The Forgotten Child by Lorhainne Eckhart (best e ink reader for manga txt) đź“•
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Gina and her husband Fred lived on the edge of Hoquiam in a beautiful newer area with large homes, manicured lawns and flower-filled gardens. Even though the home styles varied throughout this concrete community, the tan color scheme gave a sense of sameness while driving through it; people either loved or hated it. Gina stood in the middle of the driveway, arms crossed as if ready to take on the devil himself. Her husband traipsed out of the house and waved his large hand, as Emily parked on the street in front of the house. Fred, only a few inches taller than Gina, stood behind his wife—a solid, balding man who could stand to shed a few pounds. He was a good, honest and quiet man; a glazier who never had a bad word to say about anyone. Emily liked him.
She glanced at Katy; sound asleep.
“Well, you look like crap.” Gina met her halfway down the driveway.
Emily swiped away another of the endless tears that had become a constant flow these last few days. Maybe it was relief or all the anxiety she’d held onto for so long. She snorted. “You have a way with words.”
Fred lingered a few steps behind Gina. “Hey, Emily.” When he smiled, you knew it was genuine.
“Hi, Fred. Thanks again for your help. I’m so sorry to be imposing on you guys.” Mac climbed out of the truck, the engine idled. “Where should I park?”
Fred walked around Emily. “Back in the driveway, there’s a side door to the basement; we’ll shove everything in there.”
Mac nodded and backed the truck in. Fred yanked open the front door and shouted. “Lance, Rick, get out here and give us a hand unloading Emily’s stuff.”
Two gangly teens, with light brown hair that was a little too long, shuffled out of the house.
Moving out of the men’s way, Emily stepped onto the neatly manicured grass with Gina. “I really appreciate you and Fred letting us stay here, but I promise you; I’ll find us a place quickly, and we’ll be out of here in no time. And we won’t get underfoot. Katy’s really good—you know that.”
“I know, I know; would you stop worrying? We’ll help you get a place. I’ve already made up the guest room for you and Katy.” Katy whimpered from her car seat. Gina unbuckled her and carried her into the house “Go grab yourself some coffee, Emily. I just made a fresh pot.”
Emily wandered alone into Gina’s large dream kitchen, something like what you’d see plastered on the front of those renovation magazines. She listened to Gina ramble on to Katy, showing her the dusty toys she’d pulled out of the basement for her to play with. Katy was quiet when Gina wandered back into the kitchen with her.
“So, what did Bob say when you told him you were leaving the ranch?”
“Well, brace yourself. He said he knew I couldn’t make it on my own. And that a few things had to change before he’d allow me to come back.”
Gina’s mouth dropped. “What?”
“I burst his fantasy bubble really quick. I was in no mood to put up with his bullshit. So, I told him I was filing for divorce. He didn’t say anything, except for me to let him know our new address and phone number. I gave him yours and he said nothing. He hung up.”
“I cannot believe you were married to that man for all those years. Jesus, Emily; was he always that much of an asshole?”
Emily flinched, wondering at what point she’d allowed her values to compromise. Even with Brad, she had to wonder what the hell was tattooed on her forehead. There had to be a reason she constantly found herself yearning to be loved.
“Sorry, Emily. Don’t answer that…”
“Gina, where does Emily want her suitcases?” Fred yelled from the back door.
Emily jumped.
“Sit down. I’ll take care of this. You relax, Em. Drink your coffee.”
Gina barked orders to Fred and the boys, taking Katy with her outside. Soon the truck started and pulled away. Emily didn’t move. She didn’t say thank-you, goodbye or anything. She let Mac slip away as if burying the last part of Brad.
The next few weeks left Emily dizzy. She found a small house close to town. Actually, Fred found the small, old, fixer-upper that belonged to one of his buddies. Fred recruited a few friends to move Emily and Katy. Bob had shown no concern over her plight. He picked Katy up every other weekend for his obligatory visit, but Emily wondered if that was only to hurt her since he showed no interest in Katy. But in the next breath, the man offered to take Katy on his “off” weekend to help her out. She was done trying to figure him out.
Emily was down on all fours digging in the front garden when Bob pulled up to the small two-bedroom bungalow. Katy was in the backseat of a shiny red brand new mustang. Emily dropped her trowel in the dirt and wiped her hands on her faded blue jeans. She strode toward Bob as he lifted Katy out of her car seat. Laughing, he lifted Katy high in the air as she giggled and squealed.
Katy snatched her blue blanket from her dad and raced to Emily, demanding to be lifted—an attitude she’d not seen before.
Bob zipped up his dark blue windbreaker and lingered for a minute in front of Emily. “You seem to have done pretty well for yourself, Emily.”
Emily firmed her lips and leaned around Bob. “Nice wheels. Are those gold-spoked? That must have set you back a lot of money.” He just shrugged.
“Well, after all, I’m the one that has to commute to pick up Katy. I need a decent vehicle.”
“A sports car—which I’m guessing is fully loaded. So, is that where all the money you say you can’t pay full child support is going?” Katy grabbed Emily’s shirt by the collar and twisted. She kissed the top of her head, and plunked her on the ground.
He popped on his sunglasses so Emily couldn’t see his eyes, then shrugged and walked away.
“Katy, go and grab your wheelbarrow on the front step.” Katy toddled to the step, dropping her blanket, and grabbed her green plastic wheelbarrow and started filling it with dirt.
“You know Bob, I let you off easy. You don’t even pay the minimum child support set by the state. I’ve asked nothing for me, and you go out and buy some fancy new sports car and try and bullshit me with this crap of it being necessary transportation. Let me guess; you took out another car loan, financing this whole thing?” He didn’t stop, but picked up his pace, pausing only to open the driver’s door. He swallowed hard, climbed in, and squealed his tires as he left.
“Asshole.” When Emily turned around, her elderly neighbor, Jim, waved from where he watered his flowerbed in front. Emily’s cheeks burned, she waved, ducked her head and hurried inside. “Great show, Emily.”
The phone rang just as Emily closed the door. Katy turned on the TV and dragged out her dolls. Emily grabbed the kitchen phone. “Hello.”
“I’m looking for Emily Nelson.”
“Speaking.” She didn’t recognize the male voice on the other end.
“This is Taylor at Banters Farm and Feed. You applied for a part time job in our gardening department?”
“Oh, yes.” The day after she landed on Gina’s doorstep; Gina suggested she apply.
“Well, if you’re interested; I have a part-time opening, two days a week.”
She grabbed the back of an envelope and scribbled the details, part time and average pay—enough to keep from blowing through Brad’s nest egg. With the tiny amount Bob paid each month, she’d have enough if she was careful. She’d need to find a sitter for Katy.
Two days later, Emily started her new job; a menial job with her hands in the dirt, but it was one she enjoyed. It helped take her mind off Brad, instead of thinking of him a hundred times a day.
Emily set a tray of starter plants outside the front door.
“Whoo hoo, Emily.”
She stumbled and nearly dropped the tray. In disbelief, she watched Crystal climb out of a fancy, brand new Cadillac SUV. What was with all these new vehicles? The woman made a beeline right for her, wearing designer jeans and matching jean jacket, her bright red toenails sticking out the end of her open toe high-heeled shoes. Her lips were painted a bright red; not a blonde hair out of place. She tucked her Gucci purse under her arm and waved her fingers high in the
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