Gathering Roses

1.

Cass strummed her guitar absentmindedly as she watched the sun come up over the hills. She tried to remember the riff for the new Carrie Underwood song but had no luck. Apparently little sleep wasn't good for long-term memory.

Emmy's cries ended her reverie and she laid the guitar aside.

"Sh, sh." She soothed, walking down the short hallway to Emmy's room. "Mama's here." Emmy rubbed her eyes and stretched for Cass, her pink nightgown ruffled with remnants of her restless night.

"Whoa, you're getting big, kiddo." Cass smiled and shifted Emmy to her other hip as she walked to the kitchen to make breakfast. Lately, Emmy had been enjoying eggs dipped in ketchup. Cass didn't question it- as long as Emmy was eating.

"Ginger!" Emmy screeched as she slithered down Cass' leg and sprinted for the cat perched on the edge of the couch. True to its name, the darn thing left long, auburn hairs everywhere.

Cass rummaged around the kitchen and began cooking eggs for her and Emmy. She glanced at the clock. They'd better hurry up.

     "Okay, Emmy, come eat." She picked the girl up and placed her in the high chair Dean had bought them from some garage sale. Cass smiled ruefully. Their neighbor didn't know when to mind his own business. Although, at 81, she could hardly blame him for "being bored", as he had tried to explain his purchase away.

     "Mama! Hungee!" Emmy called, and Cass snapped back to her daughter.

     "Sorry, honey. Let's eat." She placed Emmy's plate in front of her and served her own along with a steaming cup of ambition from the Bunn. She joined Emmy at the table.

     "Just another day in paradise." Cass smiled, then she ate with a purpose, as they were already slightly behind schedule.

                    ~          ~          ~          ~

     The trusty sedan Cass had owned since high school rumbled through downtown Lincoln (not that big capital in Nebraska, just some small town a little further east) as she made her way to Laney's Playhouse. Minnie and Mickey sang Emmy the ABCs as Cass thought about the upcoming day. She'd worked at Laney's since she'd moved to town when Emmy was six months old, simply because she could work without needing a sitter. The pay was less than desirable but she ended up taking home double what she would have if she needed childcare for Emmy. Plus, she hated to leave Emmy. They were never apart for longer than an afternoon here and there, and Cass only trusted Laney herself with her daughter.

     She pulled into the parking lot and parked next to a mother struggling to get her car seat out of a flashy minivan while also keeping a hold on the little boy who was trying so desperately to escape. Cass parked, got out and took the car seat from the mother, placing it in the nearby stroller.

     "Oh, thank ya, hon." The young mom said with relief.

     "No problem, Lorraine." Cass had yet to discover why the Southern belle had ended up so far north, but she had learned the hard way not to ask personal questions of the woman. How was she to know that Lorraine Smith had just divorced Mr. Smith and that her former home was a topic of pain, suffering, and anger? Cass stuck to simple, superficial topics like the weather and Lorraine's kids since then.

     Cass turned to unbuckle Emmy and headed inside with her blue-eyed, fair-haired girl on her hip. Laney wouldn't be too happy that she was walking in at 8:02 AM, but Cass doubted she'd make too big a fuss.

     "Cassidy! I was wondering if you'd show." Miss Laney's voice of disapproval floated downstairs from the office as Cass, Emmy, Lorraine, her boy, and her car seat entered the daycare.