Chapter 1-1
1327 Words
Chapter 1
THE SILVER BELL CHIMED AS ANIKA FLETCHER entered Kenworth’s department store. She took two steps forward then stopped when she saw a glint of metal. Crouching, she picked up the quarter next to the toe of her worn black boot. She stamped the last bit of snow from her heels and pocketed the quarter. With only fifty dollars left until the next paycheck, Anika needed every last cent.
“Whatcha got, Mommy?” Four-year-old Megan scrunched her nose and lifted up on her tiptoes.
Anika smiled at her daughter and touched the end of her little pixie nose. “Just a coin.”
“We need lots of money so we can pay Beatrice.” Megan’s voice held no trace of concern.
Anika frowned. Thank goodness her daughter was so even-tempered. The daycare manager, Beatrice, had turned them away fifteen minutes ago.
“I’m sorry dear, I really am. Megan is such a sweetheart but we can’t let her stay until you pay your bill. You still owe one-hundred and thirty dollars.” Beatrice had given her a look filled with pity before slowly closing the door.
Anika’s face heated recalling the humiliating conversation. She felt Megan’s tiny fingers wrapping around her hand, and looked down. Megan was like her anchor in the stormy seas. Anika blinked twice, rolled her shoulders back, and smiled at Megan. “It’s going to be okay.”
She adjusted her name tag and walked past the fragrance counter holding her breath, even inhaling the rich scents seemed too expensive for someone like her. This was a seasonal job, but Anika wanted to work into a full-time position.
They walked past The Candy Counter with its rows and rows of hand-dipped chocolates that made Anika’s stomach grumble. She’d skipped lunch, saving the last three slices of bread for Megan. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich she’d made for their dinner called to her from the sack inside her purse.
“Can I have a candy, Mommy?” Megan tugged on Anika’s hand.
“Not now. Mommy has to go to work.”
Two boys stood next to the display, pointing at the neat row of mint patties. “These are Mom’s favorite. Let’s get them for Christmas.”
The older brother, who looked to be about ten or eleven pointed at the prices. “Tommy, see how much it is a pound? I don’t think we have enough.” He studied a handful of coins, his lips moving as he counted. “We need seventeen more cents. We could get some of the taffies instead.”
“But Mom loves those.” Tommy stuck his finger on the glass in front of the mint patties.
Anika hesitated, watching the boys recount their money. She looked over at her daughter and remembered how last week Megan had begged to give a quarter to the Salvation Army bell ringer outside Kenworth’s. Anika had clutched tightly to the coin before giving it to Megan. When had she become so hard and tight that she couldn’t even let go of a quarter? What hurt more was watching another woman in a beautiful suede coat— likely one of the tourists everyone referred to as Ice Money— shush her child and drag him into the store, denying his same request.
She slid the quarter out of her pocket and took a step closer to the Candy Counter. “Here, this might help you boys. I bet your Mom would love those mint patties.”
Tommy looked up and grinned, then glanced at his older brother who studied Anika and the quarter in her outstretched hand. Anika nodded and moved her hand a fraction of an inch closer. The coin wasn’t enough to buy a treat for Megan, but maybe it could help the boys. The older boy took the quarter, adding it to his handful of change.
“Thank you.” He grinned and both boys turned back to the counter.
Anika smiled, and lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. She wasn’t counting on the quarter anyway, and it was cute to see how excited the boys were. Megan tugged on Anika’s other hand and she continued over to the women’s department.
Usually Anika parked around back and entered near the offices and employee lounge, but she hadn’t figured out what to do about Megan yet. She led her daughter to the checkout station in the women’s department, happy that no one had noticed their arrival. Anika stowed the oversized bag full of Megan’s toys under the counter and pulled out a few dolls. She cleared a space in the cabinet under the cash register for Megan to play. It was breaking the rules to bring a child to work, but Anika hoped that she could keep Megan quiet and entertained for the next four hours. She was only scheduled to work part-time for the holidays, mostly covering a half-shift. She tried not to think about what she would do next week when she was scheduled for six-hour shifts.
Thankfully Kenworth’s wasn’t overly busy for a Tuesday, even if it was December first and the Christmas countdown was officially on. The mad rush yesterday on Santa’s first day had spiked the store’s attendance, but things were slowing down a bit and the man in the red suit had left his throne for a break. Anika shushed Megan each time a customer approached and did her best to keep up with her duties in the women’s department.
Megan munched on her peanut butter sandwich, looked at books, and played with her toys, but by eight o’clock she was tired and Anika had run out of ideas.
“I want gummies!” Megan stamped her foot and cried.
“Shh, Meg. We have to be very quiet so we don’t scare the shoppers,” Anika infused a soothing tone into her voice, but it wasn’t very convincing. Her own stomach tightened, grumbling with the gnawing hunger that she’d grown accustomed to. A pack of gummies, or any food right at the moment would be welcome. Anika picked Megan up and rocked her back and forth, humming along to the tune of Silent Night playing over the sound system.
Anika saw her boss round the corner and wished she could climb under one of the racks of designer clothes she’d just arranged. The woman had steel gray hair, a temper that matched it, and eyebrows that were perpetually arched in a slant of disgust with everyone and everything she came in contact with.
Cecilia Grange, acting CEO of Kenworth’s Department store walked toward Anika and pointed her long finger at Megan. “I take it this is your daughter?”
“Yes, I apologize,” Anika’s voice was just above a whisper. “I didn’t have another option tonight.”
“Was she the one I just heard crying? We don’t want to annoy our patrons.” Cecilia’s strident tone made it clear who was annoyed.
“I’m really sorry. I’ve got her settled down now.” Anika turned so that Cecilia could see Megan’s angelic face. Her daughter smiled at Cecilia just as Anika had hoped. She saw her boss soften a fraction.
Cecilia’s eyebrow lowered a millimeter. “Well, as long as she’s quiet, I guess we can make an exception.”
Anika didn’t promise that it would never happen again because she still hadn’t figured out what to do with Megan tomorrow during her shift. “Thank you. She’s really a good little girl and won’t cause any trouble.”
Cecilia pursed her lips. “I came to talk to you about the overtime you signed up for. Are you still capable of filling it?”
“Yes, I’d be glad to help however I can.” Anika tried to tone down the desperate eagerness she heard in her voice.
“We’re setting up a giving tree,” Cecilia said. “It’s one of Keira’s projects.” She rolled her eyes and huffed as though Keira’s ideas were only meant to torture her. “I’m going along with it because I have to humor some people. After the store closes tonight I need you to set up the tree.”
Anika swallowed hard and nodded. “I can certainly do that.”
“Then you’ll need to decorate it and help with the handmade cards we’re creating to hang on the tree. We have an association that will be supplying names of those in need this holiday season.” Cecilia pointed at a long box on the other side of the counter. “The tree is in there. We want it completed by tomorrow night.”
“I can do that.” Anika shifted Megan in her arms. Thankfully, her daughter remained quiet, probably scared silent by Cecilia’s eyebrows.
Cecilia glanced at Megan and back at Anika. “Good.”
After the tapping of her heels faded, Anika looked at the box holding the Christmas tree and groaned. Anika’s stomach grumbled, protesting the lack of food. It was going to be a long night.
- Writer
