Chapter Six
When Niki came down the stairs the next morning, Sharon was already at the kitchen table, coffee cup in hand, the newspaper spread out in front of her. She’d just finished eating a slice of cinnamon-raisin toast. Sharon acknowledged Niki’s presence with a nod. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Today Niki wore dark pants and a striped button-down shirt. On her feet were a pair of black flats. Not business professional, but definitely more conservative than yesterday. It was surprising how tiny Niki was without the bulk of her hooded sweatshirt. Her petite frame and trim waistline would be the dream of most women, and that wasn’t the only difference Sharon noticed from the previous day. Niki’s hair had been pulled off her face into a bun, bringing her high cheekbones, perfect skin, and big dark eyes into full view. The combination was stunning.
“You look great,” Sharon said.
Niki pulled self-consciously at the front of her shirt. “I thought I’d apply for jobs today. I need to find work as soon as possible.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” Sharon nodded in the direction of the toaster. “If you want some cinnamon-raisin toast, help yourself.”
“Thanks, I think I will.”
They were, Sharon decided, diplomatically navigating around each other, each of them careful not to offend the other. After Niki had retired to her room the night before, Amy had called to see how the two of them were getting along, and she’d listened attentively before giving her mother a list of instructions. Don’t make too much of a fuss over her. Let her know in plain terms what you expect. Make her feel welcome, but don’t smother her. Don’t ask too many questions. She’s liable to take off if she thinks you don’t want her there. Sharon felt conflicted about this string of directions. On the one hand, it was good to know. On the other, it was a little insulting. Everything Amy had mentioned she probably would have done anyway. But she guessed it was never a bad idea to have a reminder.
Sharon said, “There’s coffee in the pot and orange juice in the fridge. Glasses and cups are in the upper cabinet to the left of the fridge.”
Niki nodded and popped two pieces of bread in the toaster, then poured herself some juice while she waited. By the time she took a seat at the table, Sharon guessed enough time had passed to talk again. “So you’re going to apply for jobs today?” she asked.
“That’s the plan. I already called my old job and told them I quit because I moved and don’t have transportation.”
“Were they mad?” Sharon was curious. She’d never walked off a job in her life. There were times it had been tempting, but she’d always given two weeks’ notice and stuck it out.
“I’m sure they will be.” She grinned, revealing straight white teeth. “I left a voice mail.”
Ah, voice mail. That made it much easier. “I would have loved that option when I was your age. So many things are easier now.”
“Yep.”
Sharon took a breath and mentally launched into business mode. If Niki was going to be living there, she needed to know what was expected of her. “I realized that yesterday we really didn’t get a chance to talk.” Niki’s face clouded over, probably anticipating a lecture. Well, Sharon had no intention of going there. “We should probably exchange phone numbers, and I’ve got a house key for you too. That way you can come and go as you like.”
Niki looked relieved. “Since we’re talking, how much time do I have, and what are the rules?” She took a sip of her orange juice, her eyes still on Sharon.
“How much time do you have for what?”
“For staying here.”
Sharon took in a sharp breath. Since the initial phone call with Amy, she’d rethought the whole situation. When she’d met Niki briefly at the mall, she’d judged her as the scary tough girl, the one who didn’t take anything from anyone, and yes, there was something about her to back that up. She did, after all, opt to move out of the last house despite the woman’s objections, so something had to have happened, and Sharon was willing to bet it involved the man who’d watched as Niki left the house. Spending even this short period of time with Niki made Sharon reconsider her original stance. Amy had been right. The girl had been through difficult times, and she deserved a chance to turn it around. “As long as we get along, you’re welcome to stay for as long as you like,” Sharon said.
“As long as I like,” Niki repeated, as if she didn’t quite believe it. “And what are your rules?”
“I can’t really think of any offhand,” she said, almost apologetically. “Just be a considerate guest. Don’t leave wet towels on the floor, clean up after yourself—you know, all the commonsense stuff.”
