other things in life were going, he was always there, always glad to see her, always loving her. And because of that love, she felt a fierce protective instinct she never knew she had.
So she had to shape up. Bemoaning the fates wasn’t going to do him any good. She could cry and tear at her chest all day long and it wouldn’t accomplish a thing. Ritchie couldn’t survive on could’ve-beens. She had to do something.
But what?
She couldn’t count on child support from her ex-husband since Richard seldom worked, certainly not enough to help her. Although a talented musician, he only worked for cash, moving on after a few weeks.
She had thought he was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, with dark wavy hair to his shoulders and a gentle smile that touched her soul. And she had found his nomadic ways romantic.
Until she became pregnant and he disappeared.
Continuing to pace, she decided on a plan. First, she’d talk to Mr. Madden and find out when the museum was going to be torn down. With any luck, it wouldn’t be until she had an opportunity to get some money saved. She would tell him her plans and then she’d ask for more hours. She was a hard worker so he shouldn’t have any objections.
But could she do it? She still had to fight her lack of self-confidence when talking to figures of authority. And, her success still depended on whether or not he needed more help. She had so little control over anything in her life right now. Suddenly she felt like crying.
“Oh, Grandma, what would you have done?”
A soft knock sounded at the door and she heard Diana whisper, “It’s me.”
Tracy released the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding and opened the door. “What in the world are you doing up at this hour?”
“I heard you roaming around up here. What’s wrong?” In her terrycloth robe and slippers, Diana peeked at the baby then headed for the kitchen table.
Tracy followed her into the kitchen. “Sorry to keep you awake, but I’m glad you’re here. I need someone to talk to. Want some tea?”
“Might as well. Can’t sleep with you pacing back and forth.”
“I’m sorry.” Tracy refilled the kettle and put it back on the stove.
“So tell me what’s got you all upset.” Diana covered a yawn with her hand.
Tracy brought her up to date.
“Well, that’s easy to fix,” Diana said. “All you have to do is tell your boss he either has to help you or he’ll lose you.”
“Yeah, sure I will.”
“Oh don’t look like that. You can do it. I saw something like this on TV not too long ago. This girl was a hard-worker, did everything her boss asked her and more, but never got any raises. Finally, she used a strategy she’d heard about. You know, telling her boss if he didn’t give her a raise she’d have to go elsewhere…” Diana’s voice trailed off.
Tracy waited. “Well, did she get it?”
“Ummm, no, come to think of it, he called her bluff and she had to quit. I’d forgotten how the story went.”
“Well, gee, thanks a lot for your help. I really feel a lot better.”
“Oh, don’t be such a shit,” Diana told her. “Maybe the situation is different, but the strategy is good.”
Tracy stared at her. “You’re out of your mind. There’s no way I could take that kind of chance with my job. Especially now.”
“Sure you can. As good a worker as you are, you told me he said that, he won’t want to lose you. You just need to assert yourself a little. Talk to him. Say, ‘Mr. Madden, I need more hours, more responsibility. If you can’t give them to me, I’ll have to go elsewhere.’ There. Simple.”
Later in bed, Tracy thought about what Diana had said. Would she have the nerve to actually do it? She said the words to herself a couple of times, then spoke them aloud. Hmmm. Felt good, actually. She could do it.
Couldn’t she?
Chapter Nine
After a quick breakfast at McDonald’s, Karr drove home to his two-story apartment
So she had to shape up. Bemoaning the fates wasn’t going to do him any good. She could cry and tear at her chest all day long and it wouldn’t accomplish a thing. Ritchie couldn’t survive on could’ve-beens. She had to do something.
But what?
She couldn’t count on child support from her ex-husband since Richard seldom worked, certainly not enough to help her. Although a talented musician, he only worked for cash, moving on after a few weeks.
She had thought he was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, with dark wavy hair to his shoulders and a gentle smile that touched her soul. And she had found his nomadic ways romantic.
Until she became pregnant and he disappeared.
Continuing to pace, she decided on a plan. First, she’d talk to Mr. Madden and find out when the museum was going to be torn down. With any luck, it wouldn’t be until she had an opportunity to get some money saved. She would tell him her plans and then she’d ask for more hours. She was a hard worker so he shouldn’t have any objections.
But could she do it? She still had to fight her lack of self-confidence when talking to figures of authority. And, her success still depended on whether or not he needed more help. She had so little control over anything in her life right now. Suddenly she felt like crying.
“Oh, Grandma, what would you have done?”
A soft knock sounded at the door and she heard Diana whisper, “It’s me.”
Tracy released the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding and opened the door. “What in the world are you doing up at this hour?”
“I heard you roaming around up here. What’s wrong?” In her terrycloth robe and slippers, Diana peeked at the baby then headed for the kitchen table.
Tracy followed her into the kitchen. “Sorry to keep you awake, but I’m glad you’re here. I need someone to talk to. Want some tea?”
“Might as well. Can’t sleep with you pacing back and forth.”
“I’m sorry.” Tracy refilled the kettle and put it back on the stove.
“So tell me what’s got you all upset.” Diana covered a yawn with her hand.
Tracy brought her up to date.
“Well, that’s easy to fix,” Diana said. “All you have to do is tell your boss he either has to help you or he’ll lose you.”
“Yeah, sure I will.”
“Oh don’t look like that. You can do it. I saw something like this on TV not too long ago. This girl was a hard-worker, did everything her boss asked her and more, but never got any raises. Finally, she used a strategy she’d heard about. You know, telling her boss if he didn’t give her a raise she’d have to go elsewhere…” Diana’s voice trailed off.
Tracy waited. “Well, did she get it?”
“Ummm, no, come to think of it, he called her bluff and she had to quit. I’d forgotten how the story went.”
“Well, gee, thanks a lot for your help. I really feel a lot better.”
“Oh, don’t be such a shit,” Diana told her. “Maybe the situation is different, but the strategy is good.”
Tracy stared at her. “You’re out of your mind. There’s no way I could take that kind of chance with my job. Especially now.”
“Sure you can. As good a worker as you are, you told me he said that, he won’t want to lose you. You just need to assert yourself a little. Talk to him. Say, ‘Mr. Madden, I need more hours, more responsibility. If you can’t give them to me, I’ll have to go elsewhere.’ There. Simple.”
Later in bed, Tracy thought about what Diana had said. Would she have the nerve to actually do it? She said the words to herself a couple of times, then spoke them aloud. Hmmm. Felt good, actually. She could do it.
Couldn’t she?
Chapter Nine
After a quick breakfast at McDonald’s, Karr drove home to his two-story apartment
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