Chapter 12
CLAIRE
The last week has flown by. I still go to the diner early in the morning to get some work done, and then Aurora and I spend the afternoons and evenings setting up Savage’s condo.
Tank and a couple of the other guys have moved over the crib and all the things Aurora has been using at the compound. Savage’s place has a bathtub with a shower in it, so I’m going to be able to give Aurora real baths.
Savage has a small table and chairs in the kitchen, which I’ll use as a desk when I look for jobs.
Today is my last day at the compound. I’m planning on sleeping at Savage’s condo tonight. And I hope he might consider staying there with me. I have a little something special planned for him. A surprise that I hope shows him how much I appreciate everything he’s doing for me.
Val refills my coffee and bends to chat with Aurora. “How were those pancakes, honeybun?”
“Mama.” Aurora slaps her hands against the table, her mood a lot better than it was last week. She did cut a new tooth, and she’s been sleeping better, thank goodness.
“Well, that sounds good to me.” Val laughs. “Can I get either one of you anything else?”
I nod and prepare to put my plan in motion. “So, do you know if the diner makes deliveries? I was hoping to have a special dinner for a friend tonight, and I wanted to maybe have dinner delivered to my new place.”
“Oh, congratulations.” Val gathers up my empty plate. “We do have one of those phone app delivery services. We close down to orders, though, if we’re really busy in the dining room. So, maybe order in advance?”
That’s what I was afraid of. “I don’t have a credit card right now,” I tell her.
“I was hoping to pay cash for the meal and the delivery.” I’ve been working my way through the money Savage has given me, but I still don’t have a bank account or a credit card of my own.
I imagine it will be a long time before I have any of that.
She nods. “I understand that. Where is your place, hun, and what time do you need the food?”
I give her the address of the condo, and she looks a little surprised. “That’s only about three miles from my place. It’s on my way home.”
My heart suddenly lurches into overdrive. I turn to Val. “My friend is Savage, the guy who orders out all the time. I think he’d lose his mind if you delivered our dinner tonight. His favorite waitress.”
Her eyes widen. “Is Savage your boyfriend, honey? I didn’t know that.”
I cock my head. “It’s complicated.” I reach out and touch little Aurora’s hand. “I have a baby and just got out of a bad situation. He’s got some history of his own, and for now, we’re friends.”
“Close friends, I hope.” Val gives me a smile and then leans in.
She tears a piece of paper off her notepad.
“Write your order and your address here, honey. And if you don’t mind, give me a cell phone number.
That way, if anything goes wrong, I can reach out.
Just don’t tell my boss I made a delivery for you.
I don’t think that’s covered under their insurance, and he’s a bit of a stickler for the rules.
” She looks at me and Aurora and smiles.
“But for my cutest customers, we can bend those rules a bit.”
“How do I pay you?” I ask. “I can leave a large tip now, and you can pay for the dinner…”
She waves a hand at me. “You can reimburse me when I get there. No problem, honey.” She points to the table. “Just leave the order and your info on the table.” She winks at me. “I’m excited. I’m in on a happy little surprise.”
I smile at her and realize I’m excited too.
I know this isn’t my money, but I have been so dependent on Savage.
He was planning on dropping me off at his condo and turning over the keys tonight, so having a little something to thank him has been on my mind all week.
His favorite diner dinner isn’t much, but it’s something I hope lets him know how much I appreciate everything he’s doing for me.
After I gather up Aurora and my laptop, Tank pulls into the lot to pick me up. “Change of plans,” he announces. “You up for a pit stop?”
I shrug. “Sure,” I say. We have no real schedule to keep today. “Where to?”
Tank meets my eyes in the mirror. “Ask Poppy. This is all her idea.”
I have no idea what Poppy has in store, but I buckle in and watch the road roll by as Tank takes me to a part of town I’ve never been to. We pull into a small but very pretty strip mall.
“Out ya go.” He jerks a thumb toward the mall. “I’ll wait here. I’m gonna text my gal and see if she’s up for a party tonight.”
I laugh. The compound’s probably planning the party to end all parties after almost months of having a mama and baby underfoot. “Well, I hope she’s able to make it.”
I like Tank, and I’m a little sad that I might not see him every day anymore.
I won’t have a car at Savage’s, and he told me he’ll make sure I have rides whenever I need them, but it will be different once I’m no longer under the Heat’s roof.
