followed his comment. The old boy opened his mouth so wide, Marie could see his tonsils.
Before Marie could reply, Oscar put a gnarled hand on her shoulder. Arthritis had twisted his digits so his fingers looked like old rope. "We're in a position to take exactly what we want from this life. We're one of the few who can, so you should make sure you follow your 'eart while you 'ave the chance. You can shape your destiny. There ain't many that can say that in this world."
When the train stopped, Oscar pulled himself to his feet with a groan. "Take care of yourself, girl, and make sure you choose the life you live." His green eyes glowed. "That's the power you 'ave in this world. You drive the bus, not anyone else."
As Oscar picked a wobbly path off the train, Marie held her stomach. The old man was right; she did have a choice. All she wanted was to be a mother and wife. Between her and Frankie, they could make it work. They had to.
Chapter Eleven
It was the first time Marie had walked to work with a smile on her face since she could remember. There was something special about Oscar; the briefest contact with him had warmed her heart. The old boy was right; this was their moment, their time to take advantage of their privileged standing in this world. There would be a way for them to have this baby, and she'd be a great mother. Frankie would be an amazing dad too, and the stress of life would get easier to manage. They'd make it work.
When she rounded the next corner and looked up, the warmth turned instantly frigid as all her hope vanished. At the end of the long street, massive and resolute, was Rixon's headquarters. The building was an imposing fortress of brick and steel that stared down at her as if she was its victim. It was so large, it blocked out the sun. A buzz of anxiety shimmered through her.
No matter how many times she walked up to it since taking a job in the control room, her heart galloped, her throat dried, and her stomach did backflips. It had been worse since they'd terminated Jake.
Reluctance made her legs heavy and not even the birds sang as she walked up the silent street. She was alone and her slow trudge was the march of a slave in manacles. If only she could turn around, walk in the other direction, and sack work off forever. If only she could embrace motherhood wholeheartedly. But motherhood was the reason she kept going. This baby needed to enter the world with as much money behind it as possible.
***
Whoosh!
The automatic door to the locker room opened and Marie turned around. After making eye contact with one of her 'sisters', she quickly looked at the floor. What was she doing? She wasn't supposed to look at anyone, but it was the colleague that had let her into the control room the other day—the one that had smiled at her. Would there be a better opportunity to see if she wanted to be friends?
Marie regarded the camera hanging from the ceiling, her cheeks burning, then turned back to her locker and opened her handbag.
When her sister moved next to her, Marie's body tingled. They were so close to one another, Marie could smell her flowery perfume. There must be a way she could communicate with her. But how would she get away with it in here?
In an attempt to stall for time, Marie put her phone into her bag and zipped it up. Would they notice it on the cameras? She never put her phone in her bag; she always left it next to it. She then opened a pocket on the side and rearranged the three different packets of mints in there. She needed just a little more time to think; how could she communicate with this woman?
After clipping the popper on her bag shut, she quickly glanced at the blonde woman. Her heart lifted when she returned her smile. She does want to talk!
While staring ahead, Marie cleared her throat. She spoke only slightly louder than the sound of her breath. "Hello."
With her own pulse throbbing in her ears, it was hard to hear if her colleague replied or
Before Marie could reply, Oscar put a gnarled hand on her shoulder. Arthritis had twisted his digits so his fingers looked like old rope. "We're in a position to take exactly what we want from this life. We're one of the few who can, so you should make sure you follow your 'eart while you 'ave the chance. You can shape your destiny. There ain't many that can say that in this world."
When the train stopped, Oscar pulled himself to his feet with a groan. "Take care of yourself, girl, and make sure you choose the life you live." His green eyes glowed. "That's the power you 'ave in this world. You drive the bus, not anyone else."
As Oscar picked a wobbly path off the train, Marie held her stomach. The old man was right; she did have a choice. All she wanted was to be a mother and wife. Between her and Frankie, they could make it work. They had to.
Chapter Eleven
It was the first time Marie had walked to work with a smile on her face since she could remember. There was something special about Oscar; the briefest contact with him had warmed her heart. The old boy was right; this was their moment, their time to take advantage of their privileged standing in this world. There would be a way for them to have this baby, and she'd be a great mother. Frankie would be an amazing dad too, and the stress of life would get easier to manage. They'd make it work.
When she rounded the next corner and looked up, the warmth turned instantly frigid as all her hope vanished. At the end of the long street, massive and resolute, was Rixon's headquarters. The building was an imposing fortress of brick and steel that stared down at her as if she was its victim. It was so large, it blocked out the sun. A buzz of anxiety shimmered through her.
No matter how many times she walked up to it since taking a job in the control room, her heart galloped, her throat dried, and her stomach did backflips. It had been worse since they'd terminated Jake.
Reluctance made her legs heavy and not even the birds sang as she walked up the silent street. She was alone and her slow trudge was the march of a slave in manacles. If only she could turn around, walk in the other direction, and sack work off forever. If only she could embrace motherhood wholeheartedly. But motherhood was the reason she kept going. This baby needed to enter the world with as much money behind it as possible.
***
Whoosh!
The automatic door to the locker room opened and Marie turned around. After making eye contact with one of her 'sisters', she quickly looked at the floor. What was she doing? She wasn't supposed to look at anyone, but it was the colleague that had let her into the control room the other day—the one that had smiled at her. Would there be a better opportunity to see if she wanted to be friends?
Marie regarded the camera hanging from the ceiling, her cheeks burning, then turned back to her locker and opened her handbag.
When her sister moved next to her, Marie's body tingled. They were so close to one another, Marie could smell her flowery perfume. There must be a way she could communicate with her. But how would she get away with it in here?
In an attempt to stall for time, Marie put her phone into her bag and zipped it up. Would they notice it on the cameras? She never put her phone in her bag; she always left it next to it. She then opened a pocket on the side and rearranged the three different packets of mints in there. She needed just a little more time to think; how could she communicate with this woman?
After clipping the popper on her bag shut, she quickly glanced at the blonde woman. Her heart lifted when she returned her smile. She does want to talk!
While staring ahead, Marie cleared her throat. She spoke only slightly louder than the sound of her breath. "Hello."
With her own pulse throbbing in her ears, it was hard to hear if her colleague replied or
Similar Books
