leave, but this needed to be done. Walking out of the door, she took a deep breath in and headed towards her car.
Pinky! Mac yelled, but she ignored him.
She really didnt want to talk to him right now. She hadnt since he took her home from the club. Since he asked her to forgive him and told her he was going to fight for both of them.
She also didnt know what his obsession with calling her Pinky came from. He had just recently started to call her that. Her favorite color was pink, but that couldnt be it.
Janie! I know you can hear me! he yelled again. Please, I just want to talk.
She unlocked her door and quickly opened it, hoping in the car.
Pinky! I know you can hear me, he said. Turn around and lets talk for a second.
Janie let out a sigh and turned in her seat so she could see him. Mac was standing right next to her.
How fast was he walking to get to her?
Yes, she asked. What do you need?
He looked at her and then at the steering wheel.
Is it safe for you to drive? he asked.
She gave him a confused look. Why wouldnt it be safe for her to drive? She wasnt sick or anything.
Of course it is, she replied. Im not sick.
Can you even see over the steering wheel? he asked.
Anger bubbled inside of her. Why was he asking her these questions?
Of course, I fucking can, she said and cringed. She didnt like cursing but when someone got on her nerves, sometimes it slipped out. Sorry, she whispered. I didnt mean to curse.
He shook his head. Can you see everything?
Im perfectly fine! she raised her voice. Ive been driving for years in this car.
Mac looked down at her feet and back up towards her, almost like he was assessing everything.
Maybe I should get you a booster seat, he said. But then how would you reach the pedals?
I dont need a booster seat, she said.
Can you reach the pedals? he asked. Try and reach them now so I can see.
I dont need to show you! I can reach the pedals just fine and I can also see everything.
He looked at her. Please.
No, she replied. What do you want? I have places to go.
Mac sighed but gave her a smile. Maybe Ill buy you a booster seat for your car. Im already getting you one for my car.
You. Are. Not, she said through her clenched jaw. Im not a child.
No, but you are a Little. I want you safe at all times, he said.
She glared at him. What do you want?
He gave her another smile. Do you want to get lunch?
Janie shook her head. No.
Oh, come on. I know you have the day off.
She stared at him in shock. How do you know that? she asked.
Your sister, he replied and shrugged his shoulders.
Why was he talking to her sister? I need to talk to my sister, she grumbled. No way should she have been talking to you. Her sister had no right to tell Mac that she had the day off. She shouldnt have.
It wasnt her information to give out, she mumbled. I should get on her phone and block your number on there.
Pinky, Mac said.
Give her a piece of my mind for what she did.
Pinky.
Tell her off.
Janie.
Make her know that its not okay.
Janie Williams! Mac yelled.
She glared at him. What?
Your sister was just trying to do something nice.
She scoffed. How was her sister trying to do something nice? Nice? How? She asked.
She wanted you to have company. She knows that I’m interested in you, Mac said. I was going to ask you soon anyways if you wanted to get lunch or dinner.
And you took time off work or do you have to go to work? she asked. How did she feel about him taking the day off? She didnt even know if he had taken the day off.
Its my day off, he replied. I didnt plan it. It just happened to be that way.
She sighed and closed her eyes. No, I dont want to eat with you, she said. But she did. Mac was great company and if she knew she wouldnt fall for him more, she would have lunch with him.
She would have it in a heartbeat. But she knew she was going to fall for him more if she did.
Please? he asked. I would love to. Or dinner tonight.
Janie shook her head. Ive got some things I need to do. She felt guilty. She knew that she could have lunch or dinner with him and still have plenty of time to get her errands done.
Okay. Thats okay. Ill leave you alone now. If you need anything, you have my number, he said. And I mean anything.
Janie nodded her head and took a breath in. Guilt was forming even more in her stomach as he stepped away. She had no doubt her sister probably told him the other day and he took today off to hang out with her.
She opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it.
If anything happens, Ill call you, she said.
Promise? he asked.
She nodded her head, not able to bring herself to say those words. She knew that it would be the last resort. Janie didnt like to bother people.
I know you think that its going to bug me if you call or text me for help, Mac said. But I want you to know that its not. Im here for you whenever you need it. In the middle of the night? Im there.
Okay, she whispered. Ill try.
Ill see you later, Pinky. Drive safe.
Mac closed her door and walked back to his house. What was she going to do? Should she move so she didnt have to deal with this anymore? No. She couldnt do that. She loved the neighborhood and she would miss seeing Mac every day.
Janie pulled out of her driveway and made her way towards the main road. It took her about ten to fifteen minutes to get to the highway from where she lived. It wasnt a bad drive and she liked being out that far.
Open fields surrounding them. Well, big yards. If people drove ten minutes down the road from her house, they would hit more country. And that was what she loved. It was nice to be able to drive down the road and relax with not many cars going by or people around. Sometimes she took Eleanor out there to get her to fall asleep.
Janie pulled onto the highway and slightly relaxed into her seat. She didnt love driving, but it was necessary for her. There was no way else to get around.
Well, she could get an Uber but she didnt want to have to rely on someone when she was grocery shopping. Cold things needed to be put in the fridge soon after and she didnt want to have to wait on a car for ten minutes or more.
Granted, this time she could have taken one. She was getting pads, tampos, medicine, and candy from the store. Nothing that needed to be put in the fridge. But Janie loved having the freedom. She could take however long she wanted.
Janie stilled as she heard a weird noise. Was that her car? She waited for the car to make the noise again. Praying it wouldnt.
The noise was like a high pitch squeal. What could be wrong with her car?
Janie looked in her side view mirror and signaled she was pulling off to the side. This was not the day for this to happen.
She put the car in park, made sure her blinkers were on, when the car died.
Shit, she whispered. Worry filled her as she tried to turn the car on.
No luck.
The car was dead. Didnt even make a clicking noise when she tried to turn it on. Janie put her head on the steering wheel. How could this happen to her? She took several deep breaths. Tears filled her eyes. Of course the day she needed to grab things from the store her car broke down.
It wasnt even a bad car either. She had bought it four years ago used, made sure everything was okay on it. Janie sighed and wiped away her tears. Who was she going to call? Hopefully her sister hadnt entered the museum yet.
Pulling out her phone, she called her sister.
Please pick up, she whispered to herself. Please dont be in the museum yet.
Hello? Joann answered the phone.
Have you gone into the museum yet? she asked.
Yes, we have. Whats wrong?
Janie sighed. She could call an Uber, but would they pick her up on the side of the road? She had never thought about that. Janie also didnt know what mechanic to call to help her with her car.
Shit.
This was more than she wanted to handle. Her ex-husband, even though she never really loved him, always took care of the cars and made sure they were good. He had a reliable mechanic, but she didnt know who that was.
Whats wrong? Joann said.
My car died on the side of the highway. Theres no way you can pick me up, right? she asked.
No, sorry. I mean unless you want to wait an hour, but I dont think thats a good idea.
Janie knew her sister’s husband couldnt pick her up either. He was at work and it wasnt anywhere near her.
Its okay, Janie whispered. Ill figure something out.