Chapter 5
1234 Words
Chapter 5
ANIKA SLEPT LATE ON THURSDAY and took Megan to story time at the library. While Megan sat with the other children, she searched the internet for other job opportunities and babysitters, but she couldn’t find anything in Echo Ridge. Her car was too old to handle a commute outside city limits, and with the winter weather, it wasn’t a good idea for Megan’s recovering lungs to be out and about. When she thought of the possibility of losing her job at Kenworth’s her head throbbed and worry coursed through her veins. She hated feeling so close to the edge, like if she took one wrong step she’d tumble to the ground, pulling her unsuspecting child with her. Megan’s trust in her mother was innocent and complete just as it was in Santa Claus, with no idea how fragile that trust felt to Anika. She knew that if they slipped, there would be nothing to break their fall.
The screen blurred before her eyes. She swiped a hand across her cheeks and straightened her shoulders. She would make this work. There had to be someone she could ask for help in tending Megan. The librarian with a German accent, Britta, had always been friendly toward her and Megan. Anika noticed Britta talking to a teenage girl with a blonde messy bun at the desk. The girl left the library carrying a stack of books. Maybe Britta could offer a recommendation for a teenager who might babysit Megan a few days a week. It had to be a cheaper option than daycare. She picked out a book and approached the circulation desk.
“Hey, Anika. It’s so good to see you,” Britta said. “How’s Megan?”
“She loves story time. The puppets are her favorite.” Anika set her book next to the scanner. “I’m looking for a babysitter for Megan, just during the holiday rush because I’m taking a few extra hours at Kenworth’s. Do you know any teenage girls who could help me out?”
“My niece, Lila might be able to help you. I know she babysits for a few people in town,” Britta said. “She was just in here. You might have seen her? She’s seventeen, blonde hair in a bun.”
Anika nodded. “I think I did see her. Could you help me get in touch with her?”
Britta smiled. “Sure. I bet she’d love your darling Megan.”
Ten minutes later, Anika left the library with Megan in tow and an armload of books. She actually smiled when someone wished her “Happy Holidays” because Lila would be babysitting Megan tonight. Her little girl would go to bed early for the first time in three days and Anika wouldn’t have to worry about incurring Cecilia’s wrath.
The thought of finishing up the Christmas tree didn’t inspire happy Christmas melodies because Anika was sick of poking her arms into the fake needles. The ten-foot tree was mostly done, it was just taking longer than she’d expected to hang the dozens of cards in a way that made it easy for people to read the information each one contained. Even though she didn’t like it, completing the job meant the end of the meager overtime work.
Anika involuntarily scanned the children’s department every few minutes, looking for Carlos that evening but he must have finished up his project. She groaned. He was a nice guy and she’d been so rude to him. What was her problem? Her stomach growled in answer to her internal question. She was down to twenty-five dollars so she’d only brought an apple and a granola bar to work tonight. Lila would get at least half of that for babysitting. Thank goodness tomorrow was pay day. She caught herself looking for Carlos again and gave herself a mental slap. She had done the right thing scaring him off. She didn’t need one more problem to deal with right now.
Anika wandered across the store to put away a few holiday items that were displayed near The Candy Counter. She waved at Reese Gates, the young woman who seemed to always be working behind the counter. Rumor on the sales floor was that Reese’s grandma, a woman Anika had never met, had problems with dementia. Reese appeared to be close to Anika’s age, single, and happy. Who wouldn’t be when they worked every day surrounded by chocolate and had the security of a family business behind them?
“Hey, Anika. I’m closing up for the night and I have a bag of no-sales. I thought you and your daughter might like a few.” Reese handed her a white sack that smelled heavenly.
“No-sales?” Anika asked.
“They aren’t pretty enough to put in the display case but they still taste the same.”
Anika clenched her stomach when it grumbled again and smiled at Reese. “That is so sweet. Thanks for thinking of us, but I don’t want to take your chocolates.”
“I’ll have to throw them away if you don’t and wouldn’t Megan like them? There’s a couple chocolate Santas in here that a box fell on.” Reese shook the sack.
The smell of chocolate tickled Anika’s nose. “Okay, then, if you’re sure you can’t use them.”
“I’m sure.” Reese handed her the bag.
“Thank you.” Anika clenched her fingers and the white paper bag crinkled. “These smell so good.”
“And taste even better.” Reese smiled as she went back to filling the Turkish delight tray. The powdered sugar stuck to her gloves and found its way to her apron. “Where’s Megan?”
“I actually found a babysitter for tonight so hopefully she’s asleep in her own bed.”
Reese nodded. “It looks like Carlos finished up those shelves.” She looked past Anika toward the children’s department. Anika turned to follow her gaze across the tiled walkway, but she couldn’t see the shelves from this vantage point.
“He must have. What do you know about him?” Anika asked and then wished she hadn’t.
Reese grinned. “Besides that finely sculpted chest I can imagine underneath his T-shirt?”
The image of Carlos’s physique immediately came to mind and Anika blushed.
Reese giggled. “I noticed him checking you out yesterday.”
“You did not,” Anika said.
“I did.” Reese nodded. “I was organizing some stuff in the store room. I guess I just blend in to the scenery around here because people don’t notice me. I’d say Carlos might have a thing for you.”
Anika felt her cheeks heat up a few more degrees. “That’s probably not a good thing. I have a little girl and I’m not looking to complicate my life right now.”
“Oh, trust me. I don’t think anyone would call Carlos a complication.” Reese leaned against the counter and lowered her voice. “I don’t know him real well, but my impression is that he’s a quiet guy who works really hard, doesn’t date much, and has turned down several of the um, empty-headed gals who fell all over themselves trying to catch his eye.”
Anika listened, and tried to bite her tongue to keep from asking more questions about Carlos. Reese was nice but Anika didn’t want to encourage any holiday match-making. “Well, that’s good to know. I guess every once in a while someone attracts the right guy, but I’ll steer clear of him, cuz that someone isn’t me.”
Reese studied her for a moment, her smile faltered. “I’m sorry to hear that. Don’t worry. I think Carlos is on the shy side so he probably won’t bother you if you don’t want him to.”
“Do you want him to bother you?” Anika asked. Dang, why couldn’t she cut this conversation short?
“Well, I’m not really one to fight over a guy.” Reese brushed away a piece of hair that had come loose from her long braid and left behind a streak of powdered sugar. “I want him to fight for me, so I don’t think I need to worry about Carlos.” She winked and headed back to the store room.
Anika thought about calling after her to tell her about the powdered sugar on her cheek, or that she wasn’t interested in Carlos at all. Instead, she clamped her mouth shut and went back to work.
- Writer
