Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
But Elliot’s old history now, and I have to live with that, even if it hurts. After all, Olly was right about Elliot. After that magical lunch at his mansion, he never called. It was total radio silence, and I was confused at first. We had a connection. There was no way he was ignoring me.
I tried calling Elliot every day for two weeks, but he was never available. Evidently, rich people have others to answer the phone for them, and the woman on his side always murmured, “I’m so sorry, but Mr. Connery isn’t available right now. Would you like to leave a message?”
No, there was no message. I merely mumbled my name and number for the umpteenth time, and then hung up with a heavy heart. Finally, after two weeks of doing this, it was clear. I’d been hoodwinked, as Olly had surmised, and meant nothing to this powerful man. Maybe a bit of fun and games, but that time was over now.
I fell into a deep depression immediately. I didn’t want to eat or go to school. Even Home Ec was nothing but a drag, and the school actually called my mom because they were concerned about my mental state. Of course, Coralie didn’t bother to listen. So long as I paid the rent with my wages from Sparkle Maids, it was all good. I could graduate or not graduate, it didn’t matter to her.
I started taking more jobs with Sparkle Maids because the mindless work took me away from my problems. I scoured dishes until my hands were red and chapped. My knees and back were sore from kneeling on the floor so much, and I’d given up doing my hair and make-up whatsoever. There was no need to look nice because there was no one to appreciate my effort.
But one day, as I cleaned the windows at a job, a thought struck. I hadn’t gotten my period that month yet. Odd. I made a mental note to check my calendar because I’m usually like clockwork. My flow comes every month, without fail. Maybe I was just a bit late.
But it didn’t come, and with growing horror, I realized that it hadn’t come the last month either. I just didn’t notice because I’d been in such a bad state, mentally. In a near panic, I called Olly. My friend’s the one who kept me calm and who took me to the pharmacy a couple towns over so I could buy a test without anyone in Millbrook seeing me.
It came back positive, and soon, my life utterly changed. Even my problems with Elliot were dwarfed. Now, I was going to have his child.
Ezra is the sweetest thing, and he gives me meaning in life. But I have to work to keep him in diapers and formula. As a result, I’ve been working even more in a desperate attempt to build a life for me and my baby. Sometimes it seems hopeless as a single parent, but Ezra and I make do. He’s not old enough to realize how little we have, and his smile makes me light up from within.
My car putters along, and I wonder if today is the day it gives up on me. But no, it keeps going and I pull onto a lushly manicured lane. The house I’m working at today is in the rich part of Millbrook, where it all started. A sad smile crosses my face as I pull into the staff parking area.
My manager, Rebecca is waiting outside for me when I arrive. She already has a sour expression on her face, and my heart drops. Two other maids are already here as well, and I nod at them through my car window. Thankfully, I’m not late. I need this job now more than ever now, with a baby on my hands.
I get out of the car, grabbing my mop and bucket.
“Hi everyone,” I greet. “It’s nice to be back.”
“Welcome,” says Rebecca grudgingly, smoothing her frizzy hair back. “It’s nice to see you again, Kaylee. How’s your baby doing?”
I think for a moment about the sleepless nights, and how Ezra refused to take my milk at first. But then I also remember his downy skin and the soft part of his head which smells like pure baby.
“He’s wonderful,” I say with a gentle smile. “Ezra’s the cutest thing.”
A glimmer of understanding flashes across Rebecca’s face but then she’s all business.
“Okay everyone,” she claps her hands. “Let’s get to work.”
She doles out the work assignments, and I look off into the distance for a moment. The sun is shining even this early in the morning, and the lawn literally sparkles with leftover dew. The house we’re working at is tall and imposing, with white-shuttered windows and a slate grey roof. But it’s remarkably modest for this neighborhood. There are no fancy fountains nor enormous chandeliers peeking from the curtains.