by L.T. Ryan
3
Clarissa awoke as the sun peeked through a crack in the curtains. She sat up, reached her arms out and opened her eyes to find herself alone. “Son of a bitch,” she muttered as she stood. Her head throbbed from the combination of sex, alcohol and lack of sleep.
She walked to the back of the apartment to see if Jack was in the bathroom or had slipped into her bed. She had been told that she snored. It wasn’t all that uncommon for her lovers to sneak off and find a quiet place to sleep.
There was a note on the bedroom door. She read it to herself:
Clarissa,
Sorry, I have to take care of something this morning. Watch over Mandy for me. Back by evening.
Jack
“Son of a bitch,” she said again.
She opened the bedroom door a crack and peeked in to check on Mandy. Covers hugged the little girl as she lay sleeping. Clarissa went back to the kitchen and grabbed her cell phone. She searched for Jack’s number. It was in there a few days ago, but she couldn’t find it now. He must have erased his number from her phone before he left. She rolled her eyes at the thought.
“Momma?”
Clarissa slammed her phone down and bit her lip in frustration. She turned to see Mandy standing there looking timid.
“Where’s my momma? Where’s Mr. Jack?”
“Jack had to go out for a bit sweetie. He’s looking for your mom.”
“Who are you? Are you Mrs. Jack?”
Clarissa laughed. “No baby, but we are really good friends.”
“That means you’re my friend, too,” Mandy said.
Clarissa smiled at her. Things are so simple for children. “Are you hungry?”
“Mmhm.” Mandy rubbed her belly.
Clarissa poured a bowl of cereal, sat it in front of the child. “Now eat up. We got to get you cleaned up. Can’t have your momma show up with you looking all a mess.”
Mandy looked up and smiled at her with a mouth full of cereal and milk. The milk trickled down her chin as she grinned. Clarissa couldn’t help but laugh, which resulted in milk and cereal spraying across the table as the little girl joined in. Their laughter was disrupted by a loud knock on the door.