No more walking out and seeing what Tank’s up to, if he has the time to run me someplace.
He air-fives Aurora, who is now a pro at high fives, but she laughs harder when Tank intentionally misses.
“Uncle Tank,” he says, enunciating every syllable, hoping that she’ll start to say it.
She blows a very wet raspberry and laughs, and Tank shakes his head. “Close, kid. You’re getting close.”
I wave at him and head through the parking lot to where I see Poppy standing in front of one of the shops. She’s waving excitedly and rocking up and down on her heels.
“Claire.” When I get close enough, she opens her arms. I set the detachable part of Aurora’s car seat down on the concrete so I can give Poppy a full-body hug. “Hi, friend. How are you?”
I smile, her beauty and poise no longer a source of shame. I may have very little, but I’m clean. I’m trying. That’s all that matters.
“I’m great,” I tell her. “But what’s going on?” I check the time on my burner phone. I’m supposed to meet Savage back at the compound around six.
“So…” Poppy smiles. “I hear today is a big day for you, and I wanted to start things off in style. Give you a little moving-home present just from me.”
I shake my head, confused. “You’ve done so much. What on earth do you want to do now?”
She holds the door open and motions me to go ahead of her. As soon as I get inside, Holly and Daisy, Poppy’s stepdaughters, jump up from the gorgeous leather couch in the waiting area.
“Aurora.” They shriek in unison and run toward me. “Hi, Claire. Hi, Claire.” Their voices carry over each other, and I laugh.
They’ve come to the compound to visit their dad and play with Aurora just a couple of times, but they are really sweet, loving girls.
They take turns giving me huge hugs, like I’m a long-lost aunt they are absolutely thrilled to finally see again.
At first, the affection feels overwhelming, but when I see Poppy’s encouraging smile, I accept their hugs and relax a bit.
These are genuine people. I was a good person once. And I’m slowly, slowly crawling my way back. Someday, I’ll be able to repay every one of these people for their kindness. For now, I feed on it, sucking it in gratefully and doing what I can to give it back.
“You two are the sweetest,” I say, looking from older sister to younger. They are so different from each other—Holly, the older, more sensitive and reserved one, and Daisy, all sass and colorful hair. She’s got a vibrant strip of blue in her hair, and I motion toward it.
“Is that fresh?” I ask. “You look amazing.” I turn to Holly. “And I hate to say it, but if I’d known you in high school, I would have been so jealous.” I touch the soft ends of Holly’s hair, curled in perfect, beachy waves. “You’re like teen models.”
They laugh and shake their heads, too excited about whatever they have planned for compliments. Daisy shows me a huge backpack.
“So, Ma said we could bring a few things.”
“A few,” Holly teases. “And then of course Daisy wanted everything.”
“Shut up,” Daisy snaps, but then she makes eye contact with her mom and says, “I mean, come on, Hol. We needed all this.”
They pull out an assortment of toys and books, as well as a small blanket that they unfold and spread out on the pristine floor of the empty waiting area.
“What is this?” I ask.
Poppy claps her hands. “Spa day. I’m going to give you a fresh look while the kids take care of Aurora.” She points to a chair not far from the waiting room. “My station is right there, so you’ll be able to see them the whole time.”
I shake my head. I can’t accept this.
I feel the ends of my hair. I’ve been trimming my own hair with scissors for over two years. It’s long, like waist-length, but I keep it as healthy as I can under the circumstances. I wouldn’t even know what to ask for.
“Poppy, this is your business. I can’t—”
“My treat,” Poppy says. “It’s a housewarming gift. And besides, I’m going to be going on maternity leave soon, so I wanted to give you something a little special before I’m off duty for a few months.”
“Okay,” I whisper, not wanting to be rude.
I leave Aurora with Daisy and Holly, and I can’t help but feel impressed and relieved at the same time.
If I end up getting a job again, childcare is going to be a very real concern. For now, Aurora getting used to new people, more than just me, is a process for me too. I’m grateful to have these safe and small steps to move us both forward through the past.
Poppy starts me off with a consult, and we talk about hairstyles and length.
“Hear me out,” she says. She takes a small amount of hair from the front and bends it over my forehead. “Have you ever had bangs? I am seeing a gorgeous wispy fringe to set off those gorgeous green eyes.”