Finding My Way Back

Chapter 9

Aria 

I dropped off Garrett at his apartment and as I’m pulling out onto the road, I get a sort of a panicky feeling and can’t shake the feeling that he was different than anyone I met. Shaking my head, I make my way to the shop I work at. I usually keep to only working on days I don’t have class, but I’ve been trying to save money to pay for a place that Avia and I can live together. I thought about getting into a based on your income type apartments but my parents would rather I live with them at least until I get my college degree. My parents really have been great about everything and helping when I need the help, but at some point I have to break out on my own. Which I would have done after graduations but we all know how that went. I wouldn’t go back and fix it even if I could. My daughter is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. 

I pull into the parking lot of the mall where the shop is and walk in. I walked into the shop to find the owner behind the cash register ring up a customer with at least 5 more people behind her. The new girl helping customers at the fitting rooms. I shout out that I’ll put my stuff up and be right out to come help her. She gives me a grateful smile and says oh ok. I rush to throw my purse and book bag into my locker and lock it and rush back out. “Where do you need me boss?” I asked.  

“Can you take over for me, so I can go get the cash box for the other register so we have both of the registers going?” She said. 

“Sure can!” I respond. 

“Thanks, doll.” 

As she finishes up the customer, she was dealing with she moved over to let me take over. I greet the next customer and ring them up. While the boss was in the back another 3 people joined the line. You would think people haven't gotten their back-to-school shopping done yet. She comes out as soon as I had rung up the 4th customer. Tho that really didn’t matter seems like the line grew even longer. The boss and I have been working together since I was pregnant with Avia and we work really well together. So, we get the line knocked out within 15 minutes and strangely the shop is completely empty.  

“Why is the store so busy today?” I asked the boss as I go around the counter to help the new girl, who just started last week, straighten the folded clothes. 

“I have no clue; it's been crazy like this all day.” She responds. “Lizzie, dear you can go home now. You did great today! See you Wednesday.”  

I looked at the new girl and she a grateful smile from her. I wave and said my goodbyes to her as she rushes into the back like the boss is going to change her mind. The boss comes over and starts helping me with the straightening. 

“How was the first day of the new term?” She asks. 

Lizzie smiles and waves as she leaves the store. 

“It was good, I met a someone and invited him to lunch with Bella, Roy and I.” I said not really meaning to tell her about Garrett. 

She looks at me and give me a mock shock look. “He must have been a greek god or something to get you to look at him.” She says. 

“Oh, hush you!” Giggling at her response. “He is really handsome tho, but there is something different about him, I haven’t really figured it out yet, but Bella decided it would be a nice idea to invite him to a Friday night dinner where Avia and I will be spending the night with her.” 

“Nice, your friend is usually a good judge of character when it comes to people so I will trust this guy, but if he steps one line out of bounce, he will see the back side of my foot.” She says all mama bear protector. 

“I don’t even know if I like him like that!” I lied, “I just met him.” 

“Oh, I can tell you like him the way your face blushes when you mentioned him.” she says. 

We didn’t get to say much more in, as another rush of customers came in. I was so busy helping customers that by closing time I hadn’t noticed that there was a man with a boy about the same age as Avia and Mel, scraggly as can be. Like he had been playing outside in the mud all day and no one bothering to clean him up, sitting out on a bench outside the store. The guy had this very creepy vibe about him that when I left the store that I steered clear of him. It's like I could feel his eyes on me the whole time I walked to the doors. Two of the security guards that were near the doors, and they were my favorite ones of the bunch. Paul and Dixie, they are the best. I start to talk to them and randomly mention that guy with the boy and tell them they might want to check make sure that little boy hasn’t been kidn*pped. They said they would, but made sure I made my way to my car safely before turning back to the mall and checking on the little boy. 

I pull my car out and head home, making sure no one was following me. I feel like I'm being paranoid, but that guy really gave me the creeps. I wouldn’t want anyone like that to follow me home. I laugh at myself and turn the radio up to help calm my nerves. I make it home in time for dinner, where my little one greets me at the door. Telling me about her day at school and how she helped make dinner with Auntie Paige make dinner. I put my purse and book bag down by the door and head into the dining room with Avia still talking up a storm.  

I give her a hug and plop her down on her chair and turn to my family and tell them hello. After we all said hello to each other we dug in to the delicious spaghetti dinner my sister and daughter made. We all shared how our days went and Avia tells me how she learned her colors and how to count to 20, which she demonstrates it by counting slowly. We all praise her for a job well done. By the time dinner was over Avia had most of it all over her face.  

I take her up to our bathroom and give her a bath. One of our night time routines before bedtime. Sometimes I hate working until close cause it means most days, I only see her for a short time for the day. But I’m glad I’m always the one to put her to bed each night, except for the sometimes when I get a study group whole likes meeting later in the night. The joys of being in college, being able to study whenever you want. After she is done playing in the tub, we gather up all her toys and pull the plug. I put a big fluffy towel around her and lift her out of the tub and put her down on her seat in front of the mirror, where we brush her hair and teeth and finish drying off. We go back into our room and get into pjs, both of us. Then we sit in the rocking chair next to the window where I had set up our little reading corner. I have her pick out a book and we read it, then she wants us to read another book and by the third book she starts to drift off to sleep. I lay her down on her little toddler bed on her side of the room, but knowing by the time I go to bed, she will want in bed with me.  

