My Shifted Life

Chapter 3 - Georgia

I hate the idea of Lettie going out with her friends, especially friends I don’t know, but she is 16 and I can’t stop her from going out and enjoying herself forever. I have to think about giving her some independence even though it kills me inside. I know she lies to me. She thinks she is good at lying but she isn’t. I guess she gets that from her father. He thought he could lie and charm his way into and out of any situation, and for the most part that was true. I don’t like to think about him but I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind lately. The closer it got to our daughters birthday the more time I have spent thinking about him, and now her birthday has been and gone, I can’t stop, not even for a second. Even my dreams or rather nightmares are plagued by him. He is not a particularly good man, he is not the man I would have ever chosen to be the father of my child, but I was young, barely 18, and I got in way over my head. He was gorgeous and easily the most charming person I have ever met. I was very naive and didn’t realise what I was getting into and now we have spent the last 16 years and 9 months trying to stay under his radar. I hadn’t known I was pregnant when I left and moved far away from him but as soon as I found out, I knew I had to keep running. I have no idea if he even looked for me, but I couldn’t take any chances, we have had to keep moving, never staying in the same place for long, just in case. If he ever found out about Lettie I know he wouldn’t ever stop until he has what is his. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of him finding out about her and charming her away from me. I grab my denim jacket to ward off the chill in the air that isn’t there. I don’t want to sit here alone and think about him any longer, I need to do something to take my mind off of him somehow. I suppose as I am ready and I have my jacket on, I may as well head into work early. I have a short shift tonight at the bar 7:30 - 11:30. Which was the main reason I allowed Lettie to go out with her friends. I know she would sneak out and lie about it if I said she couldn’t go, and I can’t be there to check up on her. It is much better if she goes out without lying to me. Her stubbornness and insubordination are another two of the traits that she got from her father. I hurriedly walk the short distance to the bar humming, trying to reassure myself that everything will be fine, but as soon as I walk into the bar, I’m not so sure. The bar is packed, much busier than it would normally be this early on a Friday night.

“Georgia, thank goodness you got here early. Can you start right away and you can finish a bit early?” Rex the bar owner asks. I look at my watch 7:08. I could be away by 11:08 and home in time to check Lettie was home on time. Perfect.

“Sure, just let me dump my jacket and I’m all yours.” I say giving him a smile. I like Rex, I like him a lot, just not in a romantic way. He is a monster of a man to look at. Huge, way over 6 ft with arms bigger than my thighs that are covered in tattoos, but with a bubbly, easygoing personality that is so easy to enjoy being around. He is handing out bottles of beer to a large group of equally monstrous men when I return to the bar area from the back office we place our coats in.

“Georgia make sure my friends here always have a drink, and they’re on the house for them all night. Ok?” Rex says nodding towards them. “I have to go speak with my brother, but I will be back shortly. Remember, keep the drinks flowing.” He says with a huge smile.

“Sure thing boss.” I say smiling back at him and then at the group. I’m not sure what favours they have done for my boss but keeping these guys in drinks all night is going to cost him a fortune. “Anyone ready for a top up?” I ask eying the bottles that are already 3/4 empty, despite them only just receiving them.

“Sure. Can we have an extra couple too? There are two more joining us in a second.” One of the men answers. I nod at him and I am just about to answer when the doors open and two men I have spent almost half of my life avoiding, walk in, as all of my worst nightmares come true. I look down at my hands which are now shaking frantically as I hurry with the bottles. Perhaps they won’t recognise me. It’s been a while. I look completely different, right? I’m sure I do, everything will be fine, I try unsuccessfully to reassure myself.