Chapter 2 - Laken
LAKEN
“We need to leave in ten minutes. Go grab your things.”
“Can I stay with Ms. Vickie?”
“We already talked about this. Ms. Vickie got a new job. She isn’t going to be able to keep you anymore.”
“But I like Ms. Vickie.”
“I know, and I do, too. But we’ll find a way to make do.”
The flashlight on the counter started to flicker, and I muttered a quiet prayer that it would hold out just a little longer.
I hated this. I hated that we were living in this dingy apartment with no electricity, but the power company didn’t care that my bill was only two weeks late.
They’d shut off the power and wouldn’t turn it back on until I paid the balance and reconnection fee.
That was money I didn’t have and wouldn’t have for quite some time.
I’d gotten behind when Baylor came down with a bad cold and ear infection a few weeks back.
I took a couple of days off work to take care of her, and that’s all it took to throw everything off balance, and I’d been playing catch-up ever since.
“I can’t find Bunny-B,” Baylor whined from across the room.
“Did you check the bed?”
“Um-hmm.”
“What about the bathroom?”
“Not ‘dare.”
“I don’t know.” I glanced over my shoulder and found my beautiful daughter standing behind me with a pout.
She was wearing her favorite hot pink sweats and a white sweatshirt that wasn’t looking as white as it used to.
Her little curls were a disheveled mess, but as always, she looked absolutely precious. “Give me a second, and I’ll find him.”
I finished pulling my hair into a ponytail and threw on some blush before starting my hunt for Bunny-B. It was her favorite stuffed animal. She didn’t go anywhere without it, so I knew it had to be close by. I checked all the usual spots before dropping to the floor.
I swept my hand under our small sofa, and relief washed over me when I felt his little, fuzzy foot. “Here he is! He was hiding from us again.”
“Bad bunny,” she giggled.
“That’s right. Very bad bunny.”
Baylor was my whole world. She was my reason for getting up every morning, even when the world felt like it was set against me.
She took the bunny from me and gave it a tight squeeze.
I used the opportunity to quickly tie her shoes.
Once I was done, I turned her around and started braiding her hair.
“You working night?” she asked.
“Yes, sweetie. It will be nighttime before I get done today.”
“Can I have cheese noodles for dinner?”
“I think we can manage that.”
That got me a grin wide enough to completely melt me.
I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then stood and brushed the wrinkles from my thrift-store blouse.
The clock on the stove wasn’t working, but I knew I was already running behind.
I was always running behind. I grabbed my bag and keys and took one more look around the apartment, making sure we didn’t forget anything.
Once I knew we were set, I flipped off the flashlight and took Baylor by the hand, leading her out of the apartment.
I locked up, and then we made our way out to the car.
It was rainy, and there was a chill in the air, making it feel dreary as I buckled Baylor in the backseat.
As soon as I got behind the wheel, I turned the key, and the engine sputtered like it didn’t want to start.
“Come on, girl. Don’t let me down now.”
I turned the key again, and it coughed twice before the engine finally caught.
The old Corolla had more miles than I could count, and the check engine light had been glowing for months.
The heater worked, but only when it felt like it.
And the brakes were beginning to get iffy.
Sadly, I didn’t have the money to fix any of it, but she was all I had.
And as long as she got us from point A to point B, I wasn’t going to complain.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to drive far to get to the hotel.
It was just a few blocks away, but it wasn’t in the best neighborhood.
During the day, it seemed fine, but after dark, the empty lots and graffiti etched on all the crumbling buildings made it feel like a ghost land.
I spotted the Hotel Royal sign in the distance, and my heart sank a little.
The name was fitting in a sarcastic, pathetic kind of way.
There was nothing royal about the place.
The brick was faded and crumbling, the windows were caked in grime, and the parking lot was full of dented cars and bad decisions.
Don’t get me wrong. I was thankful for my job. There weren’t many places that would let you bring your kid into work, but I got lucky. Gladys, the owner, held a soft spot for single mothers and said I could bring Baylor with me as long as she didn’t keep me from my work.
By the time I pulled into the lot, the wipers were squeaking against the glass, and the car was rattling like it was begging for mercy.
I parked under one of the lights and killed the engine.
Before heading inside, I turned back to Baylor and said, “Okay, bug. You know the drill. You stick close to me. No talking to strangers and no wandering off.”
It was something I’d said a hundred times, but it needed to be said. There were too many people who came and went without looking you in the eye. Doors seemed to close too quickly, and the silence that followed said more than words ever could.
