Claimed by my Unexpected Protector

Chapter Ten

Eralia’s POV

The day is long and slow, the weather putting most patrons off from venturing outside and to the bakery. I wipe over the counter for the seven hundredth time as I glance out the window at the dark sky, though the rain does seem to be easing off.

Mackenzie walks in, wiping her hands on a tea towel before glancing at her watch, as she approaches me.

‘It’s just after twelve’ she sighs, her own gaze moving toward the window, ‘I really don’t think we’re going to see many more customers, I’m thinking about closing early. How many have we had this morning?’ he adds, looking back to me again.

I swallow thickly as I was just about to ask if I could leave to give me time to get back to the school for the three thirty pick up.

‘Uh, about seven’ I reply, ‘and one of them was Daisy to give her order for next week’s delivery.’

Mackenzie groans, ‘this is a waste of time, I might as well save the electric and close for the day.’

I nod quickly, thinking that fate might finally be smiling on me for once.

‘Obviously you’ll get paid for the day’ Mackenzie adds, smiling at me, ‘so don’t worry about that.’

I nod gratefully, ‘thank you’ I mutter, ‘I’ll already be down from yesterday, I’m so sorry I had to leave like that by the way . . .’

The baker waves her hand dismissively, ‘oh you won’t lose money for that either Eralia’ she replies firmly, ‘you had an emergency, and it’s not like you ever take time off! I think the last time you did was when your father was ill . . . how is he by the way?’

Guilt hits me as I force a smile, nodding quickly, ‘good, he’s good’ I lie instinctively, ‘yeah, doing so much better . . .’

Mackenzie smiles, ‘I’m glad, are you going to see him soon? He lives out of state, right?’

I nod again, ‘yeah, uh . . . Atlanta, and no, not at the minute, I have exams coming up.’

The baker gives me a sympathetic look, ‘oh yes, I forgot about your studies, the exam is coming up? Why didn’t you tell me? Do you need to reduce your hours a little to study? I’m sure Seona would pick up a few if you needed her too . . ‘

I quickly shake my head, ‘oh no, it’s fine, I spend my evenings studying, and I . . I think I’m pretty much ready for the test.’

Mackenzie pats my arm affectionately, ‘well if you are sure . . . but if things change just let me know and I’ll sort it out for you.’

I nod in reply, knowing I won’t do it, I need my hours to cover the bills and I’m not lying in the fact that I’m studying in the night . . . way late into the night as I have to wait for my siblings to be asleep and my mother to either leave or pass out before I can start.

I’ve been studying for three years now, grabbing minutes where I can, to study the material that I’ve borrowed from the library in town. This is my third time trying to take my GED, the piece of paper that I hope will open the door to a better paying job and maybe a career. The last two times, I was forced to miss at least one of the exams because of my mother and her inability to be an adult, but this time I’m determined to get to the tests and take them. I need that certificate! It’s not that I don’t love working for Mackenzie but the kids are getting older, more expensive and I need to find a way to cover their costs. Liberty should be able to go on a field trip and Austin should be able to ask me for a candy bar in the store without feeling guilty, I need my GED!

Mackenzie claps her hands together, her smile widening, ‘OK, let’s call this a bad day and cut our loses, try again tomorrow with hopefully some better weather.’

I take off my apron, hurrying around the counter and to the front door, turning over the open sign and flicking the lock as the baker turns off the lights in the windows so only the one above the register still shines.

‘I’m going to go and put away the cookies I cut out into the fridge’ the older woman tells me, ‘can you empty the register and put it in the banking bag for me?’

‘Sure’ I reply, walking back to the register as Mackenzie ducks out of my way, handing me the key to open the drawer before heading toward the kitchen and through the stable door, the wooden structure swinging closed behind her.

Standing in front of the register, I use the key in the lock, the door springing forward to reveal the morning’s less than stellar takings. I flip up the levers and pull out the few twenties, tens, fives and ones tapping them on top of the register to neaten them up before reaching down to the shelf underneath and pulling out the zippered vinyl bag that the baker uses to store the takings before she can get to the bank to deposit it.

As I go to place the money inside the bag, I hesitate, looking down at the small wad of bills in my hand. I’ve still got no money for my buses, and it’s a long walk to my siblings school. I glance up at the windows again, the rain is lighter, but it’s still not great, walking all that way, I’ll be just as soaked as I was when I arrived. I bite my lip as the terrible thought flits through my mind, followed immediately by the faces of my siblings, the kids that need at least someone to be a good influence, unlike our mother, who took the last of my money to go and buy her booze. Anger rips through me as I scowl bitterly to myself, shoving the money deep inside the bag, and zipping the front up firmly. I am not like my mother; I am not a thief! And I certainly don’t rip off the woman who gave me a chance, who trusted me when she had no reason to.

I turn on my heel, heading toward the back, flipping the light switch by the door as I pass, plunging the store into darkness.

‘Here you go’ I tell the baker as she shuts the refrigerator door and turns toward me. ‘There isn’t much there I’m afraid, I wonder if it’s worth taking the time to bother banking it’ I add ruefully.

Mackenzie laughs as she walks toward me, taking the bag from my hand and tucking it under her arm.

‘Probably isn’t’ she agrees, ‘I’ll maybe just keep it in case I need to break some larger notes tomorrow.’