Page 3 of Judge Me Not

She pulls out of my embrace and bats her hazel eyes, which are full of excitement. She is wearing the pink hat I knitted for her, which seems to be her favorite right now. Her eyelashes and eyebrows, along with her hair, haven't grown back from the last treatment she went through. Her skin is starting to regain color since she's between treatments though. The beautiful mix of her father's Italian genes and my mulatto ones normally gives her a healthy glow. She puckers her shiny, light-pink lips.

"Great color on you! But I need another hug," I tell her.

She jumps back into my arms, and I hold her until she wiggles out and goes back to playing with Maribel.

The longer I watch her play, the more I tell myself that no matter what I have to do to come up with the money, I will.

I just wish the answer was clear on how to get it.

2

Jasmine

"Didyou try the new scent yet?" Karla asks.

I groan. "My nose can't handle anything else. It takes me all week to breathe right and then I come back and get to violate my nostrils all over again." I'm at Claudio's for my weekend job. It's a high-end department store in Manhattan. I take several busses to get here, but the money is worth it, especially right now during the holiday season. The cosmetic department pays a salary and commission, and there isn't anything here under fifty dollars. The women who come in are used to paying a fortune for their personal products. The men mostly come for gifts and will buy anything you tell them they need.

Karla nods. "It's powerful, so go easy when you do."

"Thanks for the warning."

"Hey, how did your appointment go yesterday?"

My chest tightens, and I take a deep breath to calm my emotions. I tell Karla what the doctor said about the treatments and how much it's going to cost.

"That's highway robbery!" she cries out.

"Tell me about it."

A woman comes over wearing a fur coat and carrying a dog purse. A small, white puppy is inside it.

Karla rolls her eyes, and I furrow my brows for her to behave. I would help her, but I have to finish wrapping the last order I took. The customer is at another makeup counter while I complete it.

"Can I help you?" Karla asks.

The woman purses her lips. "Just looking."

Karla puts on a fake smile. To everyone, it looks genuine. But I've known her for too long. "I'm here if you need me."

I pack all the items I wrapped into a bag and walk around the corner to the woman who bought them. "All wrapped. Do you need anything else?"

She turns and draws her eyebrows together. Her eyes travel down my body and back to my face. It's the second time she's done it. Her scrutiny threw me off when I helped her, but there are many strange people in New York. I ignored it earlier, but it gives me the creeps right now. "Can we talk for a quick moment?"

This is weird.

She's rich. Most people who have money are.

Okay, that isn't fair.

Maybe she'll buy more.

I can't afford to turn any customers away.

I force a smile. "Sure." I walk to the edge of my counter, where it isn't crowded. "Can I help you find something else?"

"You've got a sweet look about you."

"Umm...thanks?"

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