Page 2 of Secret Cinderella
Nancy walked away.
Charlotte let out a sigh and wished she could have finished her breakfast as she said to Jack, “It’s not even seven in the morning. They normally don’t wake up till ten.”
He nodded, his scruffy jaw enhancing his strong frame, and shook a package of rice. “I’ll finish stocking these.”
"Thanks." Aisle nine was the cereal section. She grabbed a yellow hazard sign from the supply closet on her way. When she saw the aisle, her stomach churned.
The boxes had been torn, with cereal and throw-up from a child in the middle of the aisle.
She left the yellow sign, gathered the cleaning supplies, and returned to the scene of the crime.
Shoppers filed past her as she finished, sweat on her brow.
Sometimes Jack bought coffees for them from the café and she hoped that today might be one of those days. She put the cleaning cart back and the idea of a minute’s rest with coffee played like a dream. But the second she turned around, Nancy was staring at her again—her cold expression sent a shiver through her. “Charlotte, you’re going slow this morning.”
She tensed. “I’ll pick up the pace.”
Once Nancy passed the end of the aisle, Charlotte dropped her shoulders, thinking she was home free, but as she made the center aisle to go back, Nancy stood right in her way.
Why hadn’t she left? Goosebumps rose on Charlotte's arms. Her stepmother said, “I need you to sign off in the delivery area for the produce in the truck.”
Charlotte pointed toward the back. “On my way.”
This time Nancy’s heels clicked in the other direction of Charlotte’s tennis shoes--the hole in her sole meant she’d need a new pair soon. As she made it to the loading dock, she grabbed a work jacket to avoid the nip in the autumn air along with the order sheet and relaxed. Produce. Apples. Perfect. She smiled as she greeted the driver, Paul.
“Charlotte, you’re looking good. Are you ready to drive away with me yet?”
The trees around the store were full with leaves. Pittsburgh was rural enough to where deer, coyotes, or wild turkeys still roamed. Any day now the leaves would change color and fall. She zipped up her jacket. Paul was twice her age and missing his two front teeth, but kind. Charlotte retrieved the gift she’d wrapped for his daughter from the work desk. “And what would your wife and children do without you, Bob? Here...”
He refused to take the bag and said, “You don’t have to."
She'd bought the adorable outfit yesterday, and pressed the silver box tied with pink ribbon into his hands in exchange for the delivery sheet. “I do. A first birthday is special.”
Bob checked inside and said, “Thank you.” He set the box on the passenger seat of his truck to bring home.
Charlotte inspected the apples and signed off that the order matched.
Bob left and Charlotte filed the paperwork, motioning for the delivery to be added to blue carts so they could be brought into the store.
As she came inside to breathe warmer air, Nancy waited for her. She stopped at the water cooler to fill a paper cup and sipped. “Flirting with married men again, Charlotte?”
She lowered her head to avoid a confrontation. Arguing with Nancy never worked out in her favor. “It’s nothing.”
Nancy pointed to the departing truck. “That outfit comes out of your paycheck.”
Charlotte’s cheeks heated despite the cold air. “No need. I have the receipt. I paid Mickey cash yesterday.”
Nancy didn’t even blink as she stared at Charlotte. Her insides had little tremors until Nancy said, “Very well. Don’t you have boxes to unpack?”
Today Charlotte needed a clear reminder of her goals. She lifted her chin and asked, “Did you have any luck last night at the casino?”
Nancy had gone to the river casino to see if there was a man she wanted to gamble on herself, though she'd called it ‘slumming.’ A few years ago, Nancy wouldn’t have been caught dead in a place like that. “No, there were no men of quality… like your father.”
Charlotte smiled at that. Everyone, even Nancy, had the same memory of Rob Masters. Her smile fled. Nancy was no closer to leaving the store to her than yesterday. “I see. Well, I have to go.”
She turned so fast that her sneakers squeaked on the floor but Nancy’s voice cut right through the skin when she said, “Tonight’s dinner better be good.”
“I made stew in the slow cooker.”
