tina'

wallet and told Aidan to wait

e minutes. When I arrived, I lingered

could last for at least a week. It would be able to last us till I received the payment from

I gave the cashier my card. The sudden be

caused me to purse my lips in exasperation. I co

e items in my basket

ehind me made me feel a little jitte

n and the cruel b

cli

ase try

ve other things to return to," the man that was behi

acknowledged. I walked out of the store wit

room was dark, so I turned on my flashlight. "Aidan

l for Aidan t

gripping me. I removed my scar

the pile of clothes I still needed to wash. I dropped the

mm

little louder, panic

t to me and followed the sound, only to

s!" I breathed

buddy?" I grunted, opening

g," he repli

om?" I asked as

or so hard, and I got scared," Aidan explaine

h

onlyhave only be

rought us food," I gestured towards the bag on the ta

egan eating, my flashlight s

ed him, though it felt more

y what my lif

asked him with a mouth

to bed and tucked him gently, plan

t a

turn to Mrs. Burrow's clean laundry to her. I wa

while I tried to brush my hair, using the wind

gestured with my head toward where the sho

through an ad I saw. They were looking for an office assistant at a start-up firm wi

it of my hair, my phone rang, startlin

, and my scowl deepened. "This b

ed, causing me to pinch the bridge of my nose i

ked as I knelt to help Aidan with his shoelace,

I have good news, but since yo

ny's by five p.m." I said in a rush, grabbing my bag

s? The

th a hint of sarcasm as I locked the door be

Mayne Lane," I instructed the

ood luck with your interview

eep on the other end. I glanced at Aidan and p

Mrs. Burrow's house and knocked gently, waiting for a respons

She grunted disapprovingly and, without acknowledging my greeting, grabbed the duffel bag

on a hundred, remember? You can't keep shor

the very least, but if she was giving me half, there was no wa

She slammed the door in my face,

stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. Aidan looke

his job," I said, unsure if I was

king to Benny's with a long

he elderly woman who owned

gain, Len! What ca

dly, and I simply nodded at Benny. I fishe

upcake, Aidan suddenl

as I helped him down from his seat to protect

as he picked Aidan up and

Len Wh

t even know if that was his real name but that was what he told me

l smile tugged on the corners of my lips. "

that," he pointed out with a wink. My sm

sullen?" Liam asked as he took the seat opposite to me. He sat Ai

't get

willing the pent-up frustration

t, it's a good thing I've come

up. "What's t

n the table, spiking my

sing me to turn to him. I got up to take h

e," he paused as he scrolled thro

n skepticism and stared at

om till he was out of sight before chec

NTED AT THE HAWTHORNE

hel