Almara’s PovLaying low only works when we stay confined to the house. Which I was happy to do for a couple of days. Those first two days were bliss. Just Arthur and I raising Grace, loving on one another, lazy mornings followed by peaceful evenings.But now, by the third day after that public announcement, my skin is starting to crawl.Unfortunately, any time Arthur and I would leave the house to take Grace for a walk or get a cup of coffee, we would be bombarded by the press or at the v
Almara’s PovA week had come and went with my parents dropping hints about Arthur and I needing to help around the house or get jobs. No free rides, my father had said. While they were happy to house us for as long as we needed, we also had to contribute in some way- which is totally fair.Especially since Arthur and I have no idea how long we plan on staying here. We arrived with the understanding that a date for leaving was to be determined. Truth is, we both want to work or have something to do.
Almara’s PovInside the diner, the place looks exactly as I left it. Except maybe a little cleaner before the crowd of the day comes in. The dining room is empty allowing The shuffling in the kitchen to seem louder than usual.“C’mon Grace.” I say quietly and hoist her up on my side.“Food. Food.” Gracie says. I nod.“That’s right. People eat here.” She’
Almara’s Pov“Want me to stay back?” Arthur asks leaning in to whisper in my ear. I’ve lost my voice, so I just nod. Cathy starts to approach us and luckily my legs still work so I take a few tedious steps towards her.She has every right to be mad at me. The last time we talked was in jail and that didn’t end well. Then we were supposed to get breakfast and I cancelled on her. Then I cancelled on her again only for the world to see me on what appeared to be a date.I still haven’t called her back or tried to explain any of it to her.“Hi.” She says, sounding just as unsure as I feel.“Hi,” I reply, not quite knowing what else to say.“I didn’t know you were in town.” She says gesturing towards Arthur and Grace behind me. I suppose this can be added to the list of things I’ve neglected to discuss with Cathy.“Life has been”“Busy?” Cathy says, finishing the sentence for me. There’s a slight jab to the heart by the way she says it too, like she’s heard it all before.“Not necessarily i
Almara’s PovThe night finally comes to an end. By the end of my shift, I’m still soaked in dirty dish water, my body is sore from leaning over the awkward height of the sink and then only bending over further to access the dishwasher.Grace is beyond fussy out of boredom. I brought a ton of toys and books to try and keep her occupied and gave her what attention I could in between washing dishes, but ultimately she was confined to her play pin that I had set up along a dirty white wall.Meanwhile, the other cooks and dishwashers kept giving me mean looks and saying how I should find somewhere proper to leave my daughter and that no mother should be treating their daughter this way.At least Emma eventually left me alone but that was only because it was slammed tonight. So, she was making a ton of tips and piling the dishes high for me to wash. Now I stand in the back parking lot waiting for Arthur.When I see his car roll up, I can barely keep it together anymore. He steps out of the
Almara’s Pov“How was the interview?” Arthur asks when he returns home from work. His black fitted training tee hugs his muscles perfectly. I’m sitting on the front porch of my parents' house with a glass of cheap wine. Grace is asleep and my parents are out with some friends.Until Arthur walked up the driveway, the view was mediocre compared to our view back at his parents' house. Over there are rolling hills, dazzling stars, and woods peaking out in the distance.Here is a neighborhood where the houses are piled too closely together like each one is trying to not get trampled and stand taller than the one next to it, blocking the view of the sky.Growing up I always appreciated the pack-like feel, but now that I’ve had a taste of open field it’s hard going back. I take a long sip of my wine and force myself to swallow. I’m a little tipsy by now and still the flavor is just as bad.“About as good as this wine.” I say tilting the glass and letting some of the liquid spill out onto th
Almara’s PovOne year exactly has passed since Arthur, Grace, and I moved in with my parents. They have been generous enough to not once ask when we were leaving, to be honest I think they like having the extra company. As long as we keep working and show we’re contributing then they’re happy.We’ve even worked out a schedule where they watch Grace as I still go to work at the diner and Arthur goes to work at the training center.The horribleness and initial shock of rea
It’s late at night. Despite that Arthur and I somehow managed to master precisely three sleeping positions for maximum comfort, we can’t fall asleep.You’d think we’d be more excited that our situation seems to be changing, and don’t get me wrong I can’t wait to sleep in a king-sized bed again, but in a way, we’ve fallen into a rhythm. Oddly, even the drudgery of life can become a comfort.“How do you feel about becoming a famous artist?” Arthur asks, stroking my hair. I laugh because even still that idea seems completely ridiculous, even with the opportunity only one good sale away.