A few hours later, I dragged my feet up the lonely road that led towards home, a pounding headache rocking my skull from sleeping off on the bus. I nodded in response to greetings from a few passing people who shook their heads at me sympathetically. I was barefooted, exhausted, hungry, and more frustrated than I’d ever been in my entire life. After I left Sturm Publishing Inc., I’d rushed to secure my alternative at Simon and Schuster but was told that they’d canceled the job vacancies and were no longer accepting editors and proofreaders in the meantime. I couldn’t work as a Janitor that was the only job available at that moment so I just decided to go home. The trauma of running into the man that’d caused me this much pain and losing both job offers on the same day was devastating. I was too tired even to cry.
“Mommy’s home!” Finn yelled, abandoning the football he’d been throwing about in the front yard. I pushed open the gate and scooped him up into my arms, twirling him about. He giggled, squeezing his face against mine and all my problems disappeared. I was no longer worried about not securing a job by the end of the week or worrying about his education not being up to the standard I liked. I wanted him to have everything the children of his age had. To never feel less of himself because I couldn’t afford the toys and books he wanted. That was what kept me going.
“I’ve been waiting for you for hours, Mommy,”
“Oh, baby. Mommy had a rough day,” I ruffled his blonde hair. “But I feel better now. I feel better now that I’m holding you.”
“Aunt Cora bought me ice cream!” he laughed happily. “I kept some for you in the freezer so it’s still frozen solid.”
“Aw. Thank you.” I placed him down. “Hope you thanked Aunt Cora?”
He nodded. “Yes, Mommy.”
We entered the house. There was movement coming from the kitchen so I assumed that Cora was already setting things up for dinner. I went up to my room to undress and freshen up. When I came back down, Finn halted me by the stairway, holding up a half-eaten bowl of vanilla ice cream. “Here’s your ice cream, Mommy.”
I smiled, taking it from him. He waited for me to take a dollop. “This is…good. Come on now, let’s go meet Aunt Cora in the kitchen.”
“She also bought me storybooks!” He announced as we strode into the kitchen hand in hand. I couldn’t be more thankful for having a friend like Cora. Honestly, she was the best thing to ever happen to me since Finn was born; buying him gifts and books, taking him out for evening strolls and outings to the amusement park or beach. Making sure he ate to his fill whenever I wasn’t around and sang him to sleep. She was good mothering material, even more than me and I could never repay her good gestures even if I tried.
“About damn time!” she hooted, serving up my dinner onto a plate with a grin. She was holding a spoon so I hugged her side gently, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“You’re the best.”
She took off her pink mittens and placed her hands on her waist, waiting till I sat down before cocking her head to the side and asking. “Well? How did it go?”
“It went well, I guess.” I shrugged, pulling Finn onto my lap and shooting her a subtle warning that I didn’t want to discuss anything concerning Mr. Sturm in Finn’s presence. He was a brilliant child and was inquisitive to a fault. I didn’t want him to have the slightest idea that his hopeless father was in this same city and would’ve been my new boss.
I began feeding Finn the little ice cream left while waiting for my dinner to cool. Casserole and mashed potatoes were best taken warm, not piping hot. Finn gobbled them up, his small eyes accessing my face closely.
“Why do you look so tired, Mommy?” he cupped my cheek, pressing his nose against mine. “Your eyes are red.”
“Aw, Finny,” Cora pulled out a stool to sit. “Mommy needs a lot of rest. It’s her first day of work, so, normally, she had a long day. Will you agree to turn in early for bed so Mommy can get to sleep?”
He nodded timidly. “Anything for Mommy.”
I put my arm around his shoulders and kissed the top of his head. “Thank you, my little minnow.” I pressed more kisses on his chin and the corner of his face, laughing as he squealed, trying to push me away. “Ew, Mommy. That’s gross.”
I shoveled the first fork full of food into my mouth, studying Cora. “So, how was your first day at work?”
She exhaled. “Stressful. But at least my new boss isn’t an insufferable prick. At least that’s something to be glad about these days. He also got me my own office.”
“Oh, my goodness. That’s so kind of him!”
“I know right? He was so nice. We probably shouldn’t be making our judgments on his character yet. Who knows what could happen tomorrow? In the meantime, let’s just say he’s okay.”
“I understand,” I stood to get a bottle of water from his freezer. “Everything will be fine.”
“I hope so.”
——-
A few hours later, Cora and I were talking far into the night over a bowl of homemade yogurt she’d prepared before I got home. I was narrating all that had transpired between Mr. Sturm and I after our phone call in the bathroom. Finn had turned in early as he promised, so we could discuss and cuss freely without having to worry about him being near.
