Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
ELLA
“Grammy!”
A warmth washes over my chest as Chloe breaks into a run as she speeds toward Iris.
Iris lets out a hearty laugh, her body crouching at the end of the walkway as she stretches her arms out to Chloe. She runs right to Iris, her little arms snaking around her neck as they embrace one another.
Iris isn’t Chloe’s biological grandmother, but she’s the only one she’s ever known. She’s the only one she’ll ever know.
“There’s my favorite little sweet pea,” Iris says as she presses her lips to the side of Chloe’s head. Chloe giggles as Iris lifts her into her arms as she stands upright. “Are you going to help Grandma Iris in the garden today?”
Chloe claps her hands, her little body wiggling in Iris’ arms. “Yes!” Chloe turns in Iris’ arms and waves at me. “Bye Mama!”
My shoulders shake with laughter and Iris joins in, her cheeks lifting towards her eyes as she shakes her head. “Jeez, Clo,” I say, lifting my eyebrows at her. “Way to get rid of me.”
“You know she loves her time with me,” Iris smiles as she sets Chloe down onto the ground.
“She does,” I smile back at her, nodding my head in agreement. Bending my knees, I crouch down. “Give me a hug, babe. Mama has to head to work.”
Chloe comes over to me, wrapping her little arms around my neck as she places a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head before releasing her. She gives me another wave, walking past Iris as she guides her up the steps onto the front porch.
“Go get your gardening gloves, sweet pea.” Iris turns to me as Chloe walks into the house. “Thanks again for covering for Maisie tonight. Her not feeling well was unexpected and my knees haven’t been cooperative with me standing for long periods of time.”
“I’m always here to help in any way I can.” I step to Iris, reaching for her hand and give it a gentle squeeze. “It’s the least I can do for everything you’ve done to help me.”
“Oh, honey,” she says, abruptly pulling me in for a hug. “You know you’ve always been like a second daughter to me. That’s what family does. We help each other when we need it.”
“I can never thank you enough,” I say, my voice cracking around my words as emotion floods me. In addition to my brother, Iris and Remi were the two people who were there for me in the lowest point of my life. They helped me crawl my way out of the darkness and get back on my feet.
Iris releases me, but she takes my hands in hers, staring at me with her eyes shining brightly. “You bringing that darling little angel into my life is the greatest gift.”
Tears burn the corners of my eyes and I give her hands a gentle squeeze before taking a step back.
I love Iris dearly. She’s the closest thing I have to a motherly figure.
Her daughter, Remi, has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.
The two of them are my family, but the emotions still make me feel uncomfortable.
Crying in front of others isn’t something I tend to do often and I’m not about to do it now on a random Tuesday evening.
“I’ll be back later tonight to get her.”
“See you then,” Iris smiles, lifting her hand in a small wave before retreating back into the house.
My footsteps are quick as I head to my car, pushing the mix of emotions into the small box I keep locked away inside. My life isn’t perfect, but it’s good.
And that’s enough for me right now.
“I swear to God, if I catch that creep looking at you again, I’m kicking him out.”
Remi steps up beside me, letting out a sigh of annoyance as she grabs a glass and pours beer from the tap into it. I glance back over my shoulder at the older man sitting there, his eyes now on the back of Remi, looking her up and down.
This is one of the reasons why my life isn’t perfect. I never imagined I’d be working as a bartender to support my daughter and I. Hell, I don’t know what I really had planned, but I know it wasn’t this.
It’s a job I’m so grateful for, though, because without this, I don’t know what I would be doing.
I didn’t get a college degree and I have no other experience.
The only thing I’ve ever been good at is painting.
It’s what I had hoped I’d do as a career one day.
However, the starving artist’s life as a single mom is not something I’m interested in.
“I’ve never seen him here before,” I say to Remi, keeping my voice low. “I just saw him checking you out now.”
“What a weirdo,” she mutters, shaking her head as she fills another glass. “Has he said anything weird to you?”
I shake my head at her, grabbing a glass to make a cocktail. “I’ve only taken his drink order so far.”
“Shit. Did he say he wanted food too?”
“He said he needed a moment to check out what we have.”
Remi scoffs. “I bet he did.” She spins on her heel, her gaze shifting directly to him. “Fucking creep.”
“Ignore him,” I wave my hand dismissively. “He’s my problem.”
“Wrong,” she says, glancing at me as she purses her lips. “If someone is a problem for you, they’re immediately a problem for me.”
A smile cracks across my lips. “Same goes for you too, you know.”
“Oh, I know,” she nods, smiling back at me as she starts to walk over to the couple who ordered the beers. “Besties for the resties.”
“Always!”
I finish mixing the cocktail and grab a bottle of beer from the fridge, taking it over to two other people sitting near the strange man. Dread rolls in the pit of my stomach and I walk back to him, plastering the fakest smile I can muster on my lips.
“Have you decided what you want to order?”
A smirk tugs on his lips and his oily cheeks lift. “I’m good with my drink. I think I’ll just hang out and enjoy the view.”
The hairs stand on the back of my neck. “Okay.”
“What time do you get off tonight?”
My stomach drops and my heart pounds erratically against my ribcage. “That’s none of your business.”
His smirk doesn’t falter. “Oh, come on. I don’t see a ring on your finger. We could have some fun.”
I swallow hard, resisting the urge to shrink back into myself. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to stop. I’m not interested and you’re making me uncomfortable.”
His mood changes. “Excuse me?” He snarls, narrowing his eyes at me. “There was nothing I said to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“Is everything okay over here?” Remi asks as she immediately appears beside me. She pins her gaze on the man as he abruptly gets up from his barstool and drains his drink.
“That one is on the house for poor customer service,” he snaps at her with a lingering warning in his tone. “I’d suggest you reevaluate your waitstaff here.”
“I think it’s time for you to leave.”
“Oh, I have no intention of staying, nor will I be bringing my business back to this piece of shit establishment.”
Remi raises her eyebrows and points to the exit. “Okay, buddy. Door is that way.”
He slams his glass down onto the bar, his eyes immediately meeting mine again as he stares me down for a moment. My heart beats erratically as my flight instincts engage, my body ready to run if I need to. He spins on his heel without another word, striding directly out of the bar.
Remi immediately turns to face me. “Are you okay?” She asks as her eyes scan my face. “What happened?”
“I’m okay,” I say, letting out a breath and nodding my head. “He was asking when I got off work, made comments about me not having a ring on my finger and how we could have fun. I told him he was making me uncomfortable and that he needed to stop.”
Remi shakes her head, her jaw clenching momentarily. “What a disgusting pig. If I don’t leave the same time you do, someone else will walk with you to your car. I don’t need him lurking around the parking lot, waiting.”
“I’ll be okay, Rem, I promise.”
“I’m not taking any chances,” she says, shaking her head at me. “People are too unpredictable and that man is exactly the reason why us girls have to stick together.”
Stepping back to the bar, I lean forward and grab his empty glass before setting it along with the other dirty dishes to go into the dishwasher. “I’m so glad I have you,” I say, turning back to her.
Remi grabs a rag and cleaner with a smile tugging on her lips. “Same, girl. Besties for the resties, remember?”
Warmth settles in my chest and I smile back at my best friend. “Always.”
Remi is one of the only people who has always been there for me, standing by my side, even when I tried to push her away. There aren’t many people I trust with my life or with my daughter, but Remi is someone I know will always make sure the two of us are safe.
And I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.