I turn on her night light and put on the wave white noise machine that we both need to fall asleep on. Then I head back downstairs to help my mom with dishes and we talk more about our day and I had mention that I met a guy and that he might be different. My mom was happy that I was getting to know more people. She knows how reserved I’ve been since I had Avia and only hanging out with Bella and Roy. I know she worries, but I’ve got too much to do to worry about making more friends. As I finish drying and putting away the last dinner dish, I go to the front door to grab my book bag, as I look out the window randomly, I see that creepy guy with the little boy across the street. My heart stops and I lend closer to the window to see if I was making it up and no there they were. I was so into looking out the window I didn’t notice my sister walking up behind me and I jump when she touches my arm.  

“omg, Paige, make noise before you come up behind someone.” I said, trying to catch my breath. 

Paige giggles, “Sorry sis, I was going to tell you we were going to watch the first Harry Potter movie if you wanted to watch with us. What were you looking at?” she asks. 

“I thought I seen this creepy guy I seen at the mall across the street. He had a little boy with him the same age as Avia with him.” I told her. 

Paige looks out the window, “I don’t see anyone, you sure you’re not just overly tired and just thought you seen them?” said with a look of concern on her face. 

I looked back out the window and she was right he was gone. “I don’t know maybe, let's go watch Harry Potter, I can get some of my reading for class down while I spend time with you all.” 

She looked like she was going to say something more but just headed to the living room. Dad and Mom were cuddling on the couch...Sometimes they are just too cute together. I love how much they love each other and they don’t care who see them. Paige sits in the reclining chair and I sit in the other one and Dad starts the movie. I grab out my phone from my pants and sit it on the table next to the chair, grab my textbook, syllabus, a pen and a high lighter out of my bag. I reach for my phone and text Bella, asking her what time tomorrow she wanted to go shopping. We both liked going shopping for a few new things to us at the second hand shop the day after start of term. I know she can afford much better clothes as Roy’s family is pretty rich and he gets monthly allowance from them, plus he also works. But she knows I can't so she doesn’t say anything. 

I put the phone on vibrate and put in on the side of my leg so when she responds the vibrations won't make loud noise on the table. I pick up my syllabus to see what chapters I need to start reading before my class on Wednesday. As I open up to the 3rd chapter, I feel my phone vibrate. I put the syllabus paper in the book to keep my place in case the book closes. I grabbed the phone and unlock the screen to see Bella had responded to my text. 

Bella: Around 9, after we drop the kiddos off at school. 

Me: Sounds great, what if I come get Mel and you and we can take the kids to school together. 

Bella: That sounds prefect the girls will love that. So how did it go with Garrett after you left the restaurant? 

Me: It went fine. I dropped him off at his apartment and boy was it one of the more expensive places in town to live. We small talked and that’s about it, tho I got the weirdest feeling as I pulled away from his apartment. Like I didn’t really want to leave him. That’s weird, isn’t it? I mean I just met him, why would I feel like that? 

Bella: Calm down Aria, breathe. 

Bella: You calm? 

I took a deep breath 

Me: Yes 

Bella: Good, but I think he is a nice guy and you know if I think he is a nice guy you know he is. 

Me: I know, but I can’t be having strong feelings for a guy I just met, can I? 

Bella: Yes, you can. You know how I was when I met Roy. I was head over heels in love with him as soon as I saw him. 

Me: Yeah, you wouldn’t stop talking about him for weeks. Lol Roy and you were met to be. I don’t get the happy endings. 

Bella: Don’t say that, you don’t know what will happen in the future. You could have just met your prince charming today in class lol. 

Me: haha Bella very funny. 

Bella: What? I had to; it was there for the taking. So, what else did you do today since you didn’t seem to hang out with Garrett after the restaurant? 

Me: I went to work, which was crazy busy. Like Christmas eve shopping crazy. 

Bella: Really? I wonder why it was so busy, it's not like the store is a chain store that everyone goes to. 

Me: I know that’s why I love working there, I get to get free clothing for Avia, even tho its usually for the next year, it's still free clothes so I’ve saved a ton and I can do my studying when its slow, which is a lot of the times. It was so busy that I didn’t even know this creepy guy with a little boy who looked to be 3 sitting on a bench outside the store, for most of my shift. 

Bella: Creepy as in how? 

Me: I don’t know but he gave weird vibes like creepy stalker vibes. And I thought after dinner I went to get my school bag, I had seen him across the street staring at the house, but Paige came up behind me and scared the living day lights out of me and she looked and didn’t see anything. 

Bella: That is weird. Let me know if you see him again. I gotta go, Roy wants me attention and you know what that means *Winks* Love ya chick! 

Me: smh love ya to! Have fun! Tell Roy I said, he better get the job done right *wink* 

I look at the clock and its already 8:30, I can read for another 30 minutes before I go to bed. 

Phone vibrates again. I look at the lock screen to see Bella had responded, he said he can do that. I shake my head and smile. I was so glad my friend has someone that loves her just as much as I do and can handle her and I’s teasing. I put the phone down and starts reading the book. I finished the chapters I’m supposed to read before Wednesday done with 5 minutes to watch some Harry Potter. I can’t believe my family all loves the movies and usually watches one of the movies at least 3 times a week. Even Avia loves them, well only the first 3, I figure the others are a little too dark for a three-year-old.  

I look at the phone again to see that it's time to head to bed. I say my good nights to all and head up to my bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I quietly slid into my bed hoping not to wake Avia so I can have the bed to myself tonight, but no luck as soon as I get comfy her she comes climbing up the other side and says in a soft little sleepy voice, “can I sleep with you mommy?” 

 “Yes, baby you can.” I said knowing I may never get the bed to myself again. I smile at that and get comfy again with my daughter cuddling up next to me. I kiss the top of her head and I close my eyes and drift off.