Chapter Three
Anastasia
We’ve been in town for two weeks, and in that time things have been a whirlwind of stuff.
I was able to get Rusher enrolled for the start of school.
We were able to meet with the baseball coaches and team to get a time set up for him to try out and work with the team.
Auntie Lynn has had a couple of appointments over the last few days, and they were all shocked by how much improvement she has made since I came to stay with her.
Taking my sister’s threat seriously, I do not go anywhere that isn’t directly related to Rusher or Auntie Lynn.
All groceries, food, and home improvement items are ordered for pickup if I cannot have them delivered straight to Auntie Lynn’s house.
Thankfully, as long as Auntie Lynn has her gardening and Rusher has access to the internet and baseball, it all works well for us.
Shea hasn’t been anywhere near the house, so I’m starting to breathe a little easier every day.
What keeps me on my toes is the constant stream of men on motorcycles who seem to come and check in on Auntie Lynn.
At least three times a week, there is a man in a leather vest coming to check on Auntie.
Thankfully, they always seem to come when Rusher is at practice or doing something with his new friends.
I can’t imagine what I would do if he were to take an interest in motorcycles.
With this constant stream of men being here, the thought of getting a part-time job so I have something to do with my time once Rusher is in school takes hold.
I decided that tonight at dinner I would talk to both of them about it.
I make Auntie Lynn’s favorite meal of our nontraditional version of Shepherd’s Pie.
Everyone is seated, and Rusher is talking a mile a minute about baseball practice and how much he loves his new team. Auntie Lynn is smiling and nodding along while eating, with a knowing look in her eyes. When Rusher takes a breath, I take that as my moment to cut in.
“How would you feel if I got a part-time job?” I blurt out.
A sly smile spreads across Auntie Lynn’s face. “Oh, honey, that would be great. With Rusher back in school and me seeming to get better every day. It would be perfect.”
“Auntie Lynn, the entire reason I came back was because Shea said you were nearly on your deathbed. Now it seems by some miracle that is not the case,” I state thoughtfully.
Auntie Lynn looks bashful. “You heard the doctor. Everything has been getting better every day since you got here. That tells me I needed you to come. Something wasn’t right with your sister here. Now she’s gone, and I’m feeling better and better every day.”
Still not one hundred percent sure that she is telling me the truth, I just nod. “As well as that may be, you seem to have the help you need. Construction will start soon, and with Rusher in school, it will free up some time for me to work and make a little bit of money to help with things.”
Rusher looks thoughtful for a long moment before looking worried. “What about my games and stuff at school?”
A knot forms in my chest because no matter how hard I try, the hurt of his father and mother both not wanting him has left a hole I’ll never be able to fill.
I look over at Auntie Lynn, and she gives me a sad, knowing look.
It’s then that I truly understand everything she did, and tried to do, for my sister and me when we were kids.
Our parents were around, yes, they would get clean or stop gambling every so often to show they were doing right by us to the state.
That would last for the required six months and then they would go right back off the rails.
Auntie Lynn would step in during those times of insanity and do what she could.
She gives me a slight nod, and I look back to Rusher.
“Rusher, you listen to what I’m telling you.
I will always be there. I would have to be dead or kidnapped not to be there for you.
Do you understand me? Nothing, and I mean nothing, will keep me from supporting and cheering for you, or loving you. Absolutely fucking nothing.”
He doesn’t look up at me, just continues moving his dinner around on his plate.
“Rusher,” I snap at him to get his attention.
His head snaps up, and our eyes collide.
“I did not pace the floors on the nights you would scream the house down, wear your spit up and vomit because your tummy was sensitive, or get up at three am to make sure you had all your equipment together and be on the road for baseball tournaments to just turn my back on you now. I will be so loud at every event that you won’t notice the ones who decided not to be there. ”
Slowly a small smile spreads across his face the longer I speak. “Do you understand me, Rushy?”
He drops his head back, groaning at the nickname I gave him when he was a baby. “Gahh, why do you have to be so embarrassing all the time?”
