Havoc

20 - Helping someone in need

Wynter

“You’re really going to help us?”

“Yes,” I smile at Zena.

After Havoc fucke.d the breath out of me, I slept for an hour. Which meant I was in a rush to make it in time to meet with Nova. I barely had time to shower, though I did, but I didn’t make breakfast. Havoc was not pleased about that, but I didn’t have time to stay.

Luckily, I wasn’t late to meet Nova, and I thanked God for that. I didn’t want to make a bad impression, not after the speech I’d given her yesterday.

We spoke in Nova’s office for half an hour, going over the contract she wanted me to sign. I read through it and found that everything seemed in order. As Nova previously told me, the salary isn’t great, but I didn’t care. She told me that if my work was good, she’d reevaluate my pay in three months.

The job Nova gave me is within the homeless department of Second Chance House – the job I wanted is on a personal level. I’m to work with Zena and her child until they have a home of their own and Zena has a job so she can support herself and Claire.

I’m here to help with anything they need in the meantime. Such as food and clothing, counseling for what they’ve been through, and just having someone to talk to if Zena needs it. Nova also wants me to help Zena get Claire into school and make sure she goes every day.

I signed the contract because I want nothing more than to help whoever I can, whenever I can. I didn’t need a lawyer to look over the contract because I’m not stupid, and I read the damn thing front to back twice.

Once I’d signed, Nova took me to meet Zena and Claire. Zena is a slight woman of thirty, pretty in her own right, and so obviously beaten down by life. Little Claire is five and a happy soul, even though she has nothing to call her own.

Nova introduced me to the two of them, and I’ve been sitting with Zena ever since. She hasn’t said much, and I can see that she’s shy. However, she is willing to talk to me, and that’s a good thing. You have no idea how many people in Zena’s situation won’t so much as utter a word. Trust doesn’t come easily, but I’m willing to earn it anyway I can.

“Whatever you need, I’m here to help, Zena.”

She smiles and then looks over at her little girl as she plays on the floor with a toy tea set. Nova set us up in the lounge room. It’s comfortable, with a soft couch, a TV, toys for kids to play with, and things like that.

“I just want to give Claire a better life.”

“I understand that. Anything is possible if you really want it, Zena. I’m not here to tell you what to do or what you’ve done is wrong. I’ve been where you are.” Zena looks at me, not blinking. “The situation was probably very different, but I’ve been on the streets just the same.”

“Was it hard?”

I nod my head in honesty. I won’t lie to the woman; that’s not what I’m about. “It was extremely hard. I was fifteen and trying to take care of my best friend. I did things I never thought I’d do just so we’d be okay.”

I don’t need to go into detail with this woman; she knows what I’m saying without using words.

Zena blinks, and a tear falls from her eye. I know that tear isn’t for me; it’s for what she’s been through. “I know how that is,”

I reach out and take her hand in mine. Zena doesn’t pull away, though she looks down at our hands before her eyes meet mine.

“I would never take away from what you’ve been through, Zena,” Tears are falling from her eyes unashamedly. “But it’s over now, sweetheart. You are not broken, and you will come through this on the other side. I’ll be with you every step of the way, that I promise you.”

“No one has ever wanted to help me before.” I hand Zena a tissue from the box on the table, and she wipes her nose. “My husband died six months ago. I don’t have any family of my own, and Rory’s family abandoned us after his funeral. They never liked me, and they swore up and down that Claire wasn’t my husband’s child. Of course, she was, but they wasted no time in letting me know what they thought of me before Rory was even cold.”

How vile can people be?

“I lost my job because I couldn’t function enough to keep my mind on one thing, and that meant I couldn’t pay the mortgage. Everything just seemed to go downhill so fast that I couldn’t keep up.”

I watch as she wipes her eyes and sniffs hard. I look over at Claire as she watches her mother closely. I dread to think of the things this little girl has seen during her time on the streets. No child should ever have to live like that, but unfortunately, it’s not always avoidable.

How many times has that little girl seen her mother cry?

How many nights has she spent cold and afraid?

My heart aches for them both.

“We lost the house and ended up living in the car for a while. But then I ran out of what little money I did have, and I had no way to feed my baby girl. I met a woman who pointed me in the direction of this place. She told me to ask for Nova and that she’d help us. I’m not the type of person who asks anyone for anything, but I couldn’t afford to be proud. I had to put Claire first.”

I rub my thumb over her knuckles. “You did the right thing coming here, Zena.”

“I just want to feel safe. I want my daughter to feel safe. I can’t go back out there, Wynter, but I know that Claire and I can’t stay here for long.”

“Listen to me,” I shift in my seat, moving a little closer to Zena. “I don’t want you to worry about ever having to be out there again. The both of you can stay here for as long as you need. You and I will start from the bottom up. Give it a little time, and you’ll have a new home and a job, and Claire will have her own room with everything she needs.”

“Really?!” The little squeal of excitement makes both Zena and me smile.

“Really.” I wink at Claire, who then sits, clapping her hands with a big smile on her face.

“Thank you, Wynter. Thank you.” Zena sobs. I wrap my arms around her and let her cry. Crying is good for the soul, and this woman needs to purge.

Tomorrow, the real work begins.