Page 2 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

Liddy brightenedand scurried off to gather up the crayons left behind. She dropped them into the plastic containers causing a sound like rainfall. Liddy giggled as she finished with the crayons and moved on to the books scattered around on the desks.

I turned a slow circle,taking in the classroom. Bright blue walls contrasted with the primary colors that made up the rug where I’d read countless stories. Short bookshelves lined one wall, the books worn and loved. Last days of school were always hard, and the leftover chaos in the room proved it.

HavingLiddy in my room all year was a blessing. I knew how lucky I’d been to find a school that let me bring her to work with me. Now it was time to go back to being a full-time mom.A pinch of unease tightened my shoulders as I remembered the letter in my purse beneath my desk. I’d torn it from our mailbox this morning and read enough to realize our landlord raised our rent. Again.

My teacher’ssalary made ends meet, but it was a daily struggle. Rising rent prices put me in a terrible predicament. Having the summer off with Liddy brought the kind of joy I’d never found anywhere else. But what would happen when rent soared higher than my salary?

“All done,”Liddy said as she skipped over to me, her hands splayed out in front of her. Her pigtails had slipped down the sides of her head, and I stooped to fix them before taking her hand. “Can we get ice cream now?”

“Yes,sweetheart. Let’s get ice cream.” I closed and locked the door behind us. I’d come back at some point during the summer. Right now, I needed time with my baby girl and a chance to think.

Once I’d buckledLiddy into her car seat and backed out of the parking lot, we made our way into town. Storefronts boasting bright colors and vivid displays beckoned people in to shop for bathing suits and new clothes, home accessories, and countless other things. I’d avoided those shops for years because they created an impossible want in my heart.

The ice cream shop’s front window was covered in chalk paint. They changed the image every week, and in honor of school ending and summer break beginning, this week’s display had a series of ice cream cones jumping into an ice cream lake.

Liddy laughedand clapped when we drove past, almost straining her neck to look out the back window. “We’re here!” She sang the words and wiggled in her seat, the impatience starting as soon as I found a parking spot and turned off the car.

Liddy helpedme unbuckle the straps, and we both giggled when she popped up from the seat and clambered into my arms. I settled her on my hip and tickled beneath her chin. “What flavor do you want today? I think I’ll get two scoops.” I held up two fingers. “Chocolate and strawberry.”

“Mango mountain punch.”Liddy shoved her hands down between us and rested her head on my shoulder.

After spendingan hour at the ice cream shop, a long afternoon in our small backyard, and a bath, Liddy snuggled into bed and pulled her stuffed elephant up to her chin. Her eyes closed then popped back open. The bright hazel reminded me of her father, and a spasm of anger forced my hands into fists. Liddy sighed and stroked the elephant’s trunk. “Play tomorrow?”

I kissed her forehead. “Yes, we’ll play tomorrow.” Play and swim and enjoy all the things that we loved. Liddy took after me in some ways, but her sense of adventure was her father through and through.

I forcedmy hands open and flexed my fingers. He’d made his choice when he abandoned me after I told him about Liddy. “Get some sleep.”

“Book.”Liddy pointed at her bookshelf. A tiny smile appeared as she snuggled deep into her pillow. “Please.”

“One more.”I held up my index finger. Summer break or not, Liddy needed a routine. We both did. I took out her favorite princess book and let it fall open to the first page. My voice rose into a girlish pitch that always made her giggle.

Her breaths evenedout before I made it halfway through the story. I finished it anyway, just for the peace of mind I gained from sitting beside her bed and listening to my precious baby girl breathe. My girl who deserved everything and made do with almost nothing.

Standing,I rubbed the ache in my back from sitting with my spine against her bed rail before gently kissing her forehead. The trio of pictures sitting on Liddy’s nightstand stopped me in my tracks. The first—a picture of Liddy sitting on Santa’s lap—froze my breath in my lungs. Christmas. I winced. It was still several months away, but all the money I’d been saving was now going to our landlord next month.

I slippedfrom her room and grabbed my laptop, carrying it to the kitchen. Hopefully, I was wrong and I had more money in the bank than I thought.

Ten minutes later,I sat at the kitchen table with my head in my hands, the miniscule bank account balance churning nausea in my belly. We had just enough for the increased rent and necessities. I wouldn’t be able to afford Christmas.

No.My nails bit into my palms. I refused to let Liddy suffer a hollow Christmas without presents. I’d have to get a summer job. That or find a way to downsize our already modest livingarrangement. The two-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen and living room fit our needs. I considered a one-bedroom quickly realizing how cramped we’d be. Liddy deserves better.

Damn it. We both do.

What jobout there would let me bring her with me? I tapped my fingertips on the keyboard and pulled up a search engine. One quick scan of available jobs sent my heart plummeting to my toes. A few work from home positions looked promising, but they all required skills outside my area of expertise. Nothing on the list offered an entry level position.

Pain drummed across my forehead,and I rubbed at the knots forming on the back of my neck. “Things will look better tomorrow.” I spoke out loud, driving the reassurance into the open space. “We’ll go looking for a job around town. There has to be something.”

It made sense,even to my panic-stricken mind. I’d find something.

Liddy will havethe Christmas I’ve always wanted to give her.

2

ARTHUR

After another successful day, I relaxed in my luxurious office chair, my head falling back against the smooth leather. Rain pattered against the windows and trickled down in a soft symphony that reminded me of home.

I was so lostin the moment that I almost missed the tentative knock behind me. “Come in.” My command came out gruff after talking on the phone all day, and I cleared it while reaching for the glass of amber whiskey I’d poured as soon as the last call ended.

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