Page 11 of Take My Kiss
We chat until the bottle’s empty before calling it a night. Lily will be up by six and Sam shortly after. I have to be at work at eight but take them to the on-site daycare before then. It’s a godsend to have childcare a few minutes from my job. Makes it so much easier to drop off and pick up.
Since my night class doesn’t end until nine and her daughter’s usually passed out by then, they stay overnight in my room. I have a Pack ‘N Play for Bailey, so Raven sleeps in my bed with me.
“I’m gonna make my tea, then take a quick shower. I’ll meet you in there,” I tell her, setting our glasses in the sink before plugging in my kettle. I’ll worry about the dishes tomorrow.
“Mm’kay. I’ll be ready to snuggle when you’re done,” she drawls, grinning like a fool.
“Raven snuggles are my favorite.”
“Who needs men when we can snuggle each other?”
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!”
The hot water relaxes me enough to wash my body and hair without breaking down. It’s hard not to imagine what would’ve happened if I hadn’t found Sam when I did. I’ve been a solo parent since before he was born and has always been my responsibility, so there’d be no one else to blame if something happened to him.
Although I’m grateful for the help I get and know the Hollises will pitch in anytime I ask, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed when there are no days off with little kids. They depend on me for everything, which means I have to beonall hours of the day.
As exhausting as it is, I’d prefer it this way to being a married single mom and having to take care of a man on top of my kids.I finally learned that lesson with Lily’s dad before I got pregnant with her.
By the time I wrap a towel around my body, I have no energy left to dry my hair, so I throw it up, put on shorts, and a T-shirt. I nearly crawl to my side of the bed and sink under the covers with bliss.
“Mom!” Screams echo through my room, jolting me awake in a panic.
“I’m comin’, sweetheart,” I call out as quietly as I can so I don’t wake Raven and Bailey.
“Mommy! Someone’s in my window!”
I trip into the door, stumbling my way in the dark and rushing down the hall to the kids’ room. Flicking on the light, I scan the space and make sure they’re both safe in bed.
“It’s okay, honey.” I crouch next to him, stroking sweaty strands off his forehead. “You had a bad dream.”
“No, I saw him.”
“Who?”
“The man from the store.”
“Baby, what’re you talkin’ about? Where did you see him?”
He points to the window, where the drapes are still open. Standing, I peek out, but it’s pitch-black, so I can’t see anything. With the lights off, it’s possible he saw something outside.
I double-check it’s locked before closing the drapes.
“It was probably the wind, sweetie.”
“No, he was holdin’ a flashlight.”
“Maybe one of the ranch hands’ truck lights. Someone might’ve been gettin’ home late or leavin’ early.”
“But I saw his face! He was standin’ right outside the window, and when I screamed, he went away.”
He’s described each nightmare he had these past several weeks, but it’s never been something like this—convinced that it was real and happened.
Before I can think of what to do, Lily wakes up crying.
“Follow me,” I tell Sam, lifting Lily out of bed and grabbing her stuffed bunny. “Bring your pillow.”
Raven’s awake with Bailey by the time I lead us to my room. I put Sam on my side of the bed and tuck Lily in next to him.
