My phone didn't have data, but it could still take calls, paid for on a month to month basis, which came in handy when it came to the job search. Two of the cleaning jobs got back to me the next day. They were both jobs cleaning office buildings. One during the day, which wasn't a problem and one at night, which would be trickier because of Katie.
The second job paid twice as much, exactly because it was the graveyard shift, which few people were willing to work aside from the genuinely nocturnal and truly desperate. Since I fell into the second category, I figured it was worth a try. I managed to make both interviews during the morning when I knew Katie would be in daycare. The buildings were managed by competing companies which, of course, had set up their offices across the street from each other in the same prime, downtown location.
The first interview was for the day shift. I assumed it would start the next day. It was already well after breakfast. I had worn my best clothes and tied my hair back to hide how greasy it was, kicking myself for not taking a shower before I left Chase's place, or at least sneaking back over to my old apartment. The lazy landlord had not even changed the locks. I could have been living there but there was too much of a chance of being discovered.
Both interviews went surprisingly well. The manager for the day shift was a prim woman in her late 20s who looked like her life's ambition was to be a movie executive and her current job was just another step along the way. The manager for the company offering the nightshift was a coldly efficient gentleman with gray fringes to his otherwise jet-black hair and an accent I first thought was German but later turned out to be Norwegian.
Both were quite cordial, and neither of them asked about the size of my tits which was already one up on my last interview. Their main concern seemed to be about my experience, partly because I looked so young. Something I carefully lied my way around, first by convincing them that I was the age that I really was and then peppering some names of past clients that sounded convincing, some others actually being true. I picked up Katie from daycare and took her out for fast food, honestly hoping for better things. I was on my way to the daycare with Katie the next morning when my phone rang. “Hello,” I said, tucking the phone between my ear and my shoulder, both hands busy with my energetic toddler.
“Ms. Tate?”
“That's me,” I said. “It’s Amelia from O'Connell Cleaners. We have decided to hire you on for our day shift at the Madison building. Your start tomorrow morning at nine.” “Wow, than—” She hung up before I could finish expressing my undying gratitude. I put my head against the vibrating bus window, doing my best not to fall asleep before our stop. After getting Katie settled at daycare — there had been some tears the first time I left her, but she had adjusted quickly — I walked towards the library. I could see it in the distance when the phone rang again, buzzing in the pocket of my jeans. “Hello?” “Ashlyn Tate?” asked the familiar voice of the second interviewer. “Yes, sir,” I said stopping, standing almost at attention. “You are on for the night shift tonight at the Adams building. You start at six.” “Yes, sir!” I managed to get out, nearly saluting before the line went dead. I had just gone from no job to two in a day. I was about to do a happy dance in the middle of the street until I remembered that while the hours for the day shift would be fine, nine to three being the exact hours Katie was at daycare. But I had nowhere to put her between six and two, or anywhere to go after that, the shelter closing its doors at eight.
I was still trying to figure it out when I went to get Katie from daycare. It was only after I saw her yawn that I had the idea. Instead of going back to the shelter or to get food, I took her to the park to pass the time before I had to start my shift at six. I didn't have much time, but it seemed to do the trick. Katie was already yawning by the time we got to the building I was supposed to clean.
There was no one there when we arrived. Going straight for the staff room, I wrapped Katie in a blanket and put her down on her bag. Her eyes already closed before I lay her on the makeshift pillow.
The plan worked surprisingly well. For nearly a week, I would take Katie to daycare during the day and work at the Madison building before going to the park to wear her out. Then I would put her down to sleep in the empty staff room, I was the only one working the shift, joining her for a nap before the day shift came in.
If only I had noticed the security cameras.
Unfortunately, I was fired without pay from the night shift. I still had the day shift and was going to be paid soon, though that didn't help in finding a place to live. I would need to work at least a month to get the money to get into a place with the first month's rent and deposit. I really didn't want to go back to the shelter.
It was then that I remembered that I still had a key to Chase's place. The night was pitch black and scary. Maybe we could just sleep and leave before he noticed.
Chapter Eleven
Chase
I knew it was her when I heard the door open. It had to be Ashlyn. The only other person who had a key was Ann, who was also my emergency contact, and she wouldn't be sneaking in at the dead of night. She would have called first.
I heard Katie fussing, and that clinched it. They were sneaking back into my house after leaving suddenly. My anger at her leaving mixed with my relief that they were okay.
What Ann had said about me having it bad for Ashlyn had stuck with me. It seemed so soon, but I couldn't deny there was something about her that struck me in a way I hadn't felt in years. Feelings, if I was honest, I had suspected were gone.
I definitely had a soft spot for little Katie. There was no doubt about that. It was true kids didn't usually like me much, probably because I was so big and scary looking. I couldn't blame them, really. I must have looked like a monster to their underdeveloped perspective. But Katie seemed to be able to see past that.
Throwing off the blankets, I went to confront Ashlyn without even bothering to turn on the lights.
“What are you doing?” I whispered once I got into the living room. She jumped back, the suitcase clattering to the floor. The noise woke up Katie, who started to cry. Without a word, I took her from Ashlyn, holding her close. “Chase,” Katie cooed. “That's right, honey,” I said, bouncing her gently. “What are you—” “It’s okay. I’ll put her to bed. Go rest on the couch,” I order Ashlyn. She hung her head and obeyed.
When Katie was asleep, I took her into the guest room, laying her down on the bed, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead before leaving. “What happened?” I asked, sitting down on the couch next to Ashlyn. “I kept calling your cellphone, and you never answered. What were you doing?”
“I-I was tired, I—” “Figured you would sneak in without even saying hello?” I asked, the anger coming back. Her pretty face paled and she looked at the ground. “No, I mean—” “Do you have any idea how worried I've been?” I asked.
“No, I—” “I thought maybe the police found you or your ex. For all I knew, you were both dead,” I pressed on. “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,” she cried, breaking down in tears. Against my better judgment and usually cynical nature, I took Ashlyn in both arms and hugged her. “I said that you could stay here, and I meant it. Not just to be my fake wife-to-be for Etta's sake. I realize things didn't go as well as they might have, and you might have seen my ugly side. While I can't say that's not part of me, it is not a big part and not how I feel about you or Katie. I went for a walk to calm down. So, I wouldn't take my mood out on you or Katie.” “Oh,” Ashlyn said, getting a hold of herself. It was a small thing, but it told me that I was on the right track.