Divorced; Starting over with an Alpha

Drown the Sorrows

Dropping Wayne off was easier than expected. He lived just five miles up the road, and from the moment we pulled out of the lot, he didn’t stop talking. His words slurred, stories tangled, but his heart was kind. He was one of those people life hadn’t treated kindly—but then again, weren’t we all?

Back at the diner, my shift finally came to a close. I pulled the bills from my apron pocket and laid them flat on the counter for Tina to count. Some of the other girls preferred to tally up their tips themselves, but I never did. I’d rather not know until the end. That way, no one could ever accuse me of pocketing extra cash. In the past six months, we’d already lost four waitresses for stealing.

My eyes dropped to the stack of money. A flicker of hope sparked in my chest. I needed at least five hundred dollars over the next few days. Daycare had sent home another past-due notice, and with rent and groceries also breathing down my neck, the numbers just weren’t adding up.

Tina glanced at me as she scooped up the bills. She could see the stress I carried, plain as day. Single mom, worn out but still standing. Despite the chaos of waitressing—the long hours, the rude customers, the aching feet—I truly did love it. Talking with the regulars, remembering the small things that made them feel seen… it gave me purpose.

Tina had always noticed that about me. She saw the way people lit up when I asked about their grandkids or remembered their dog’s name. She told me once I had a gift for making people feel at home—even if my own life felt like it was constantly falling apart.

“Alright,” I asked softly, trying not to sound desperate. “What’s the total tonight?”

Tina’s lips curled into a smile. “Well, sugar, even though it was a slow night, you did alright. Looks like one hundred and ninety-seven dollars.”

My eyes widened. “That’s fantastic!” I nearly shouted, my voice rising with unexpected joy. Relief rushed through me like a wave. I could drop a hundred at daycare when I picked Scarlett up tonight.

Tina smiled to herself as she handed me the cash. She didn’t say a word about how only one hundred and fifty of it had actually been mine. She’d slipped in the rest when she saw the look on my face. She just hoped it helped, even a little.

Excitement surged through me as I stepped out of the diner. I hadn’t had a night like this in a long time. The kind of shift that made the sore feet and aching back worth it. I tucked the cash deep into my bra instead of my purse—no way was I getting mugged for my hard-earned money. Not tonight. Not ever.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving just enough light to blur the edges of everything. If I had any energy left, I would’ve run all the way to daycare to pick up Scarlett. But I was exhausted, and my feet throbbed with every step. It was a good twenty-five minute walk to the far end of town where the daycare was, then another fifteen to get back home. Still, it was the only low-income daycare open late—and beggars couldn’t be choosers.

Anna, the woman who ran it, was kind but strict. She treated the kids like they were her own. Still, kindness only went so far, and I knew I was pushing it with how far behind I was on payments. But with tonight’s tips, I could finally put something toward what I owed. Maybe even catch up.

She only charged seventy-five bucks a week, which was generous, really. But sometimes, even that small amount felt impossible to come by.

What I needed—what I really needed—was a car. The buses stopped running downtown after seven, which meant if I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t work. But like everything else in my life, the solution had a price tag I couldn’t touch.

As I climbed the steps to the daycare, the sound of soft laughter floated through the front window. I paused and peeked inside.

There was Scarlett, twirling around in the living room with a little blonde-haired boy—maybe two years old. They were giggling and clapping, playing patty-cake like nothing else in the world mattered. It was such a normal moment. Simple, joyful.

Moments like this always made me wonder—just for a second—if I’d made the right choice. If I was really doing enough. If I could ever give her more than just getting by.

Before I could knock, the door swung open.

“Hey, sugar. Hope you had a good shift,” Anna said, stepping aside to let me in. She moved to gather Scarlett’s things, her tone warm but edged with something heavier.

“I also hope you came with some cash tonight, love. You’re three weeks behind,” she said gently. “And I hate to even say this, but if you fall behind again, I won’t be able to keep watching your sweetie.”

There was genuine regret in her eyes. Then she gave me a soft elbow to the side and smiled. “Even if she is my favorite.”

I managed a small smile back. I love that woman.