Page 39 of Midnight Whispers

“Cinder, I’m so sorry, but I’m desperate.”

I straighten. “What’s wrong?”

“My sister was supposed to watch the kids, but she went on a bender today. There’s no way she can drive here to the motel, let alone watch the kids.”

“What can I do to help?” I pull my street clothes out of my locker.

“Is there any chance you can come watch the kids while I work? They’ll only be awake for another few hours, and then you can just watch TV until I get back.”

“Of course. I’ll leave now. Just text me the address.”

She sighs with relief. “Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. I owe you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m happy to. I’ll see you soon.” I end the call and shove my phone in my locker while I quickly get changed. I don’t bother removing my makeup. I’ll do it at the motel.

My phone dings with a text. Must be Lisa giving me the address. But then it dings a second time.

Once I’m changed, I grab all my stuff from my locker and rush out the back door to my vehicle, waving at Aiyden over my shoulder.

When I’m seated in the car, I pull out my phone and see a text from Lisa and one from my stepmother. I ignore Louise’s text demanding to know where I am as I’ve done for a month straight. After mapping out the motel’s location, I drive away from T&T’s.

I’m disappointed there’s no chance I’ll see Nero tonight since I won’t be home until really late. He was here earlier to watch me dance, and as always, he left before I came out onto the floor.

A few days have passed since I bowled with Anabelle and Rapsody, and I’ve decided to take their advice and just be patient with Nero and hope that they’re right. If that doesn’t work, I’ll figure something else out, but I’ve been able to save some money at least by staying there and not having to give everything to Louise and my wicked stepsisters.

I arrive at the motel and park my car, then rush to room number three, knocking on the door.

Lisa whips open the door. “Thank you so much!”

She hurriedly waves me in, and I step inside to find two little girls sitting on one of the two beds, wide-eyed and staring at me. I know from Lisa that they’re six and four years old.

“Hi, girls!” I smile and wave, but they just look at me nervously.

Poor things. I’m not quite sure that they’ve been privy to the dynamic between their parents, but if I had to guess, I’d say they’ve seen some shit.

“Dahlia and Rose, this is my friend from work, Cinder. She’s going to keep an eye on you while I work since Aunt Sheila isn’t feeling well, okay? You be good girls for her.” Lisa gives them both a quick kiss and a hug.

“We’re going to have fun, aren’t we, girls?” I give them a big smile, but neither of them says anything. Tough crowd.

Lisa hugs me. “Be back as soon as I can. Thank you.”

“We’ll be fine. See you in a while.”

Lisa walks out, and I lock the door behind her. I turn around and survey the motel room. It’s dated, with condensation rings on all the furniture from drinks left on it over the years. The bedding looks as if it’s probably about forty years old, and a faint musty odor permeates everything.

I can’t believe they’ve been living like this for months. This is no place for these girls to grow up, though it’s better than watching their father abuse their mother. I have to figure out some way I can help them get somewhere better.

These sweet girls are obviously a little wary of me, so I sit on the other bed and turn my attention to the TV. “What are you girls watching?”

Neither of them answers me. I don’t want to push them, so I arrange a pillow that feels as if it’s no thicker than a piece of cardboard behind me and lean against the headboard to watch. After about ten minutes, one of them asks me a question.

“Are you a dancer like my mommy?”

Dahlia, the oldest, is looking at me, and that’s when I remember that I still have my makeup on. Lisa has told me that her girls know she’s a dancer but have no idea what she really does.

“I am.”

“Your makeup is pretty,” she says.