Page 14 of The Hellcat Barbies: Saskia
Falling in love with the city after being there a week, and Canada coming by every day like she wasn’t a highly sought-after realtor with clients lined down the block, had me confiding in her. Just as I’d done with Dasani, I told her everything. Instead of running for the heels, Canada used her connections to not only help me out but also make my life safer. Using the same false documents, which just so happened to be tied to a fake name, she was able to get me an ID, a Social Security number, and strip the VIN number off the car. The chop shop had tried to get me to sell to them, and even though it was stolen, that car made me feel closer to my father, even though there was no real connection. So, if I could comfortably ride around in it, then that was what I was going to do.
I had been able to secure a job in my field using the same documents that Canada had her person fabricate for me for the leased townhome. I didn’t like to think of my partially newidentity as stolen because I only used it at work. To those who knew me here, I was still Saskia or Sass. When I walked into the hospital, it was a different story. Most of the time, I wasn’t called by name anyway. So many people came in and out of Orange County Medical since it was the county hospital, and near the hood, that to them, I was the heart and lung girl.
“Where you able to find everything? How much I owe you?”
Mrs. Jean, a short, stubby woman with a heart of gold, stepped aside so I could come in. I could hear the stories on the TV in her living room but took the shortcut through her dining room to her kitchen. Placing the bags on the counter, I then detoured to the room behind the kitchen.
I told myself I was only coming in to drop off the groceries and leave, but I couldn’t help myself. The smell of peppermint and the soft hum of a humidifier, along with nursery tunes playing on the Alexa, made my eyes water. Three cribs lined the wall, but I walked to the navy one right in the center.The Finding Nemo stickers on the ocean blue painted wall made it feel like you were underwater instead of in a nursery. I loved it here.
After using the hand sanitizer, I reached into the crib but stopped at the sound of Mrs. Jean’s chastising.
“I love you, Sass, but if you wake my baby up, I’m going to call my niece and tell her you’re going to work. She said you were off today to pamper for your race, but I don’t know many women who wear scrubs to the nail salon.”
A smile covered my face even though my eyes were watering. Hair that looked brown in the blue lighting, but I knew otherwise, sat in a fit of curls on the most beautiful head belonging to the most beautiful baby. If life hadn’t been unkind enough to me, as soon as I settled into my new job, I found out I was pregnant. I had plans to abort, but knew this was yet another sign from my father, plus I was already five months oldwhen I found out. So, I kept it. I kept the baby even though I was technically a runaway bride, driving a stolen car all the while borrowing an identity.
It was by God's grace that my baby was healthy. Since I didn’t find out I was pregnant until my second trimester, I had been drinking, racing, and doing all kinds of reckless things until I felt kicks. I was so exhausted from working and so scared that everything was going to fall apart at any second that stress caused my periods to become irregular. I truly had no idea I was pregnant and regretted my recklessness throughout my entire pregnancy.
This baby was the reason I was still here. I was hundreds of miles from home, trying to lay low while still having a life, and working tirelessly at a hospital. But I was carrying life; I had a six-figure income even though the state paid me less than the average for my field. I had a roof over my head, and I felt safe. If it hadn’t been for my child, I might have walked into the ocean and never looked back.
Canada had been there every step of the way, cutting the cord and staying at my house, only going back home a month ago. She’d been with us the duration of my six weeks to help me out with the baby. She let me rest and heal, all the while rotating night shifts with the baby like she was the baby's daddy. My baby loved her just as much as I did.
Not wanting to make Mrs. Jean's life harder, especially since she had opened up her in-home daycare on a weekend for me, I bent down and kissed the top of my baby’s head, catching my necklace before it could touch the baby, and tucked it back in my scrub top before turning to leave, before I became too emotional.
Mrs. Jean shook her head at me with a smile.
“You are obsessed.”
