CHAPTER Nine:

    Lauren let Willow sleep in while she tried making pancakes again. The girl was exhausted. The night before, she’d been asleep before they even pulled into the driveway.

    She spent a little bit of time in the garden, then decided she needed to do something about her devotional schedule. It was a shame how long she’d been trying to fit God into her schedule. As though He could be summoned for ten minutes, then ignored for the rest of the day. 

    It had been just what she needed. After some time in prayer, she’d read Isaiah forty-nine. 

    “Can a woman forget her child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget you. Behold, I have graven you upon the palms of my hands...” She whispered the voice aloud to herself as she thought about it.

    It was fitting for both herself and Willow. God had looked after them last night, and she knew He would continue to.

    Willow woke up and came to the breakfast table. Lauren smoothed her hair and poured a generous amount of syrup on her pancakes. 

    “I’m never, ever leaving you with that awful man again,” she promised. 

Willow smiled and took a big bite.

    From what Lauren had been able to piece together, Raymond had stayed at the house for less than ten minutes, before promising to take her swimming. She’d of course been delighted at the prospect. Especially after being cooped up in a car for so long, then cooped up in the store with Lauren. But when they got to the creek, Raymond’s friends showed up.

    He’d left her all alone. She’d waded in the water, but gotten cold, and luckily realized she couldn’t swim. So she sat on the shore until it started to get dark. Lauren had missed her by only a few minutes.

    The phone rang, and she jumped out of her seat. The call display was blank. Lauren didn’t know whether or not to hope it was Charlotte. It was not going to be pleasant when she had to explain what had happened. She answered anyway.

    “Hey.” Raymond’s voice sounded cheery on the other side of the line. 

    Lauren stepped out of the room so Willow wouldn’t hear, then lashed out. “How could you? Willow could have drowned! She could have gotten lost! What were you thinking? And how could you call me now?”

    “Woah, slow down!” Raymond said. “I’m sorry, alright? She wanted to go, and I thought she could have some fun.”

    “Really?!” Lauren hissed. “With you and your partying buddies? Have you lost your mind?”

    “Can’t you just drop it already?” he shot back. “I said I’m sorry. I don’t need your scolding, I’ve already suffered enough.”

    “Is that supposed to make me feel sorry for you? Were you the one missing at midnight-”

    “Are you the one with a black eye?” He paused. “Listen, babysitters usually get paid, and I had her for several hours...”
    Lauren slammed the phone down. Black eye? If he had one, he deserved it. She was certainly not going to pay the scoundrel, and it was infuriating that he had the guts to ask. 

    The clock read seven thirty. She frowned. It was time to head to work. 

    “Willow, time to go!” She returned to the kitchen and put the dishes in the sink. 

    “Coming.” The girl had already devoured four pancakes. 

    Lauren helped her into her shoes and wrapped a sweater around her shoulders. The girl was already frail, and she hadn’t seemed to warm up from the night before. 

    Willow skipped ahead down the stairs, her hair swinging in two pigtails on either side of her head. Lauren smiled. She’s so sweet.

    They got into the truck and started driving to town. It was drizzling, and the windshield wipers moved slowly but surely as theykept up with the drops. Lauren took the opportunity to ask some questions. 

    “Do you know where your mom was headed?”
    “No. I miss her.” Willow said. “When is she coming back?”

    “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t know.”

    Willow sighed. 

    “When do you usually go to bed? When do you have naps.” Lauren had decided she needed to make a schedule.

    “Whenever.” Willow shrugged.

    “What time do you usually eat?” 

    “I’m not hungry.”

    Lauren smiled. There was clearly no schedule in place yet. She’d have to make up her own. If these two weeks were going to work, she’d have to help Willow. Chaos never worked in her own life, why should it be any different for Willow?

    They stopped in front of the store, and Lauren carried Willow inside.

    “Want to switch the sign on the door?” she asked. 

    Willow nodded. Lauren held her up so she could do it, then turned on the lights. They brought along some blankets and a pillow, and Lauren bought a wide foldable chair for her to sit on. It was big enough that Willow could curl up and sleep. 

