Page 5 of Wishing for Love

“I’m having a pity party and am not sure why. Maybe I’m just hormonal or something. Most times I just shrug it off and move on.” It was probably why she didn’t seem to commit to anything long term.

“You’ll figure it out,” Taylor said.

“I always do.”

Hours later, she was sitting in the living room of the house where she was babysitting for the night. They’d said they would be home by eleven. Sixty bucks for three hours was great when she got to sit in this nice big house and watch TV.

She pulled her phone out and started to look for jobs and nothing was catching her eye.

She went back to her account where she was hired for this job and was going to up her hourly rate when she noticed a postingfor a full-time nanny. Hmmm, she clicked on that and her jaw dropped when she saw that housing was provided.

The pay was salary and more than she’d make anywhere else...with benefits.

Holy cow.

Crystal knew the chances of getting the job were slim to none, but she updated her resume on the site and then hit submit.

Take a chance and throw those dice after you kiss them. It’s what she usually did and there was no reason she couldn’t again.

2

REFUSED TO FAIL

“Thanks for doing this with me, Mom,” Phoenix said on Monday.

He was still trying to figure out how the hell his life took such a turn.

Tomorrow would be three weeks since Maryn’s accident. Fourteen days since she’d died.

His decision to take Maryn off of life support had been the hardest thing he’d ever had to do in his life.

Then to come home and tell Elsie that she’d never talk to her mother again.

During the time Maryn was in the coma, he’d been asked to produce any legal documents giving him the right to act as proxy in her medical decisions. The minute he was told that, he knew things weren’t going to end well.

Good thing Maryn had been on top of it and he had a copy of it all at his house to show the hospital.

He just hated that he might have to do it.

“I’m sure you don’t know what to ask,” his mother said. “I can stay longer. You know that.”

“I know,” he said. “But you need to get home to Dad.”

“Your father is busy and not missing me as much as you think.”

He laughed. “Dad always misses you. Who is doing all the cooking right now?’

His mother grinned. “I’m sure he’s eating a lot of takeout, but thankfully he has a few very healthy places and I ordered it for him to be delivered. Family-style meals.”

That was his mother. Always caring for her family. All nine of her kids and her husband. She was an empty nester right now, but his two youngest siblings were still in college and would be home during breaks.

With Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks, he knew she had to get home for that and anyone else who returned for the holiday.

He couldn’t even think of that right now.

“I’ve appreciated the cooking that you’ve done here for Elsie and me. Appreciate even more the meals in the freezer that will come in handy.”

He had to buy a freezer chest because his mother was making so much and labeling them well. Keeping Elsie entertained and busy helping out too while he was running his business and trying to figure out how the hell to do it all.