Page 194 of Finding Us

“Do you have a picture?”

Her face lights up as she reaches in her pocket and pulls out her phone. “He was five months when this was taken. He has a little more hair now.”

She shows me the photo. He’s a cute baby; chubby with pink cheeks and a tuft of brown hair sticking up on the top of his head.

“He’s cute.”

“Thanks.” She puts her phone away. “I have to pick him up at day care at 3. It’s going to be a long night. He just started teething and I can’t get him to stop crying. I was up with him all last night.”

“Do you have family around here?”

“No. My mom left town last year. I don’t even know where she lives. She ditched me and moved in with her boyfriend after I got pregnant. She didn’t want another mouth to feed. She’d rather spend her disability checks on alcohol and cigarettes, not her grandson.”

“She’s disabled?”

“No. She faked a back injury years ago so she wouldn’t have to work. She basically just drinks, gambles, and hangs out with loser guys. She’s got some issues.”

“Sounds like my mom.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Not exactly, but she also had some issues. She died a few years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So where’s Caleb’s dad?”

“He graduated from Camsburg last May and now he works in San Francisco. He doesn’t want anything to do with Caleb or me.”

“Does he at least send you child support?”

“No, and I don’t want to fight him for it. His parents are rich and they’d make my life hell if I went after their son for child support. They think I purposely got pregnant to get their money.” Sara rolls her eyes. “I was on the pill when I got pregnant. Everyone knows it’s not 100%. And I always told Caleb’s dad to use a condom as backup but he wouldn’t do it.” She wipes down another table. “I always pick the wrong guys.” She stops cleaning and smiles. “There was this guy who was here earlier and he was so hot I was actually nervous around him. I figured a guy that hot would be a real jerk, but he was really nice. Why can’t I find a guy like that?”

“You should ask him out.”

“Who?”

“That guy you met. The one you were just talking about.”

“Yeah, right. No guy our age wants to date a single mom.”

“You never know. You said he was nice. I bet he’d go out with you.”

“You really think so?”

“You won’t know unless you ask. Next time you see him, ask him if he wants to go to dinner.”

“I can’t. I don’t have anyone to watch Caleb.”

“I could watch him. I know you don’t know me, but I’m very responsible. I don’t know that much about babies but I think I could handle him for an hour or two. And my husband could help. He’s good with kids.”

She sits in the chair across from me. “You’re married? How old are you?”

“I’m 19. We got married last July and now we’re both going to Camsburg.”

“You wanted to get married at 19?” She blushes. “Sorry, that sounded bad.”

“It’s fine. We get that reaction a lot.”

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