“And what’s my curfew?” Niki asked with the practiced air of someone who’d gone through this many times before.
“Well, you’re an adult, so you can keep your own schedule, as long as you don’t disturb my sleep. If you’re planning on staying out late, let me know ahead of time. If I hear someone come in at three in the morning, I’d like to know it’s you and not some criminal breaking into the house.” This was the same agreement Sharon had had with Amy once she’d reached adulthood. It was borne of necessity more than anything else. Amy had been a good kid, and Sharon found she didn’t have the energy to stay up late solely to police her. And, honestly? Some circumstances required late nights. When Amy had been a young college student living at home, she often got off work at eleven. If she and her coworkers went to an all-night breakfast restaurant afterward and got to talking, coming home at two or three o’clock wasn’t that much of a stretch. “Does that work for you?”
“Sure.”
They sat for a few more minutes, Niki eating and Sharon, pen in hand, working on a sudoku puzzle. After Niki finished, she picked up Sharon’s plate and stacked it on her own, then rinsed them off in the sink and put them in the dishwasher. “So,” she said, almost nonchalantly, “how much rent will you be charging me?”
Instead of answering the question, Sharon said, “Amy says you’re saving up to get a car and a place of your own.”
“That’s the plan. It’s taking me forever, though. I was living in an apartment with some other people right after I aged out of foster care, but I didn’t have to come up with a lot of cash up front. I just moved in and paid them every month, so it didn’t cost so much.” She crossed the room and sat down at the table opposite of Sharon. “If I rent an apartment myself, I’ll have to come up with a lot more money. I’m okay with getting a roommate and taking a bus to get around, but even with that I still need the first month’s rent, or half the first month’s rent if I’m splitting it with someone, and then there’s the security deposit and furniture and buying all the cooking things.” She gestured back toward the cabinets.
“It’s a lot,” Sharon said in a kind way. She thought back to when she was young. How had she gotten started going from nothing to moving out on her own? Thinking back, her parents had sold her one of their old cars for a pittance. It was a gift, really. Relatives who had cast-off furniture and housewares had also contributed to her cause, and she’d gotten the rest at Goodwill and from clearance sales at Kmart. In the ensuing years, she’d bought things as needed, and in later years she’d sometimes even bought things that weren’t needed. Impulse purchases. Ruefully, she remembered the bread maker she’d used only a handful of times and the juicer she’d once vowed to use on a regular basis. She’d been able to get rid of the bread maker without an ounce of guilt, but for some reason she couldn’t part with the juicer. It was only a matter of time, though. Looking back, she realized that she’d spent the first half of her life acquiring things and was now spending the second half getting rid of them.
Niki nodded. “You’re right. It is a lot.”
Sharon made a decision. “Let’s not worry about rent for the moment. You can stay for free. You’re in guest mode right now, and if that changes, I’ll let you know.”
“Wait.” Niki seemed befuddled. “But you have to charge me something. I can’t just liv
e here and not pay.”
“You can if I say so. It’s my house, and I can do whatever I like,” Sharon said. “As long as you’re working toward a goal, I’m good with letting you stay here for free. If you start spending your money on stupid stuff like gambling or drugs, I’ll rethink the whole thing.”
Niki frowned. “I don’t do drugs. Is that what you think of me?”
Sharon leaned forward, one palm flat on the table. Outside the window, behind Niki’s head, she saw a small brown bird alight onto the bird feeder suction-cupped to the glass. “No, Niki, I don’t think you do drugs, but the truth is that I don’t know you and you don’t know me, so I’m just putting it out there. I don’t want someone living with me who’s doing drugs or drinking to excess. It’s not personal—it’s just my policy. And who knows? You don’t know me at all. I could be a drug addict. The only thing we both know for sure is that Amy has vouched for each of us. I’m thinking that means we’re both okay.”
