Page 4 of Lost Times

Shaking the frustration to the side, I peaked out of the kitchen to meet Jasmine’s eyes. She was doing her best to look anywhere but me, and I raised a brow.

“So if I call your school, they’ll say you had no homework today?”

She toed the ground, bottom lip stuck out in a pout. “Maybe…”

Shaking my head, I gestured for her to get her backpack. “Honey, go get your homework. The sooner it’s over, the quicker you can go play in your room without worrying about getting in trouble for not doing it.”

She heaved a massive sigh before reluctantly dragging her feet toward her backpack. Once we both sat at the table, the papers between us, she mumbled.

“I don’t understand any of it. I tried to raise my hand to ask, but the teacher didn’t see it, and by the time Icouldask, they were even further ahead.” Tears shone in her eyes and I scooted my chair closer, hooking her into a hug and squeezing.

“It’s alright, that’s what I’m here for. We can figure it out together, and then you’ll be all caught up by tomorrow.” I said, stroking a hand through her hair until the tears faded.

It took over an hour to explain all the concepts to her, but by the end of it she was working through the practice problems with ease. Kissing her head, I stood and started gathering the ingredients for dinner.

With any luck, I’d finish this and finally have a chance to just relax. My shoulders ached something fierce thanks to them being tense nearly all day.

Part of me expected Ludwig to come barreling around the corner, demanding to know about his daughter, despite the fact he didn’t even know Ihadone. No matter how illogical the worry was, it kept me on edge until I’d left.

If this was how things were going to be from now on, I’d underestimated how exhausted this job was going to make me.

Shoving the thoughts away before they could send me into a spiral, I focused on the present. He didn’t know about her, and hewouldn’t. I wasn’t about to spend any time outside of work alone with him, so there was no reason Jasmine would be brought up in conversation.

My secret was safe.

At least, I hoped so…

My phone rang, pulling me back to the present, and I answered on instinct. “Hello?” I asked, and the voice on the other end smoothed over my frazzled nerves as it always did.

“Hey, Thalia! How is your new job? I wasn’t sure when to call, but I knew I had to soon.” Naomi’s voice drifted through the line, tugging at the tension built between my shoulder blades. Leaning back on the counter, dinner still in the corner of my eye lest it burn, I answered.

“It’s good, exhausting, but good.” I hesitated, not sure if I should tell her the rest. Jasmine always had the ability to hear exactly what Ididn’twant her to, and the last thing I needed was her knowing about Ludwig.

She hadn’t asked about him too many times over the years, thankfully, but she was about the age where she’d start. I wasn’t ready.

Not focusing on that, I continued. “How are things with you and your boyfriend?” I wanted to tell her about Ludwig, I did, but something told me not to. The best way to keep something a secret was to tellno one.

So despite the urge to have someone to confide in, I shoved the words down and listened as she gushed.

“Oh, Robby and I are doing great! We’re thinking about getting a cat, but you know how my allergies can get. I’d need to keep stocked on medication, but it would be worth it.”

I hummed, listening with half an ear as she dropped into a full description of her day. She and Robby were the definition of painfully in love and not for the first time, a splash of envy wormed its way into my chest.

Since I was young, I’d wanted what she had. It stung, seeing all the happy couples while knowing it probably wouldn’t be for me.

Not that I’d ever wish her anything but the best of course, Naomi deserved all the happiness the world had to offer.

I just…wish I had it too.

Jasmine walked in, proudly offering her homework with a beaming smile. I looked over it and nodded, patting her head affectionately. “Good job. If that’s all your homework, you’re free to go play.”

She nodded again, bounding away with a new spring to her step. Once she was out of hearing range, I turned back into Naomi’s voice.

“And you should have seen the cute little dress I found the other day. I’m going to drive to that new town of yours soon just so we can go on one of our night outs.”

A pang hit and longing sank its nail into me. God, I wanted that right now, to have her here. I’d always had trouble making friends, and Naomi was my oldest one to date. There would never be a day I didn’t thank whoever was listening that I’d met her.

She’d been my crutch during the pregnancy and all the uncertainty that followed it.

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