Chapter 7: Back At It Again

“Maryanne, how was your time off,” Jessica inquires, stacking some of her paperwork on her desk.
She tries to smile, but the stress and pain of the last week has almost been unbearable and the idea of explaining it all has a headache forming. She even experienced a nightmare last night that Riley got out of her bedroom and fell down the flights of stairs. She shudders even imagining it now.
“It was, um, eventful,” she says softly. She avoids eye contact as she unzips her jacket and places it around her chair.
“Did you party too hard,” another librarian chuckles from across the room.
Maryanne looks up, cocking her brow, “Not really, Shelley.”
There is a soft silence spanning throughout the library as Maryanne sits down and sighs, staring at her desk.
She didn’t have a chance to talk to Max any further on the subject of Riley. He locked himself in his study, telling Geneva that he was working and that no one was to bother him. She got the hint that it was mainly because of her.
How can he just rely on others to raise a child? His executives are businessmen that are rarely ever home. Of course they would think it easy to care for someone Riley’s age, because they hire nannies to do all of the work. Maryanne does not want that for Riley. She wants her to grow up normally, or at least as close as she can get to it.
“Did you end up using all of your PTO,” another woman, Veronica, questions coming up to Maryanne and handing her several very used novels.
“No, I decided to only use two days of it. I need to save the rest just incase I need it later.”
If Riley ever gets sick, she needs to be there for her.
“It’s good to have you back,” Jessica smiles before standing and placing a few thick books on a cart in front of her desk.
“Why were you gone for so long?” Shelley gets closer to Maryanne, pausing in placing books back on shelves. Her blond hair curls about her round cheeks, her bright blue eyes gleaming.
Maryanne clenches her teeth and holds herself back from rolling her eyes.
“Shelley, don’t ask such private questions,” Jessica commands, a frown crumpling her brow. She pushes up her glasses as they begin to slide down the bridge of her nose.
Shelley’s eyes widen and she shrugs, a mask of innocence covering her face. “It was just a question. I am sorry if it was insensitive of me.”
“Maryanne, since you’re back,” Veronica begins, “Are we going to set up another book club meeting at your house?”
“Oh, yes,” Jessica sighs, grinning. “Pride and Prejudice is getting too good to put down. I had to force myself to stop or else I’d end up reading it all in one night.”
Maryanne laughs at her friend’s reaction, but her face soon washes with fear. She doesn’t live in the same, crumpled apartment as she did a week ago.
“Oh, um, about that.”
“What’s wrong?” Jessica sits back down at her desk, but turns the chair toward Maryanne.
She does not want to explain it all right now. Especially with Shelley here. The woman would be all too interested in Max. Maryanne stops herself, confused. Why should she be so concerned about that?
“A lot has happened this past week. I, uh, I’ve moved.” She fiddles with he sleeve of her shirt.
“In a week?” Veronica’s mouth gapes open.
“Your lease was only half over,” Jessica states.
Shelley on the other hand leans against the main counter in front of the desks. “Where’d you move to?” Her eyes sparkle with curiosity.
“I’m currently trying to find a sublet, Jessica,” she decides to answer instead.
“Okay, but why did you move so suddenly?”
“It’s a long story, but we can set up a potential book club date in two weeks. I just need time to settle into my new place, if that’s alright.”
The other two girls nod, but Shelley remains silent.
“I don’t want you guys to freak out about my new address,” she sighs. She might as well say it now, instead of waiting the two weeks. It will be one less thing she has to stress out about or hide.
“We won’t,” Jessica smiles reassuringly, but glances at Shelley.
“Um, I had a situation recently, it’s difficult to explain, but it has led me to move out of my apartment and move into a house out on Worthington Lane. I—”
“Worthington Lane,” Shelley squeaks pushing off the counter and all but catapulting toward Maryanne. “Where do you live, in a mansion?”
Maryanne presses her lips together, refusing to look at her coworker.
“Shelley, stop.” Jessica rubs her temple but turns back toward Maryanne. “That is a big change. I know it must be difficult moving so quickly. Let us know if you need anything.”
“I’m just saying, that’s the rich district.” Shelley pouts momentarily before her eyes light up once more. “Does your family come from money? Did they pass away leaving you their estate?”
Releasing her irritation on a sigh, Maryanne makes eye contact with Shelley, “Quite frankly, it is none of your business why I moved.”
The other librarian takes a step back, shocked at Maryanne’s response. She turns back to her friends pretending as though Shelley is not there.
“I am doing fine, really. It is a lot to get used to.
“Must be nice to live in such a great neighborhood,” Shelley whispers, but remains backed up.
Maryanne ignores her.
She wonders about Riley and how well Max is taking care of her. Has he ever babysat before, most likely not. She swallows and pictures Riley with cuts and bruises from falling or running into tables. Her chest is wrapped in a tight rope, causing her to want to jump up and run home.
She still has five hours left of the work day.
Maryanne breathes out slowly. It will be fine. Max is a competent adult; he can take care of Riley for half a day. If he wants custody of her he is going to have to.