Page 5 of Sheltering Hollis

“You did your homework, right?” I winked at her. “Mrs. Williams will be upset if you didn’t.”

“Don’t be so silly momma.” She stuck her tongue out at me and made a face. “I always do my homework.

Of course, she did—my little helper. Olive was the model child. I worked late some nights, and she’d start her homework immediately when she got home. Very rarely did she do something she wasn’t supposed to do. “So, what are you learning in school today?" I asked as I plated the eggs and toast and set them before her.

"We're doing a science project about plants," she said, her eyes lighting up. "Mrs. Williams is bringing in plants today, and she says we’ll watch them grow all year!"

"That sounds exciting," I said, sitting across from her. "You'll have to teach me everything you learn. Maybe we can start a little garden on the windowsill."

Olive’s eyes widened with excitement. "Really? That would be so cool, Mom!"

"Really," I assured her, sipping my coffee. "We can grow all sorts of things. Maybe some herbs… and we could try a sunflower." I wasn’t sure that would work, but I’d try for Olive. She was my absolute joy.

"Yes!" She pumped her fist in the air, making me laugh. "I can’t wait to tell Mrs. Williams."

As we finished breakfast, Olive chattered about her friends and her plans for recess. I listened, cherishing her stories and the sound of her voice filling our cozy apartment.

"Time to brush your teeth and grab your backpack," I reminded her, clearing the dishes and trying to put the apartment to rights. There were always a few toys left out, Olive’s book from the previous evening or a dirty hoodie.

She hopped off her chair and ran to the bathroom, her laughter echoing down the hallway. I followed, making sure she brushed properly before helping her tie her shoes.

"Are you all set?” I asked, giving her a once-over. Do you have everything you need?"

Olive nodded, her backpack almost as big as she was. "Yep! Ready to go!"

We headed out the door, stepping into the crisp morning air. It was still early, but Olive was enrolled in the early morning program at her school. At nine years old, she was my pride and joy, smart as a whip, and got straight As’s. I was abnormally proud of her. Granted, that was probably what all the moms had said.

The walk to the bus stop was short, and we made it a daily ritual to hold hands and talk about anything that came to mind. Today, it was all about sunflowers and science projects.

As we reached the curb, Olive turned to me, her blue eyes sparkling excitedly. “What time do you get home tonight?”

Kneeling to hug her, I kissed her curls. “Before seven tonight. We’ll have spaghetti.” Her eyes lit with excitement.

She hugged me tightly, her small arms wrapped around my neck. “Yay, my favorite. Garlic bread, too?”

“I love you, Mom." She scrunched her face up and brought it towards me for a kiss. Obliging, I bent forward and busked both cheeks with butterfly kisses.

“Yes, and garlic bread. I love you, Olive," I whispered, holding her close. "Have a great day at school."

“I love you too, Mom."

She gave me one last smile as the bus arrived. She climbed aboard with a wave; I waited until she reached her seat, her blond curls swinging and her sunflower dress bright against the black vinyl. I watched her go, my heart swelling with pride and love.

As I turned to head back home, the weight of our financial struggles briefly pressed down on me. But I shook it off, determined to focus on the positives. We had each other, and that was more important than anything else.

Back at the apartment, I got ready for the first part of my day, a receptionist job at a real estate office. My only gripe was that it wasn’t full-time; they kept the hours just short enough that I couldn’t quite get benefits. Then, I had a shift for a few hours at the bookstore, but that was my favorite since I did get a discount. Both Olive and I loved to read.

There wasn’t much time before I was due to start work, so I rushed through blow-drying my hair. I’d kept it long, but that was only because I couldn’t afford a decent haircut for a while, so I’d gotten a little lazy. The real estate office required “office attire, “ meaning I had to push my Goodwill budget and be creative when shopping. Today, I wore my trusty flats with a dark green maxi dress I found for eight bucks. It had been a steal.

I hurried to my car and let myself into the office to start the coffee pot before the relators came in. I glanced at the photo of Olive on my visor; her smile was a constant reminder of why I worked so hard.

We didn’t have much, but we had enough. And as long as we had each other, I knew we could get through anything.

“Could I just squeeze by?” I asked. The lady seemed to be pondering the variety of tomato sauces like it was the most fascinating choice she’d ever seen. Her cart was blocking mine, and she was oblivious. “Ma’am?”

The Food For Less in Santee, California, was packed with people just getting off work. The store was a cacophony of noise, with the constant rattle of wheels, children’s complaints, and people’s phone conversations. Every aisle I turned down felt like a maze, with someone to dodge or weave between. People were leisurely browsing and parking their carts too far from the center, which was always a source of irritation. I was in a rush, needing to grab a few coupon items and escape the chaos. Usually, I’d come earlier in the day when it was less crowded, but today, I’d worked through lunch and needed a few things for dinner.

Pushing my hair back in frustration, I looked behind me to see if I could turn around. Already, the aisle was blocked behind me. Finally, I gave up and maneuvered my cart through the narrow gap, silently cursing my decision not to opt for a handbasket. The woman looked up, startled, and gave me an eye roll, begrudgingly pulling her cart to the side.