Page 9 of Mafia And Maid
I blink, not realizing the door has opened. “Kori…” My voice is thick with tears before I clear it. “I’m sorry to drop by so late. Can…can I ask a favor?”
Her brow is furrowed. “Sure, come in. Is everything okay?”
I shake my head, following her in. I don’t tell her the entire story as I sit on her couch, trying to take up as little space as I can; I just tell her that I had to leave.
Kori squeezes my knee and smiles, offering me her couch and a blow-up mattress for Ethan.
She helps me get set up, bringing her spare sheets and blankets, and as soon as Ethan is tucked in, he falls asleep in moments. He’s just as exhausted as I am.
Kori makes us both a cup of cocoa, and then, she curls up on the couch next to me. Concern is etched all over her face.
“I don’t want to be a bother…”
“You’re not. And you can stay as long as you need. What else can I do to help you? I have six hundred bucks in savings that I could lend you if that would help you?”
I shake my head. She’s just as strapped for cash as I am right now. “No, I can’t take your money. But do you think…your mom could look after Ethan while I work?” Kori’s mom helps with childcare when Kori is working. “As soon as I find a job, I can pay her something for it,” I add in a rushed voice.
“Oh, Rosa, I know she’ll be happy to help.”
“I just need to earn enough money to be able to leave Chicago and put down a deposit on an apartment, so hopefully, it won’t be for long. My marriage is finally over. I know that Grayden won't allow a divorce, but I willneverreturn to that man.”
The one time I mentioned a divorce to him, he beat me up badly before telling me that he’d make sure I’d never see Ethan again if I filed for divorce—that he had the money and power to ensure that he’d get sole custody forever. And I can’t risk that ever happening to Ethan. Ican’t let that monster be the only parent to my little boy. It’s better that we just disappear and get as far away from Chicago and Grayden as possible.
“I desperately wish that I’d had the courage before now to leave. That I’ve stayed for so long and let Ethan witness the violence makes me feel a complete failure as a parent. I’m his mom, and I should be protecting him from all the bad in this world. I’ve let him down, but that changes from right now. I have to stand up for us both—even though it’s absolutely terrifying—because that’s the only way things will get better for us.”
Kori nods as she hugs me, understanding how bad things are for me.
That night, my sleep is fitful, and I wake up in pain several times, not remembering where I am.
Finally, when dim daylight starts to filter through the blinds, I decide to get up and stumble to the bathroom with my purse in my hand.
Staring at my reflection makes my throat run dry. Too round of a face; too chubby cheeks; brown eyes that are plain and drab. Every insecurity and fault in my body screams out at me.
I grab my purse which contains the box of hair dye I bought from the corner store, and I sprawl the bottles and instructions over the vanity’s counter.
I squeeze my eyes shut. It’s now or never. Grayden’s going to find us if I don’t take precautions against being recognized.
Opening my eyes, I lift the scissors from Kori’s medicine cabinet and hack at my long blond strands, watching the loose waves fall to the floor in uneven slices.
When I finish, I take my reflection in. My hair dangles in a chin-length bob, a bit jagged at the ends but passable as long as no one looks too closely at it. Next comes the black dye. I do my best, but after washing it out, the color isn’t as even as I’d hoped, and the brassy orange undertone makes my skin look a little sickly.
After showering, I head to the kitchen. Kori’s mom has arrived, and I explain to Ethan that she’ll be looking after him today. “This is Kathleen. She’s Kristopher’s grandma, and she’s going to look after both you boys today while I go out and look for a job.”
Ethan’s eyes widen with worry, and my heart breaks in two. I desperately wish I didn’t have to leave him for the next eight hours, but there’s no other option if I’m going to find a job.
“And today, we’re making cupcakes,” Kathleen adds in an attempt to distract Ethan. “And I’ll need someone to help with the mixing. Do you think you could help with that, Ethan?”
He gives a wobbly smile and nods.
The smell of bacon sizzling is all around me, making my stomach grumble. But I push it off, deciding to leave before breakfast is ready. Skipping a few meals won’t hurt me. It’ll do me good after indulging last week on too much cake.
I kiss Ethan’s head, and after promising him I’ll be home before dinner, I reluctantly leave the house.
***
First, I tackle the businesses and stores around Kori’s neighborhood, and then, I branch out further.
By the end of the day, my feet are sore, and all I’ve had to eat all day is the stale roll I snagged from the shelter soup kitchen.