“I am.” There was no reason to deny it. The worst thing that had happened turned out to be the best thing that hadhappened. I spent my pregnancy in a positive mindset, making sure I brought a healthy baby into the world. My work hours were long, and my days were tough, but grief hadn’t overtaken me, and I had a will to live. Even though I earned a six-figure salary, I didn’t spend frivolously. I had a borrowed identity, but I had run away from a groom and stolen another man’s car. My mind was always alert because I didn’t know when I’d have to leave again. Canada assured me I was safe because she knew people, but I had to rely on myself. So, I saved all my money, only spending when necessary. If I had to run again, this time I wouldn’t need to steal or beg. Maybe still borrow, though.
“Well, get on down to that hospital. Don’t let them people keep you all night. You have a race to win. Also, let the baby stay here overnight. Let your hair down and enjoy your day off tomorrow. Before you tell me no, I’m letting you know I ain’t accepting.” Ms. Jean propped her hand on her stout hip.
A night out drinking and being able to sleep in sounded like a plan I would miss my baby terribly, though, but I needed the rest.
“I’ll see Mrs. Jean.”
She shooed me to the exit and I laughed the whole way.
“Too bad, we’re not answering. Save a life and then go win that prize money. I want a coach bag for my birthday, and I'd like you and Canada to go half on it. I saw it on TikTok.”
“I’ll get you the bag and the wallet even if I don’t win. Find something else for Canada to buy.”
“Same thing but in another color. I’m a simple old lady.”
Before I could get out the door completely, I ran back past Mrs. Jean to kiss my baby again, then headed off to work. Today was originally my day off since I had the race, but I’d been called in for an emergency surgery. I didn’t want to say no, even though I couldn’t stand the surgical team, but I loved the work. I loved my job and the patients, but the staff was terrible. Still, beggarscouldn’t be choosers, and technically, I was employed under false pretenses, which was a federal offense and could cost me my license. The county hospital was so busy that they had never even asked for a license. I had the skills, and that was all that mattered.
Joining the Hellcat Barbies was a completely random occurrence. I’d been in town for a month and was still waiting to hear back from the county. Canada and I were at the local fair when I was approached by Aubree, a pretty and paid YouTuber, who drove a purple car nearly identical to mine. She saw my car and invited me to join the crew. When they explained that I could get paid for racing, I was all ears. Street racing was illegal and something I’d never done before, but I was spending money and hadn’t been making any. I figured it couldn’t be hard since we wore helmets and the car was already fast. What I saw as a way to make quick money turned into one of the highlights of my life.
I loved what the Hellcat Barbies represented and thought a group of women with nice cars racing and giving back was cool, so I decided to join. I lost my first few races, but by the third race, and after taking some advice from the ladies, I came out a winner and earned an extra five thousand dollars. We mostly raced men who loved to see us coming but hated to see the tailpipes of our cars when we left them in the dust. I’d won more races than I’d lost and was having a great time doing it.
When I found out I was pregnant, it was two days before a race, and I was devastated that I had to cancel. By then, I had been working for a few months, but I had grown accustomed to the extra money and the rush I got from being on the track. Hell, we’d even raced on the streets. The ladies had been supportive and excited when I revealed my pregnancy and even threw me a baby shower at Aubree’s house. They were truly a Godsend.
I had limited time with my work schedule and growing belly, but I made time for the Hellcat Barbies. Canada didn’t have a Hellcat, but she was cool with one of the girls and was always with us. Hence, the reason she was pressing me about the race. It was my first one post-baby and the pot was large. She’d lose her shit if she found out I was going into work, especially since she knew how easily surgery could run over, but the doctor assured me that I would only be needed for four hours, and this particular doctor I somewhat respected.
I’d never been a racer, but that money turned my ass into a speed demon. My 'why the hell not' had become a semi-addiction and a form of therapy all in one. It brought me peace and more cash to stack, and my baby and I could use every bit we got. Plus, the car was already fast; there had been plenty of times when I had to watch myself so I wouldn’t get pulled over. Barely tap the gas, and the car would fly down the road.
Pulling up at the hospital, I said a prayer, kissed my phone's screen because my baby's one-day-old picture was there, and then went into Orange County Medical to start my shift. As soon as I clocked out, I was in Hellcat Barbie mode.
“That’s my biihhhtch! I told you you’d win!”
