Chapter 1 #2
That tightness seized her chest again. Gabby buckled her seatbelt, pulled her keys out of her purse, and stuck them into the ignition.
She took in a deep breath to calm herself before starting the car.
Cold air blasted from the dashboard vents.
She reached forward and switched the dial to defrost, shivering.
As she backed out of the driveway, she once more glanced toward Mason’s house. He was no longer in sight.
“Way to go, Gabby,” she muttered as she faced forward, put the car into drive, and followed the private street out onto the main road, which was thankfully well maintained and clear of snow and ice. Though it snowed a lot in McCall, Idaho, the city did a great job keeping the roads safe.
When she reached her daughter’s school, the pick-up lane was already empty, allowing Gabriela to pull right up to the main doors where Ana was waiting with a couple other students. As soon as Ana caught sight of Gabby, she turned to her teacher, waved, and ran to the car.
Gabriela snatched up her purse and tucked it between the two seats, atop the parking brake.
“Hi, Mom!” Ana said as she pulled open the door and dropped into the passenger seat. After a brief struggle make sure her backpack and coat were fully inside the cab, she pulled the door shut.
“Hey, mija.” Gabriela reached out, tugged her daughter close, and pressed a kiss to her head. “How was school?”
“Boring,” Ana said, shoving her backpack onto the floor between her legs before turning up the radio.
Gabriela laughed as she pulled away from the curb. “You always say that.”
Ana flashed a big smile, revealing the same dimples in her cheeks that Gabriela had, as well as the gaps between her teeth where her canines had yet to grow in. “Because it’s always boring.”
“You’re just not being challenged enough, that’s all. You’re too smart.”
Ana blew on her fingernails and rubbed them against her chest. “Damn right, I am.”
“Ana! Language!”
Ana laughed. “Mom, damn isn’t a bad word.”
“It is under my roof.”
“But you say it all the time.”
Gabriela chuckled, glancing at her daughter. “Is this where I tell you do as I say, not as I do?” She shook her head. “Are you excited for tomorrow at least? Last day of school before Christmas break?”
“Yes! Mrs. Connelly said we’re going to watch a movie and have snacks. We get to wear our pajamas to school and bring blankets, too. Julie said she has an amazing Pegasus onesie she’s going to wear to match me better.”
“That sounds fun.”
“Can I bring a snack for the class?”
Gabby’s smile died, and she squeezed the steering wheel. “Ana…”
“It’s okay if I don’t. Just thought I’d ask. I…know we don’t have much money.”
Gabriela curled her lips in and bit them.
Her eyes burned, and it took a lot of effort to blink away the blur of tears without crying.
She felt like a failure as a mother. Ana went without so many of the things her classmates had, things Gabriela just couldn’t afford—even things as simple as treats for the class.
“I’m sorry, baby,” she said softly, throat tight.
“It’s okay, Mom. Really. I understand.”
And Ana did understand. Even on those rare occasions when she asked for something, she never whined, begged, or threw a tantrum when Gabriela said no.
The little girl just accepted it, often graciously.
Though things had never been easy, Gabriela wouldn’t give her daughter up for anything.
She was proud of the young lady Ana was becoming.
Gabby only wished she could give her daughter more.
The rest of the fifteen-minute drive was quiet save for the music. Ana sang along to the radio as she watched the snowy, wooded landscape pass by through the window. When they arrived home, Gabriela pulled into the driveway and killed the engine, handing the keys to Ana.
“We’re home!” Ana unbuckled her seatbelt, threw open her door, and hopped out, slinging her backpack over her shoulder as she ran toward the house.
“Ana, you forgot something,” Gabriela called.
Her daughter came to an abrupt halt, did a one-eighty, and hurried back to the car to shut the passenger door.
Gabby shook her head and smiled to herself. Unbuckling her own seatbelt, she picked up her purse, opened her door, and stepped out of the car. She stood up just in time to see Ana unlock the front door and disappear inside the house.
“Homework before TV!” Gabriela shouted.
“I know!” Ana’s muffled voice said from inside.
Gabriela locked the car, and just as she was closing her door, she glanced toward Mason’s house. The corners of her lips turned down.
Maybe I should have said something more? Something to reassure him that I am interested in him?
That she’d been interested in him for months.
Gabriela sighed, turned, and walked toward her house.
The blaring of a high-pitched ringtone broke the peaceful mountain quiet.
Stopping, she dug her phone out of the black hole that was her purse. The incoming call was from Paige, one of her long-time clients. Gabriela accepted the call and lifted the phone to her ear.
“Hi, Paige. How are you today?”
“Gabriela! Yes! So glad you picked up. I know this is last minute, but I have an emergency and I was wondering if you were free tomorrow. Turns out I’m going to be hosting a big Christmas dinner party this weekend, and my house is a mess.
A total wreck! Please, please, please tell me you’re free.
I will totally pay double for the inconvenience. ”
Gabriela’s heart quickened. “I-I… Yes! I’m free.”
Paige’s breath whooshed out in a sigh. “Oh, thank you. Thank you! I swear, Gabriela, without you, my house would be a pigsty. You’d think I raised these kids in a barn.”
Gabby chuckled. “Kids will be kids. I can be there at eight, right after I drop my daughter off at school if that works?”
“That’d be perfect. You’re a life saver! Our kids will be at school, and my husband and I will be at work, so just come on in like normal. You’ll have the place to yourself.”
“Thank you, Paige. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“No, thank you. I hope you have a great night!”
“You, too.”
Once the call was disconnected, Gabriela let out a little squeal.
This was exactly what she’d needed—a break.
Paige’s house was big, and it’d take Gabby most of the day to clean, but the pay would push her beyond what she needed for rent with a bit left over to pick up some food and a couple more Christmas gifts for Ana.
Clutching her phone to her chest, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, releasing it in a small, relieved, “Thank you.”