LOVE TO LAST

4. EVANGELENE

Song for this chapter (BE ALRIGHT, Ariana Grande)

Evangelene

Desi came down with a cold today and I had to take her to work. I called Thea earlier and she said it was okay to bring her. She also said she had missed her too.

I packed a change of clothes and put them in her backpack. Made warm milk for her and added a few cookies.

"Hi mama, how are you feeling this morning? Any better?", I asked my mum.

She just nodded and mumbled some incoherent words. I kissed her and delivered her to Miss. Lucinda.

"Good morning Miss. Lucinda, how are you? I've brought your child", I said to her. She was 62 years old. Always has something to say about her neighbours. The nosey one, the stinky one, the druggie, and the nice young man who loved fixing her electrical appliances for free. I, on the other hand, didn't have the time to listen.

"Good morning sweetie, I'm good. And yourself?"

"Well, I've had worse days. Anyway, I've gotta run to work now. I'll see you later in the evening. Bye. Bye, mama. I love you", I kissed my mum on the forehead, waved to Miss Lucinda and got off her pavement before she starts asking more questions.
I went back to the apartment, grabbed my stuff and my daughter and left for work.

I was right on time for the bus. I got to work 10 minutes earlier. Walter was already there helping himself to a cup of chamomile tea, his favourite.

"Hey, Lean, you're early I see. Aww, and is this beautiful angel whom I think it is?", he cooed,  ignoring me immediately he saw Desirée.

I usually bring her to work on weekends, so she's familiar with everyone I work with. She has wormed her way into their hearts. Everyone except for Thea thought I gave birth to her myself. I didn't see the need to correct them, so I let them be. After all, who wouldn't want to be regarded as the birth mother of this amazing kid?

I had to tell Thea because she was sceptical about hiring a single mother and also she said and I repeat. "I don't think you even know where babies come from to be the mother of that child". Well, I didn't want to disagree even though she was wrong. I did know where babies came from. She hired me after I told her about Eloise. But I didn't mention the suicide. I just said she died during childbirth.

I love working here. Although I've sent my resumes to a lot of companies for better-paying jobs. I want to leave that neighbourhood. I don't want my daughter to struggle like I did growing up. I want to give her the best of the best.
And I'm going to make sure I do that even if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself.

I put Desi in one of the booths at the back and give her a drawing pad and coloured pencils to do the other thing she loves best apart from cats and Barbie movies. Drawing. And boy is she amazing at it?

The diner opens in two minutes. Then the breakfast rush begins. Most people just take out instead of eating in, in the mornings. So no one bothered Desi in her booth.

Thea spent a lot of the morning hanging out with her. They seemed to be having fun.

"Um, Mel, could you cover for me. I'm going to make some soup for Desi, it's almost time for her medication", I asked Mel who was busy chewing Walter's head off about him taking her magazine.

"Of course, go ahead. It's less busy here anyway", she said not taking her eyes off Walter, who looked like he would give anything to get away from her.

I went into the busy kitchen. The kitchen was the only place I admired about all restaurants and food joints in total. You enter and the place is all neat and quiet. You sit, order, and your food is brought to you. How many think about what goes on in the kitchen?