Chapter Four: Hope
1362 Words
The restaurant was already busy before noon, and Lily Montez felt every second of it in her feet.
She moved from table to table with a practiced smile, balancing plates, refilling cups, apologizing for things that weren’t her fault. Her apron was stained from the morning rush, and the pen tucked behind her ear had run out of ink halfway through her shift. She’d meant to replace it, but money had been tight lately. Everything had been tight.
She did the math in her head the way she always did. Rent. Groceries. Transport. The little extra she tried to slip Rose whenever she could even when Rose told her not to.
Rose always carried too much.
Lily wiped down a table near the window and glanced at the couple sitting there, laughing softly over brunch. Expensive clothes. Easy smiles. The kind of people who talked about holidays and renovations and school fees like those things were nothing. Lily overheard conversations like that every day. Rich lives. Comfortable problems. Complaints about things she couldn’t afford to imagine.
She had mastered her customers too the ones who tipped well,the ones who complained,the ones who couldn't be bothered. It made her job easier.
Sometimes she wondered what it felt like to live without counting every coin.
The bell above the door rang, and she didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“Let me guess,” she called out, already grabbing two mugs. “Black coffee. No sugar.”
Donald laughed loudly. “Miss Psychic,you missed your calling as a mind reader.”
Behind him came Brock.
Brock was hard to miss. Tall, broad, shoulders squared like he was always expecting trouble. His eyes scanned the room the second he walked in, a habit he never dropped,scanning the room like he was on duty even when he wasn’t. Brock didn’t smile. Didn’t even nod. He grunted once in greeting and took his usual seat the one with a clear view of the entrance and his back to the wall.
Lily smiled at him,"Good morning to you too, Brock.”
“One day, Brock, you’ll use a full sentence. I believe in you.”
Brock grunted again.
"You don't just speak Brock,that was a full sentence." Donald said as he slid into the booth, stretching his arms. “We’ve been coming here for almost three years now. She still hasn’t cracked you.” He added.
“Oh, I speak fluent Brock just fine,” Lily said, jotting down their order. “It’s all ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ and ‘hmph.’ Very expressive.”Lily said. “He just doesn’t like talking.”
Brock’s lips twitched. Almost a smile.
Donald had been Marlon Ford’s driver for years. Lily had figured that out quickly. He talked too much not to. He talked about traffic, about long days, about the children—though never in detail. Brock, on the other hand, said almost nothing. He was Marlon’s security. Lily knew that too. You could tell by the way he watched everything.
But what Lily noticed most was this: neither of them spoke badly about the kids,Marlon and not even his late wife who she had come to know as Marissa ,not before,not now,not ever. And that mattered to her. She had over to the house a few times to make special deliveries and she sort of got why.
She set their coffee down and turned to leave when Donald started talking again.
“So summer holiday’s over,” he said. “Kids are back home.”
Brock nodded.
“Madam Desiree dropped them off yesterday,” Donald continued, shaking his head. “Said she’s gotten a better job. Lots of travel. Can’t be available like before. She suggested they get a nanny.”
Lily slowed her steps before joining in the conversation.
“And Mr. Ford?” she asked casually, though her heart had begun to beat faster.
Donald sighed. “Didn’t want to hear it. But Angela pushed.”
“Angela always does,” Lily said.
Donald leaned in. “They’re hiring a nanny.”
The words landed heavier than Lily expected.
She turned fully this time. “A nanny?”
Donald nodded. “Yeah. Full-time.”
Her chest tightened. For a moment, fear rushed in before hope could. Fear had learned to arrive first.
“My sister might be interested,” Lily said carefully.
Donald looked at her face, really looked this time. He saw the hope there. The worry underneath it.
“Your sister Rose?” he asked.
“Yes,” Lily said quickly. “She’s a single mum. She works hard. She’s good with kids. She just… needs stability.”
Brock lifted his head and studied Lily. Something passed in his eyes recognition, maybe. He had seen women like Rose before. Women who carried whole families on their backs.
Donald nodded slowly. “I’ll put in a good word.”
Lily’s breath caught. “You would?”
“Yeah. Angela likes you and if she's anything like you,she's the right one.” Donald said. “She deserves a chance plus it's better than some random person off the internet or through an agency.”
Brock grunted then nodded once.
“That’s Brock-speak for ‘approved,’” Donald said.
Lily felt something loosen in her chest. She thanked them, walked away, and had to pause behind the counter to steady herself.
Hope was dangerous.
But this time, it felt necessary.
The prison visiting room was cold and smelled like disinfectant.
Rose Montez sat across from her father, Brittany seated beside her, legs swinging lightly under the table. Brittany Thresher looked more like Julius every year the same sharp eyes, the same stubborn set to her jaw. People noticed it immediately.
Her father, Julius Montez Jack, as everyone used to call him—looked thinner than the last time she’d seen him. His beard was flecked with gray now. His eyes, though, were still the same. Sharp. Warm. Sad.
“My girls,” he said softly. “You both look older every time.”
Rose swallowed. “We miss you, Dad.”
He nodded. “I miss you too. And Lily?” he asked,"She's alright, she's working." Rose replied. He walked over to them,he smiled wide when he touched her. “There’s my girl.”
Brittany stood and hugged him tightly. “I missed you, Grandpa.”
“I missed you more,” he said, squeezing her hands. “You’re growing too fast.”
She grinned. “Mom says the same thing.”
Rose watched them, heart heavy and warm all at once. Brittany had always adored him. He was gentle with her in a way life had never been gentle with Rose or him.
They talked about school. About friends. About small things. Julius listened closely, pride shining in his eyes.
Then he looked at Rose.
“You look tired,” he said softly.
She smiled. “Just work.”
He nodded but didn’t look convinced.
“And your mother?” he asked.
Rose hesitated. She never knew how to answer that question.
“She’s… the same,”she said finally. Not a lie,not the truth an answer.
Julius sighed. He knew better.
When the guard announced time, Brittany hugged him again. “I’ll come back soon,” she promised.
“I’ll be waiting,” he said as he planted a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Take care of yourself dad." Rose said as she hugged him goodbye. She couldn't wait for the day he would be out of here.
Outside, Rose’s phone rang.
Lily.
“There’s a nanny vacancy,” Lily said breathlessly. “At the Ford house.”
Rose stopped walking.
Her mind raced.
A real job. A safe house. A chance.
She looked at Brittany, who was already smiling.
“This could change things,” Rose whispered.
Brittany squeezed her hand. “Then take it.”
Rose nodded, fear and hope tangling together in her chest.
“This could change everything,” she whispered.
And for the first time in a long while, hope felt real.
She started walking faster.
This was her shot.
She wasn’t going to waste it.
- Writer
