Page 11 of Blame It On the Lattes

Six

Avery

The first week workingfor Sam flew by and I hadn’t realized just how tired I was until the weekend rolled around and I didn’t want to get out of bed. I was so used to sleeping on the comfortable pillow top mattress Grant had insisted on buying when I got pregnant with Kennedy that my body was actively objecting to every uncomfortable bed I’d slept on since.

It had been a little over two weeks since I’d packed my SUV and left with Kennedy, not knowing where to go and showing up unexpectedly on Cassidy’s doorstep. Her apartment was small, but she made room for us, giving Kennedy the guest bedroom that only had a twin-sized bed while I took the couch.

We knew it was a temporary solution until I could get on my feet again, but I was finding that to be harder than I could have imagined. I made good money working for Sam, but I had to decide whether I wanted to use that money to try to get us our own place or if I wanted to use it for Christmas gifts for Kennedy. It was a no-brainer, but I still felt terrible about imposing on Cassidy.

I sat at the small kitchen table and sipped my coffee while Cassidy took a shower. We were supposed to go shopping today, but I had a hard time being excited about it, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to buy anything until I got my first check from Sam next week. It was hard taking a five-year-old to the store and telling them they couldn’t have anything. If that didn’t crush your heart, nothing would.

“Good morning,” Cassidy said, drying her hair with a towel.

“Morning.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just tired.” I didn’t want to complain about how sore my body was or that I was so uncomfortable that I hadn’t slept well in the week we’d been staying with her. She went out of her way to accommodate us; I wasn’t about to be ungrateful.

“Maybe some coffee and then shopping?”

Before I could answer, Kennedy came in, rubbing her eyes.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” I said, reaching for her as she held her arms out to me.

I picked her up and then frowned when I felt her pajamas were soaking wet.

“Did you have an accident, baby girl?”

“No,” she said, leaning her head against my shoulder as she nuzzled close to me. I immediately felt the heat coming from her body and lifted my hand to her forehead.

“What’s wrong?” Cassidy asked, standing beside us with concern etched on her face.

“She’s burning up, and her clothes are wet.” I pulled her away slightly so I could get a good look at her. Her eyes were glossy, and her cheeks flushed. “Do you have a thermometer?”

“Yeah. Let me go grab it real quick.”

“Thanks. And I’m sorry, I think she had an accident. It happens sometimes when she’s sick.”

“I didn’t have an accident,” Kennedy objected, clinging tighter to me. “There was water dripping on me, and it woke me up.”

Cassidy and I both frowned, about to ask what she meant when we heard a loud noise. I jumped up with Kennedy still in my arms as we rushed to the bedroom where she had been sleeping.

A giant hole opened in the ceiling as water poured inside.

“Oh my God!” Cassidy shrieked, holding her hands in front of Kennedy to keep her from getting splashed by the water that was pouring in. “Get her out of here! We need to get out of the apartment before the rest of the ceiling collapses.”

---