Niki glanced around the room. “You’re not a drug addict. No way you’re a drug addict.”
“You sound very sure.”
“I’d be able to tell.” She sounded confident. “You look clear-eyed and healthy. Your house is clean, and you’re out of bed and facing the day already.”
“I try to keep up with things.” Sharon felt vaguely proud. “Still, for all you know, it could be a front. I might have a whole secret life.”
“No.” Niki shook her head, making her silver earrings sway. “You’re definitely not a drug addict. I’ve seen lots of them. I would know.”
Chapter Seven
The strip mall was two miles from Sharon’s house. When Niki announced she’d be walking there, Sharon said, “Don’t be silly. It’s way too cold today. I can drive you.”
Niki fidgeted, seeming to weigh both options. Finally, she said, “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. It’s really not a problem. Besides, I have nothing better to do.” Saying the words aloud took her by surprise. Did she really have nothing better to do? On one hand, Sharon’s days were full. Depending on the season, she loved to be outdoors, either working in the yard or shoveling snow. She was never bored. The library and grocery store were frequent destinations, and her calendar was full of appointments: hair, dentist, routine medical checkups, lunches with friends, church on Sunday. Keeping her house clean and the laundry done were priorities for her, as she hated dirt and disorder. Taking care of all these small things meant she was always on the move: shaking the cat’s food bowl to give it the appearance of fullness, wiping down counters, dusting the glass birds that had been her mother’s prized knickknacks. She made a point not to sit down until after dinner, and only then to read a book or watch the news. The usual rewards for a productive day. Honestly, though, none of her activities were critical. All of it was unimportant compared to helping a young person find her way in the world.
As they got into the car, she asked Niki, “Do you have a driver’s license?”
Niki pulled the seat belt across her body and connected the two parts with one sharp click. “Yep. Amy taught me to drive and then took me for my test. I passed on my first try.” She turned toward Sharon, grinning. “I haven’t driven much since then because I don’t have a car, but it’s good to have a driver’s license for identification.”
“You’ll get a car eventually,” Sharon said. “It all takes time.” As she drove through her community, she pointed out landmarks to Niki—the library, the post office, the gas station.
They went a few more blocks and turned, and Niki pointed. “Amy’s high school!”
“That’s right.”
Niki tapped on the glass. “She hated high school and skipped study hall and took summer classes so she could graduate a year early.”
“You seem to know a lot about my daughter.”
“We spent a lot of time together.” Long pause. “She talked a lot about you too.”
“Oh.” Sharon raised her eyebrows. Amy hadn’t told her much about Nikita, citing privacy issues, but apparently it hadn’t worked the other way around. “All good things, I hope.”
“All good,” Niki assured her. “Not one bad thing.”
Sharon pulled into the strip mall parking lot and surveyed the stores. A few upscale fashion boutiques, a jewelry store, a florist, a nutrition store, a gift shop, and a karate school. On one end stood a Walgreens. “Walgreens might be a good start,” she suggested. “Every time I go in there, someone new is at the register.” She pulled the car into a space close to the middle of the shopping center.
Niki shook her head. “Nah. Too corporate. I don’t want to work for a big machine. Plus, they’d probably just tell me to apply online.”
“Isn’t that how most places operate nowadays? Seems like everything is online.”
“Yeah, sort of, but I’ve found that with the smaller places they like to see you in person first, so I usually go in and make a case for myself. Then my application stands out.” She unclipped her seat belt and turned to Sharon. “You sure you don’t mind waiting?”
“Not at all. I have a book in my purse. Take all the time you need.” She watched as Niki left the car and strode toward the storefronts, confidently heading into the florist shop.