Cora was disappointed. “This is a disaster. Why in the world did you lie to him? And are you sure he doesn’t already know that you’re a single mom from your application?”
“I doubt. We never exchanged our real names or contact after that night in Manhattan, and today is the first time he’s seeing me since then. Surely, he’ll go back to check my file in his company system, but I filed in that I was single so he doesn’t know.”
“Smart.” She mused, her eyes thoughtful.
“Look, it’s not like I’m not proud of having Finn before getting married, I just don’t want him or anyone else to pity or give me special treatment because I’m a single mom. The job should be given to someone who truly merits it.”
“But I know you, Elaine. If anyone deserves this job, it’s you. How was the interview in particular? Did you ace the questions?”
I bit my bottom lip in hesitation. “Not all. I failed a fair amount because I was shaken from seeing MacDonald guy all over again.”
She slapped a hand to her mouth to stifle her gasp. “Oh shit.”
“Horrible, isn’t it?”
“Your second alternative didn’t work out as well?”
“No. They canceled the interview last minute.”
She reached out for my hands on the table, crushing them together. “I’m so sorry, Elaine. What a disappointing day.”
I was trying not to cry. “Yeah, I know. It’s hurtful.”
“But what if MacDonald guy ends up hiring you as his assistant? You already have an upper hand, seeing that he remembers you quite well and is seeking to make amends. He wants you, Elaine.”
“I don’t think so. He only wants me for one more night.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Because I can see it. He has the looks and charm to get any girl of his choice. He doesn’t even have to say a word and they’re all melting at his feet, begging to suck his dick. The moment he finds out that I’m a single mom, his true intentions toward me will come to light. Then we’ll see.”
Cora rolled her eyes with a sigh. “Still. You need to tell him. There might be a chance for the both of you to rekindle your love. Finn needs a father, Elaine,” his eyes softened. “A true father.”
I began to shake my head. “Come on – ”
“Listen, you’ve talked about this guy for years. You were crushed when you waited so long without hearing from him and then giving birth to a child. Now, he’s back to you in a cruel twist of fate and you find it funny lying to yourself?”
I buried my face in my hands, heaving a deep sigh. “I don’t know what else to say or do, Cora. I didn’t think he’d still be interested in me like this… thick and old. He’s gorgeous and kind, and every woman wants him. I don’t think I’m deserving.”
“That’s just your insecurities speaking out loud. Go back to the office tomorrow and tell him everything. Tell him you were confused and scared, hence that was why you ran away from him today. Tell him you remember everything you both shared, and you have a son for him as a result. Also, let him know that you still love him and would like to spend an eternity with him.”
“Ew, I’m not saying that,” I scrunched my face in disgust. “I want to spend an eternity with you?” I shook my head. “Sounds like a desperate old chick eager to get a husband.”
“Now, you know that’s not true, girl,” Cora laughed. “How did he look like? Hotter?”
I colored, recalling the first minute he’d walked into the interview room, hotter and more advanced in age. “Like a god. Calling him an Adonis is so utterly insulting because he’s ten times hotter,” I chuckled at my vile thoughts. “My body was instantly placed under his spell. I’m practically a virgin again and he can do whatever he likes with me.”
“I vaguely remember what he looks like myself. It has been so long. You could have at least taken his number.”
I shrugged. “Maybe. I didn’t. There you have it.”
“Should we stalk him online?” Cora’s eyes brightened in mischief. I could practically see the wheels of her brain turning and setting the idea into place. “Since you might work for him in the future. You already know his full name.”
“I dunno. That sounds freaky to me, girl. Freaky. Let’s just leave it how I’ve explained his features to you.”
She laughed and clicked our spoons together. We both were quiet for a minute. “So you’re gonna go see him tomorrow?”
“I think it’ll be better if I wait to see if he calls me back for the job. I’m not getting my hopes up, but I think he’ll try and get me to work for him. Then I’ll tell him.”
“Alright. That’s fine. Whatever works well for you.”
“Yeah. In the meantime, I’ve got to do a little shopping to ace up the work clothes and shaggy hair so I’d look a lot more presentable. When he calls me, I’m gonna tell him the whole truth even before he gets to say anything.”
“I agree. You two should kiss and make up.”
“What?” I flushed.
“Crazy right? Just imagine the both of you all sexy and going down on the office rug?”
“Cora!”
“Just saying,” she smirked.
“That is an office space and you know that there are rules I can’t break. I’ll just be an assistant.”
“For the moment, yeah. But soon enough you’ll be the woman of the company. His wife, with little Finn your wingman.”
“You watch way too many k-dramas,” I spooned some yogurt into my mouth, coughing when they go down the wrong way. “Shit.”
“That’s what you get when you underestimate the power of k-dramas. They’re sacred!”
“Shut up.”