My fears they’d uncover the lies Liam had included on my résumé were probably irrational, but I couldn’t kick them or force myself to go back to rectify the situation. If I lost the modest income I had, things would go from dire to devastating.
Joey was fed, clean, growing, and cared for. She didn’t need more than she had, but I roamed my broken house for hours while she slept, racked with guilt over bringing her into the situation and terrified of what would happen if I couldn’t fix it soon.
I was completely on my own in finding a solution. Liam, my best friend for years, partner, father of my child, had ghosted me.
He hadn’t responded to Joey’s birth announcement. Not even a “she’s so cute.” And when I’d texted him about the money he’d stolen from me—I’d finally accepted that was what he’d done—he blocked me. Not just my number but every social media.
Liam wasn’t coming back. Not ever.
This was my problem to solve.
More than once, my fingers had hovered over the contact information that had sat unused on my phone since I’d left home at eighteen. I stared down at the number, as close as I’d ever been to hitting “call.” I never would have considered calling my parents before, and I hated that I was now. But I would do anything for my daughter, even sacrifice parts of myself to give her a good life.
We weren’t there yet, though. I exited my contacts and exhaled heavily.
I was staying afloat.
I just had to find a way to get rid of this house and plot out my next move.
Just. Ha.
As if it were as simple as that. I barely had the bandwidth to shower daily. Figuring out how to sell this house and not come out worse for wear was so daunting I hadn’t even tried.
My phone vibrated with a notification, and I frowned at Elliot Levy’s name. I’d heard more from him while on maternity leave than when I’d been in the office every day.
From: [email protected]
Catherine,
Daniel cannot find the contact information for David Sinclair. He claims he’s looked high and low, and now he’s given up.
Did you properly file that information? Or is the glorified intern you chose just grossly incompetent?
Please reply as soon as you get this.
Yours,
Elliot
No hi? How are you? How’s your day going?
Classic Elliot.
I wasn’t supposed to be working, and I certainly didn’t have to check my email at all hours. But something in me was compelled to reply when Elliot reached out.
Which was often.
He was crankier than usual, and I felt awful for Daniel, my temporary replacement. I pictured him marking off the days he had left on his sentence with a sharpened shiv on the underside of his desk like a prisoner.
Since Joey was happily occupied with the light-up play mat Davida had gifted her, I replied to Elliot’s email. Hopefully once he had his answer, he’d leave poor Daniel alone.
From: [email protected]
Elliot,
Hi, how are you?
If you mean Sinclair Davis, please let Daniel know he can find Sinclair’s contact information in the Davis subfolder within the surveyor folder. It’s also in your contact folder under Sinclair Davis. Check the Ds.
I hope my reply was soon enough for your liking.
Sincerely,
Catherine
P.S. You are the human equivalent of spilling a bag of freshly pumped milk.
I carefully deleted the postscript before sending it, but stamping out those words had made me feel marginally better. Even if Elliot wouldn’t have understood them had I sent them, I did, and they pulled a smile from me.
Nothing was solved, but as always, taking out my frustration on Elliot provided me with desperately needed relief.
Of course, that relief didn’t last long. He replied almost as quickly as I’d sent my email.
From: [email protected]
Catherine,
Thank you. I’ve found it.
So you’re aware, I’m seconds away from firing Daniel. He shakes when I speak to him. It’s untenable. I need an assistant, not a leaf.
You’ve never shaken in my presence. Not once.
Aren’t you bored at home? What could you possibly be doing for all these weeks?
I would like you to come back as soon as possible. I don’t think Daniel’s going to make it much longer. He’s currently vibrating at his desk, and from what I understand, the human body cannot sustain constant vibration. He will eventually crumble. Do you want that on your conscience?