In an effort to support local businesses, Sharon had been inside most of these stores at least once, but she’d found them mainly geared toward clientele with more disposable income than she’d have in her entire lifetime. Honestly, she had no idea how they stayed in business. She’d asked that very question of Amy once, and she’d replied, “There are any number of ways. Money laundering. Selling weapons out of the back room. Slave labor.” The list of possibilities, she’d told her mother, was endless. Corruption was creative. If Sharon didn’t know better, she’d have thought Amy was kidding. But she knew her daughter; Amy had a jaded view of the world, although she certainly wouldn’t call it that. Her daughter saw it the other way around. She thought her mother viewed the world through a rose-colored lens. Sharon-vision, she called it. Sharon was, Amy once said, charmingly naïve to the ugly side of people. Not a compliment, but at least she’d called her charming.
Sharon got her book out of her purse but didn’t open it, watching the door to the florist shop instead. When Niki came out, she had a grim expression, as if she’d gotten disappointing news, but it didn’t slow her down. Decisively, she turned and went into the gift shop. She had no winter coat on, something Sharon had noticed when they were at home, but she hadn’t questioned it. Based on what she’d seen of the girl’s possessions, the only outerwear she owned was a hoodie. Sharon didn’t think bringing up the subject was a good idea. At least not today. They were still finding their way with each other, but at some point, this lack would have to be addressed. Niki couldn’t continue to go out in January without some kind of jacket. Besides being uncomfortable, it was also dangerous.
Niki wasn’t in Nancy’s Fancy Gifts for very long, something that wasn’t surprising. Sharon would have guessed it wasn’t her kind of place, since it was filled with collectible figurines, mirrors with gilded frames, and artistic wall hangings. On the lower end of the price scale was an assortment of greeting cards, but even those were at least ten dollars. Sharon knew this because when the place had first opened, she’d stopped in just to check it out. She’d immediately felt uncomfortable, something the sales clerk had seemed to pick up on, as she began hovering over her as if Sharon were a kid likely to break something. No, this wouldn’t be the right job for Niki.
Within seconds of leaving that store, Niki confidently darted into the one next to it. She wasn’t one to give up, that was for sure.
The sun was coming in through the windshield, keeping Sharon warm enough even without the engine running. She watched as Niki went from business to business, ending up at the nutrition store. When she didn’t come out after fifteen minutes, Sharon cracked open her book and began to read.
She was so immersed in the story that it was a shock when Niki finally op
ened the door and got back into her seat. “Sorry it took so long,” she said breathlessly, slamming the door shut. “But guess what?” Her voice was tinged with excitement.
Sharon glanced up to see Niki’s eyes alight with delight. “What?”
“I got a job!” She held up a light-blue polo shirt with the words Magnificent Nutrition embroidered on the left side. “At the nutrition store. I can start tomorrow, he said. They just had a new employee ghost them, and so they needed someone right away.”
“Congratulations!” Sharon said, giving her a fist bump. Thank God Amy had started that fist bump thing. Sharon had been stuck in high-five mode, which her daughter had informed her was, while technically not incorrect, not done much anymore, except in sports. “Tell me all about it.”
On the way home, Niki filled her in. The store was not a franchise or a chain, and it had been open for three years. “It’s owned by a husband-and-wife team. I talked to the husband. He’s a nice old guy named Max. I’ll get to meet his wife tomorrow. They only have two part-time employees and one who works thirty-five hours a week. That will be me. I’ll get to run the juice bar. They have a little café in the back of the store, which is super cute, and all they serve is juice. He said I’ll make some cash tips—not a lot, but it’s still a nice extra.”
“Cash is king,” Sharon said.
“You’ve got that right.” Niki smiled broadly, then reached up and removed the elastic from her bun, letting her hair fall to her shoulders. “I can’t believe I got a job right away. I was kind of worried. I didn’t want you to think I’m a slacker.”
“I wouldn’t have thought that.” Sharon was touched that her opinion had worked its way into Niki’s thinking. She realized again how wrong her first impression of the girl had been. As they pulled into the driveway, she asked, “So what time do you start tomorrow?”
“They open at nine, but he told me to come half an hour early for training.”
The Moonlight Child Page 4