Page 19 of Finders Keepers

“You know,” Mary Beth says softly, noticing my smile, “we can work around yours and Sophie’s schedule. And we can always adjust if needed.”

I feel a wave of relief wash over me at Mary Beth’s words.

“Really? You wouldn’t mind if my schedule’s a bit… unpredictable at first?” I ask, hardly daring to believe my luck.

She smiles. “Honey, life with a little one is nothing but unpredictable. I raised three boys myself, each one wilder than the last.” She chuckles, adjusting a spray of baby’s breath in a nearby arrangement. “Until you find solid help with Sophie, you just come in when you can. Mornings, afternoons, couple hours here and there, we’ll make it work.”

I swallow hard, fighting back unexpected tears. “That’s incredibly generous.”

“It’s practical,” she corrects me with a wink. “I need help, and you need flexibility. Simple as that. Besides, Ms. Lucy mentioned you have quite the green thumb. That’s worth accommodating.”

My cheeks warm at the compliment. “I’ve always loved plants. My grandmother taught me everything she knew about gardening.”

“Well then, this is where you belong.” Mary Beth gestures around the shop. “And between you and me, I think Ms. Lucy’s taken quite a shine to your little girl. That woman’s been mothering this whole town for decades—she’ll be over the moon to spend time with Sophie while you’re here.”

My phone buzzes again. Another picture: Sophie with a smudge of batter on her chin, beaming proudly next to a stack of misshapen pancakes.

“See?” Mary Beth points at my screen. “Looks like your daughter’s already found herself a fan club.”

I laugh, feeling something tight in my chest begin to unravel. For the first time in years, I’m making decisions for myself, without calculating Matt’s reaction.

“So,” she says, placing one hand on her hip. “Do we have a deal? You help me keep this place running, and I’ll work around whatever schedule you and that precious little girl need?”.

“Deal.”

“Well then,” she claps her hands together, “welcome to Magnolia Blooms! Fair warning, before you know it, you’ll know more about this town’s goings-on than the local paper.”

And as if on cue, an elderly woman walks in, looking determined. “Mary Beth, I need your biggest, brightest arrangement. And the card should read ‘Congratulations on your retirement Billy… finally!’”

She turns and winks at me. “See what I mean? Never a dull moment!”

“What do you mean you don’t know where it is?” Matt screams at me lifting a toy off the living room couch and throws it. It hits its target clear across the room leaving an indentation in the drywall, still searching for his lost can of Copenhagen.

“Matt, I haven’t seen it,” I sheepishly reply trying to dodge the objects he’s throwing around. “Do you remember where you last saw it?”

“Don’t patronize me, bitch!” He scatters bills and paperwork around the kitchen counter. “I bet you threw it away.” He accuses.

“Matt, I—” He cuts me off when he throws a toy dinosaur my way and I flinch.

“Goddamnit, where the fuck is my snuff?!” He roars and I instinctively look up to where Sophie’s room is. Praying that she isn’t hearing any of this but knowing that she can.

“Matt, I’ll go to the gas station and get you another can.” I run over to my purse and start to put it on.”

“Don’t fucking bother, you fucking idiot, you threw it away and now you want to save the day and go buy me a new one?” He scoffs and charges up to me. I shrink into myself, trying to take up the least amount of space as I can. “I ought to smack the shit out of you, you worthless piece of trash.” He says this as he raises his hand. I close my eyes, and bring my hand up defensively, waiting for the contact but the hurt doesn’t come. “Clean this place up. When I get back, we’re heading to my sister’s house, Happy fucking Thanksgiving to me.” He pulls open the drawer that he keeps his wallet in and then slams it shut. He puts such force behind the slam that the drawer bounces back open. He does the same with the front door and as soon as I hear his truck roar to life I’m up rushing to search for Sophie. I find her curled up in her closet hiding underneath all her stuffed animals. I hear her tiny sobs, and I pull her out, holding her tight.

“Mommy, why does Daddy yell all the time?” She finally asks, looking up at me tears streaming down her face.

“Daddy lost something important to him, sweetie.” I brush a stray lock of her hair that’s stuck to her wet cheeks. “Don’t worry though, when he gets back, he will be in a better mood.” I kiss her forehead.

Jolting awake, sweat sticking to me, and I gasp for air. I focus my sight on the ceiling fan above the bed until my heartbeat slows. Turning to see Sophie still peacefully sleeping beside me, her chest rising and falling steadily, and I resist the urge to pull her closer, not wanting to wake her. Instead, I carefully slip out, knowing sleep is a lost cause. I look over at the clock before leaving the room and note its 6:28am. So, I decide on making us some breakfast. Nothing as spectacular as the delicious pancakes we had a few days ago but bacon and eggs should do.

I pad quietly into the kitchen, the hardwood floors cool against my bare feet. The early morning light filters through the thin curtains. The crisp-white cabinets line the walls in an L-shape, with the sink positioned under a window that overlooks the back pasture and stables.

I run my hand along the speckled white and grey granite countertop. The coffee maker sits in its designated corner and right on time with its 6:30 am time setting, it clicks on and starts to heat up the water. Perfect, I need some coffee after the restless night I had.

Heading over to the fridge I pull out the bacon and creamer. When I shut the door, all of Sophie’s artwork is staring back at me.

I stare at the artwork magnetized to the fridge door. Three colorful drawings greet me, each one a window into my daughter’s mind. The first shows our tiny house with exaggerated flowers around it, their petals nearly as big as the house itself. The second is Sophie and Buttercup with green grass all around them.

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