    Lauren fussed over the girl until she was satisfied. Willow sat right next to the counter, and was already nodding off again. If all went well, the day wouldn’t end in disaster.

    The doorbell jingled.

    “Good morning, Officer.” Grant grinned as he walked toward Lauren. He was wearing his uniform.

    She raised her eyebrows, puzzled. 

    He motioned to the jacket she wore. “You’re wearing my badge.”

    She looked down and laughed. In her rush, she’d thrown it on over her teeshirt. And she hadn’t had time to take it off and put on her store apron. 

    “How’s Willow doing?” Grant glanced over at her and his voice dropped to a whispered when he noticed she was sleeping.

    “Well, tired. I think she was having bad dreams last night too. Last night she was scared out of her wits.” Lauren studied his face. “What happened to you?”

    Grant reached up and touched his cheek. A bruise had formed. It was still bright red, but purple had begun to outline it. “It turns out Raymond isn’t as weak as he looks.  Well, still he ended up looking worse than me.”

    Lauren realized it must have been Grant who’d given Raymond his black eye. She tried not to smile at the thought. 

    “I’m sorry,” she said, growing serious. “I can’t thank you enough, for everything. You’ve proved yourself a loyal friend. Plus, I realize you’re an officer for more than just getting free donuts at the diner.”

    “So, this is what it takes for you to realize my worth. Wow.” Grant shook his head, a playful expression on his face.

    Lauren rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. 

    “Have you heard from Raymond?” 

    “Yes,” she raised her eyebrows. “He called to complain about his battle scars... Can you believe he wanted me to pay him?”

    “You can’t be serious. I told him he had to call and apologize, and that’s what he does. Incredible.”

    “He did say he was sorry and asked me to forget about it. That’s the most we can expect from him.”

    Grant shook his head in disbelief, then took a deep breath as if clearing his thoughts. “Well. Are you going to keep my jacket forever?”

    Lauren took it off and tossed it to him. 

    “Thank you, madame.” He mock saluted her. “We will continue this discussion later. Is it too much to ask you how you’re going to pay me back for last night?” 

    “Don’t start,” Lauren held a finger up to silence him.

    He headed for the door. “Wish me luck. I have a social call at the Howland household.”

    “Be careful.” Lauren leaned over the counter and watched him go.

 

hf

 

    After all the driving she’d been doing, the truck was getting low. As much as she hated to do it, Lauren had to fill it up. At least gas prices were relatively low. 

    Willow had behaved like an angel all day. She’d napped for an hour or so, then amused herself with some toys that Mrs. Jepsen brought for her.

    Lauren realized she was going to miss her when she left. If she left. It was still to be decided whether or not Charlotte was ever coming back, or if she’d disappeared forever.

    “I want to see Mandy,” Willow peered over the dash of the car as they headed across town. 

    “We will.” Lauren smiled.

    They drove the block to the gas station, then came to a stop. Raymond’s car was parked outside it. He leaned against the gas pump, smiling at Amanda. She giggled at something he said. Lauren’s cheerful mood dropped.

    Raymond looked over as she pulled up next to him. His eye was swollen, a painful shade of red. “I’ll see you later,” he winked at Amanda with his good eye, then got in his car and drove away.

    “Hi Lauren,” Amanda turned to her. “Filling up?” She removed the gas cap of the truck. 

    Lauren climbed out and crossed her arms. “What are you doing?”

    “My job, duh.” Amanda held up the gas nozzle. Her eyes wandered in the direction Raymond had gone. “You have to admit. He is charming.”

    “Didn’t you hear what happened last night?” 

    She shook her head. “He said there was some sort of misunderstanding between you and him. Grant got touchy and punched him.”

    “He was supposed to be watching Willow!” Lauren glared at her. “Instead he took her down to one of his parties, and she wandered off. We searched for hours, and he was no help at all!”

    Amanda’s smile fell. “Aw. I’m sorry. But, you know he probably didn’t mean any harm. That’s just how he is.”

    “When has he ever paid attention to you before?” Lauren said. “I don’t like it. Don’t let him trick you. This is for your own good Amanda.” 

    She rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah. Listen, I know you’re in trouble with his parents and all, but you can’t hold that against him.”