“Oh, that’s embarrassing?” I rub my hands together as if plotting something. “I think I’ll get a shirt that says Rushy’s Ma!”
“Oh! I want one that says Rushy’s Auntie!” Auntie Lynn claps her hands, laughing.
“No, no, no. I can’t with you guys,” Rusher says, laughing and standing to clear his plate.
He takes it to the kitchen, comes back by us and first kisses Auntie Lynn on the head and squeezes her shoulder. Then he comes to me, kissing me on the head. “Love you mostest, Ma,” he whispered.
Tears prick my eyes. “I love you more, Rushy baby.”
Rusher turns, leaving us standing there as his phone dings.
Sitting there, I watch my heart walk out of the room and then anger builds in my soul because it’s not fair that his mother is a bitch who just uses him to control us, and his father was a fucking asshole who wanted him taken care of.
Auntie Lynn reaches out, placing her hand over mine, squeezing mine tightly.
I turn to her and know I am seeing the same look on her face that I have on mine.
“You’re doing everything right,” Auntie Lynn whispers. “That is an amazing boy who is growing into an even better man. I couldn’t be prouder of you and the woman that you have become.”
“Thank you, Auntie,” I choke out around the emotions clogging my throat. “Now, do you know of anyone who might be hiring some part-time help?”
A cunning smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “I think I might have just place.”
I grin nervously. “Oh, I don’t know if I should trust you.”
She waves me off before standing and going into her office. “I’m going to make some calls and will let you know what I come up with.”
Three days later, my GPS chirps that my destination is on the right.
Eyeing the building, I wonder if Auntie Lynn is trying to land me on the Discovery+ channel as another ID special.
I flip on my turn signal and pull into the broken-up parking lot.
As I pull up to the only door on the front of the building, I finally see Petty Cleaning Crew etched into the glass of the door.
“Well, it appears you’re in the right place,” I mutter to myself.
I look at the building once again before pushing the button to turn my car off. I reach over, grabbing my purse before throwing it over my shoulder and stepping out into the hot, humid Savannah air. Closing my car door, I take a deep breath to steady my nerves as I make my way towards the door.
Once I step inside, I’m shocked by how nice and clean everything is.
With the shape of the outside of the building, I assumed the inside would have been just as bad.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a cleaning company, so I would be even more worried if it wasn’t.
Looking around, I relax just a little because under the smell of clean lemon there is a hint of leather and motorcycles very similar to all the guys that have been to the house to see Auntie Lynn.
Suddenly, the door on the back wall to my right bursts open, causing me to shout out in fright.
“Oh goodness, you gave me a scare,” a small, truly southern woman gasps, holding her hand to her chest.
I give her my biggest and brightest smile. “Oh goodness, I am so sorry. My name is Anastasia. My Auntie Lynn said that you’re looking for some part-time help for the front desk and office assistant position.”
The smile that spreads across her face is genuine and tired. “Your Auntie Lynn is so sweet. How has she been feeling lately? Your being at the house must be why she cut back on how often we were sending someone out to her home.”
Her words help me relax. “She is the best. I help her keep the house straight, but it has more to do with the construction starting this week for the upstairs that has her spreading things out a bit.”
A true smile spreads across her face. “Oh, the boys did say they were going to be out there. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. That kitchen was amazing.”
Nodding in agreement, I walk over to the counter. “Oh, I love that kitchen more than I could say. It’s almost like someone pulled it right out of my brain.”
“Anyway, did you have any problems finding your way?” the older woman asks, smiling.
Glancing over my shoulder at the door, I throw a thumb at it. “I almost left because it felt a little like I might get murdered and put on a special of ID.”
She throws her head back in laughter at my words. “Oh my, you’re going to be perfect around here. Now if you’ll follow me, we’ll go talk in the back about what I’m really looking for.”
I arch an eyebrow at her words, confused—wasn’t I here for an interview? As I move to follow, my foot catches on my pant leg, stopping my feet, but my top half keeps moving forward.
“Shit,” I breathe as the ground comes at me in a hurry.
“Oh, damn.” The older woman gasps, hurrying towards me.