But it was work, and it kept a roof over our heads. Baylor gave me a nod and said, “Yes, Mommy.”
“That’s my girl.”
I leaned back and unbuckled her from her car seat, then waited as she climbed into the front. I grabbed my coat and pulled it over us as I opened my door and carried her up to the front door. I lowered her to the ground, and Baylor immediately reached up and took my hand.
As soon as we stepped inside, Baylor looked up at me with her nose crinkled. “It smells funny in here.”
“I know, baby. It always smells funny.” I pulled her close. “Just keep by me, okay?”
We walked by the front desk, and I gave Mandy, the night clerk, a smile. She looked as tired as I felt as she offered me the night’s clipboard and said, “We’ve had a few checkouts for the second floor, and one early call in room twelve.”
“Thanks, Mandy.”
“No problem.” She glanced down at Baylor as she added, “Watch yourself tonight. We have a couple of loud ones up in twenty.”
“Will do. Thanks for the heads-up.”
I took the clipboard and headed to the supply closet.
I grabbed my cleaning cart and loaded it with clean towels and toiletries.
Baylor stood behind me, watching as she clutched Bunny-B to her chest. She didn’t complain or whine.
She just stood next to me and waited until I said, “Alright, bug. We’re all set. ”
She stepped up next to me and followed closely as we made our way down the hall. The carpet was threadbare and stained in places I didn’t want to think about. The walls were so thin I could hear the muffled sounds of voices and the low hum of music as we walked by.
I unlocked the door to room twelve, then stuck my head inside and called, “Room service.”
When no one answered, I stepped inside and gave it a quick once-over, making sure the room was empty before pushing my cart inside. I gave Baylor her notebook and crayons, and she assumed her spot at the desk. She started coloring while I got busy cleaning.
Like always, Baylor handled the night fairly well.
She busied herself with her drawings and my phone, and she even napped from time to time.
By the time my shift finally ended, we were both ready to call it a night.
I put away my cart and signed out before gathering Baylor up in my arms and rushing back out into the rain.
Baylor was half-asleep when I buckled her into her seat. I gave her a quick kiss and said, “Almost home, sweet girl.”
I closed her door before rushing over to my side and slipped inside. I turned the key, and to my surprise, the car started up without even a sputter. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”
I backed out and started home. I only made it a couple of blocks before the interior lights started to blink, and the engine died. I eased over to the shoulder of the road, and Baylor immediately cried, “What’s wrong, Momma?”
“I’m not sure.” I glanced up in the rearview mirror as I told her, “Hang tight, sweetie. Momma’s going to see if she can fix it.”
I reached down and popped the hood before opening my door. There wasn’t much traffic, but I was still careful as I scurried to the front of the car. The rain was pretty steady and had me completely soaked in seconds.
To make matters worse, I had no idea what I was looking for as I stood there looking at the mess of wires and rusted parts. I toyed with a few tubes and wires, but nothing seemed out of place.
I didn’t know what I was going to do when a truck pulled in behind me.
I heard the door open. I didn’t know if I should be relieved or scared out of my mind.
I leaned around the hood and saw a tall man walking toward me.
He moved with an easy confidence and didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the rain.
He was wearing jeans with a black leather vest, and his hands were shoved in his front pockets.
The dim glow of his headlights revealed the tattoos winding down his muscular arms. He was attractive, but his eyes took him to another level.
They were the greenest, most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen, and my breath caught the second they locked on mine.
As he got closer, he tipped his head and said, “Looks like you could use a hand.”
“You could say that.”
Baylor must’ve moved because his attention was drawn to the side window, and when he spotted her in the backseat, his smile faded. “Awfully late. Everything okay?”
“Yes. Everything’s fine. Well, that’s not exactly true,” I rambled. “We were just leaving work, and Carla gave out on me.”
“Carla?” I nodded towards the car, and he chuckled. “Carla the Corolla.”
“Exactly.”
“Want me to see if I can get her going?”
“That would be great.” I wasn’t in a position to turn him away, so I nodded and said, “I’m not sure what’s wrong with it.”
“I’ll check it out. You get back in the car and out of this rain.”
“Are you sure?”
“No sense in both of us getting drenched.”
“Okay.” I paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I skirted around him and got in the car. I had no idea who this handsome stranger was. He could’ve been a serial killer for all I knew, but at that moment, he was our hero in the night, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.