    “Is that really what you think?” Lauren stared at her in disbelief. “You’re my friend. I want what’s best for you. This isn’t about his parents, it’s about him.”

    “Whatever,” Amanda muttered under her breath. She led Lauren inside to pay. 

    Lauren knew she couldn’t reason with her friend. Amanda had always been headstrong, yet at the same time gullible. If she got a notion in her head about someone, the only thing to do was let it play out.

    Lauren got back into the truck with as few words as she could manage. She didn’t want to be angry at her friend, but she couldn’t hide her annoyance.

    “She was talking to the mean man,” Willow said, pouting. 

    “I know, Willow, I know.” Lauren drove in the direction of the diner, where she’d seen Raymond go. 

    He was just coming out the door when she arrived, a box of cookies in his hand. She focused her glare on him and put the truck in park, not bothering to turn it off. 

    “Raymond Howland!” She jumped out and marched up to him. 

    He sighed. “What now? I thought you were sick and tired of me. Looks to me like you’re following me around.” 

    “Cut. It. Out.” She spat the words at him. “You stay away from my friend. Hate me all you want, but stay away from Amanda.”

    He opened the door of his car and set the cookies inside. Then he straightened again and rested his arms across the doorframe. “Or what? You’ll have Grant fight your battles for you again?”

    “I’m warning you.”

    “Look, Lauren, I don’t have time to deal with your little tantrums.” He put a pair of sunglasses on. “You’re not my boss. No one, including Grant, can stop me from doing what I want.”

    He slid inside and shut the door. Lauren stared as he drove away. She knew he wasn’t just frivolous and disastrous, he was vengeful. And mad at her. What was he going to do now? The last place a person wanted to be was in the centre of his attention, and she had a feeling that was just where Amanda was headed. 

    “Let’s go home, Wren,” Willow called from the truck. She’d come up with the nickname all on her own. 

    Lauren’s eyes softened. Of course, Willow couldn’t have known it, but it was the nickname her grandfather had given her.

    “Yes, let’s go home,” she said. 

    As they drove, gloomy thoughts shuffled through her mind. She’d already quit working for Chuck, he’d been understanding, but she hated to lose the extra income. 

No doubt she’d need to take more days off soon. Especially if she couldn’t depend on Amanda for Tuesdays. Not that having a babysitter for one day a week was much help.

    It’s all Charlotte’s fault. Lauren wiped at an angry tear before Willow could see it. She was afraid too. Of losing the house. Of Willow being abandoned. Of losing her friend.

    If only her grandparents were there to help her. She wished she had their wisdom. They would have known what to do. But all the wishing in the world wouldn’t bring them back.

​

 

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    Charlotte walked through the mall, looking through shop windows at dresses and shoes. Things she would’ve splurged on before, but now she was smarter. There were posters and papers pinned to a bulletin board between them. She read through them.  Concerts, ads for tutors, a flyer about a missing cat. No job postings.

    With a sigh, she turned away and went to the food court. It was busy, long lines, but she was patient. She waited, arms crossed then ordered a sandwich. 

    Families sat at booths and teens out of school for lunch laughed together. She found a quiet spot and sat down by herself. In an hour she had to be at another interview. 

    None of the jobs she’d applied to so far seemed very promising. Almost all of the interviewers had pried her until she’d told them she had a daughter. That had dropped her chance of being hired by ninety percent. 

    How much longer could she try? She stared at the people working in the kitchens. Would she end up working at a fast-food restaurant? If only there was someone in the city who she knew. A friend who might put in a good word. 

    A name popped into her mind, and she paused mid-bite to ponder it. 

    Lacey’s salon had been on the outskirts of the city. Would she still be open? Charlotte knew she’d probably hire her. After all, they had been friends. There was a rocky end to their relationship – but the bridge wasn’t entirely burned. 

    Plus, it had been years ago. Maybe she’d forgotten. The only problem was that she’d have an established salon. Probably lots of stylists, and why would she fire one of them to hire Charlotte? Still, it was worth a try. 

    She slid out of her seat and dropped the remains of her greasy sandwich in the trash bin. If there was any possibility of being hired, Charlotte was willing to try. She decided to find Lacey and ask. Asking never hurt.