Chapter 9: Bring Your Child To Work Day

Waking up the next day is a nightmare. Riley had not wanted to go to sleep. She continuously got out of bed and played with her toys. She laughed and screamed, waking Maryanne several times during the night. With Max still not home, she is forced to do everything for the child.
Now, with three consecutive hours of sleep, Maryanne is trying to wake Riley up to get ready. Although Geneva is gone, there is a drop-in daycare three blocks over that usually has room for a few extra children a day.
“Come on Riley, I have to get to work.” Drying her hair with her towel, Maryanne wanders over to Riley’s closet and sifts through her clothes. “Alright, let’s see here.”
She pulls out a pink long sleeve shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
“Do you want your hair braided today?”
“Yes!” Riley jumps on top of the bed before bouncing off the edge. She doesn’t stick her landing though, and falls on her butt, giggling.
“Okay, come on, let’s hurry. I can’t be late for work.”
Riley climbs back up on the bed and sits cross-legged, her back toward Maryanne so that she can start to braid her hair. Her thin hair makes it difficult to accomplish, but after many painful ‘ouches’, Maryanne succeeds. She gently pats Riley’s head to signify the completion of her hair.
“Yay!” Riley jumps back up, her grin covering most of her face. “Tanks, Mary’n.”
She cannot help but laugh, the little girl’s excitement infectious.
“You’re too adorable, come on, let’s hurry up.”
It takes Maryanne half an hour to get Riley ready, without the girl taking off her socks or kicking off her shoes. All the while, Maryanne herself tries to dress and put her makeup on with a two-year-old running around her room screaming. Stress builds in her shoulders causing her to want to explode. Is it just because it’s early in the morning?
“Riley, settle down,” she commands, pointing a finger at the girl as she bounces on the bed. “I have to call the daycare to tell them we are coming.”
As she pulls out her phone to dial in the number, she notices that she received a text. It is from the daycare.
It reads, “I am so sorry! We are all booked up for the day. We have no room for Riley.”
Maryanne sinks to the edge of her bed, emotions clogging her throat and causing tears to build. Now what?

>><<

“Hey,” Maryanne almost whispers to Jessica as she tries to inconspicuously push Riley’s stroller to the side of her desk.
Riley shifts, pulling at the straps locking her in place, grunts escaping her mouth. She becomes frustrated and starts kicking her feet.
“Maryanne, what are you doing?” Jessica’s eyes are wide as she hisses her words.
“I didn’t have any other options. The daycare was full and I didn’t have time to figure out another plan of action. This is just going to have to do.” She shrugs and unlatches the stroller’s straps setting Riley free.
Jessica shakes her head, rubbing her temple. “You’re lucky that the manager doesn’t come on Thursdays or Fridays. She won’t see this, as long as she doesn’t watch the cameras.”
“Yeah, I know. It will be fine. I promise.”
Although Maryanne smiles and reassures her friend, she herself is not even positive it will all work out in the end.
“What is this?”
Maryanne sets her shoulders as she hears Shelley’s clipped voice from behind her.
“Good morning, Shelley.”
Her coworker pauses, raising her brow at Riley, “Why do you have a baby?”
“Shelley that is none of our business,” Jessica sighs.
“Why not? She is bringing the kid in during work hours. Don’t we all deserve to know why? Especially because if Claire finds out we will all be written up.” Shelley folds her arms and watches as Riley grabs a book, staring at it.
“It’s not what it looks like, that’s for sure.” Maryanne winces at her weak response.
“Then what is the reason,” Shelley urges.
Veronica walks up to stand next to Jessica, listening. A customer walks in and wanders down the aisles of books.
Maryanne stares down at her hands, unsure of how to put it all into words. “The reason I took off the days was because Lucy and Greg were killed in a car accident.”
They all collectively gasp, Jessica raising her hand to her mouth in shock.
“They left behind Riley. Because Greg’s cousin and I were both listed on their wills as the next guardians, the court ruled that we both watch her for a year. At least until they can decide which one of us is best suited for taking care of her full-time.”
“Wait, so is that why you are living on Worthington Lane?” Shelley’s eyes are wide, but there is a gleam in them that is off-putting for Maryanne.
She clears her throat and instead watches as Riley slowly wanders around the desks.
“It’s a long story. I am still trying to get used to it all myself.”
She chooses to ignore Maryanne’s words and continues to fish for information, “But if you are living with this man, in that part of town. . . is he rich?”
“Shelley, enough.” Jessica steps forward, forcing Shelley to back down and sending her toward her own desk. “Maryanne, we are here for you if you need anything.”
Lowering her shoulders with relief, Maryanne nods, “Thank you, I really appreciate it. I just need some time.”
“Alright.”
“If you ever need a babysitter,” Veronica offers.
Maryanne laughs, “Deal.”
As the day goes on, Maryanne finds her mind constantly wandering back to Max. Where did he go last night, and if he was going to be home when she returned. Her heart twists as she realizes how much she really hopes he is.