Page 18 of Between the Lines

“It would be, at minimum, a thirty-minute drive to work every day for me.” My fingers curl tightly around my water glass as I try to reason with her.

Penny rolls her eyes with a scoff. “Okay, well there are coffee shops here that would just die to have a manager like you.”

The flattery doesn’t work. I steal a glance at my phone—we’ve been here for three hours already. I need to leave now to get Daisy home in time for bed.

My saving grace.

“Thanks, but I like my job,” I reply with a tight smile and pop the last bite of food into my mouth. “And I’m perfectly happy with the house I have.”

I might love it, but it doesn’t feel like it loves me back right now.

Penny throws up her hands. “Seriously, Fia, that’s a lot of house for you and a baby alone . . .”

I stand abruptly, my chair scraping against the tile floor. “Thank you for dinner.” I smile at Penny tightly.

She concedes, dropping the discussion as I rush the goodbyes, though Danny manages to get in one more word about my tires.

The moment Daisy and I are buckled in the car, I release a shaky breath and rest my head against the steering wheel.

First the roof.

Now the freaking tires.

I’m simply doing my best to keep a tiny human and alley cat alive.

Thinking about it all feels like watching one long, slow avalanche inch towards me, all while my feet are stuck in place.

***

Daisy is fast asleep in the backseat by the time I pull into the bumpy driveway and cut the engine. The moment it’s quiet, the tears start falling.

I know I need to fix things instead of just duct-taping everything in my life together.

With misty eyes, I find my daughter’s face in the rear-facing mirror attached to the back of the seat. Her binky is smooshed into her cheek, and a giraffe stuffie sits tucked under one arm. My heart presses against my sternum at the sight.

My wallet isn’t thick, and I can’t give Daisy everything I wish I could. But despite it all, I like this safe neighborhood, and this house full of memories.

I like the little life I created here with her.

And no matter what my family’s opinions are or how they think I should be conducting myself, I’m laying my foot down. I’m not giving up on this house, with or without their support.

“You can do this, Fia,” I whisper to myself, blotting my eyes.

Carefully, I lift Daisy out of her car seat and hold her tight against my shoulder as I walk into our home.

Tonight I will apply online for a loan, and this week I will call the company Caden referred me to.

I’ll stop avoiding it. I’m going to fix this. For her.

7

Caden

Maybe I shouldn’t have called the crew in.

No, screw that. It’s exactly what I should’ve done.

I spent my weekend working out, surfing, and attempting to relax, but the thought of losing my manager to something as trivial as a roof leak gnawed at me relentlessly.