Page 14 of Sacrifice
She walks to me and presses her face into my side. “Why are you sad?”
“I’m not. I’m just tired. Why are you awake?” I brush the hair off her forehead and note that she feels a touch warm.
“My belly hurts.”
I look at the bills on the table again and sigh.
“Let’s get you to bed and see how you feel in the morning, all right?”
“I wish Daddy was here,” she says softly. “Or Uncle Crew.”
All I can do is nod.
FIVE
JULIA
The early evening sun trickles through the curtains. I pull them open and bathe the living room in light. The sun always makes things seem better, but today was a good day anyway. Ever was voted Student of the Week and came home with a ton of stories from school. I found a new position that just opened at work. I’m in a prime position to apply for it and brought the papers home to look through. It would be more money and more benefits, two things I can definitely use.
“Mommy?” Ever asks from behind me. “Can we go to the park?
Please?”
I start to say no, but I remember I'm working at Ficht’s Diner most nights for the rest of the week. “You know what, baby girl? That’s a good idea.”
“Yay!” she squeals, jumping up and down. “Go get your rubber boots on and a jacket.”
I swipe the rent check I made out the night before off the kitchen table and meet my daughter by the front door after getting ready. We head outside and head towards the park.
“Look at that red bird,” Ever says, pointing in the tree above. “Mrs. Bennett says that’s a visitor from heaven. I bet it’s Daddy or Butterscotch.”
I laugh. “It might be. Or it might be a sign of spring. It’s a good thing either way, right?”
She ignores me, craning her head to watch the bird as we turn the corner.
My good mood is suddenly soured at the sight of a dark blue Ford F-150 truck parked next to the business office of our apartment complex. I growl under my breath and pick up my pace, trying not to drag Ever behind me. The closer we get, the angrier I become.
We are nearly there when Crew walks out. His head is down, his hands stuck into the pockets of his jeans. A gray thermal shirt is hanging loose and a burgundy hat with a golden “M” sits low on his head.
“Uncle Crew,” Ever squeals, dropping my hand and running to him.
His head jerks up. He glances up at me and grimaces, then looks back to my daughter. He bends down on one knee as she leaps into his arms, a grin tugging at his lips as she buries her head into his chest.
“Fancy seeing you here,” I say, unamused, as I reach them.
“Yeah,” he says, his tone equally cool. “Imagine finding you here.”
“Seriously, Crew. What are you doing?”
Ever looks between us, grabbing Crew’s hand. “What do you think I’m doing here?”
“I’m bringing the rent by now, so it better not be what I think.”
“No sense. It’s paid.”
“Ugh. You didn’t have to do that. Just . . . go back in and get it. I’ll take my check in there.”
Ever tugs on her uncle’s hand but looks at me. “What’s wrong, Mommy?”
