The Sister Between Them

Chapter 3

By mid-morning, Alyssa was exhausted, frustrated, and annoyed. Despite calling everyone, no one could stay with Gavin so she could make the casting call. To make matters worse, he cried for nearly an hour after Rocco left for work.  

She put together another one of the frozen vegetarian entrees for lunch. This was an enchilada meal, and she liked it better than her breakfast, so she hoped Gavin would too.

She fastened him in his booster seat, and Gavin stared sullenly at the plate before him. Rocco, if he hadn't run down breakfast, this wouldn't be such an issue right now! 

"It's yummy. Try it." Alyssa offered ger best attempt at a warm smile and then took a bite to show him.

Gavin grimaced and pushed the meal around his plate sullenly. 

"Gavin, stop picking at it and eat."

He ignored her and kept pushing the food around his plate. "I don't like it."

"You didn't try it," she countered. "You're worse than your dad. You eat what Mommy makes you."

Her phone went off, drowning out his pleas for his Mary or his daddy.

"Hello?"

"Alyssa, hey, it's me, Dani ." Came the voice on the other line. She sounded nervous as hell. "Your sister."

"I know who you are, Danielle," Alyssa scoffed. "What do you want?"

"I uh...I'd never ask if it wasn't— I'm desperate. I'm about to get kicked out of my apartment, and it's not my fault. I just need--"

"Are you begging me for money? Is that what this is?" Alyssa cut her off as a smirk curled over her lips. 

"I'll pay you back, I swear," Dani pleaded.

"Just how would you do that?" Alyssa decided to toy with her. She might as well get some amusement out of her otherwise crappy day so far.

"I don't know, but I will."

"You don't know. So basically, you're not asking for a loan but a handout, is that right?"

"No, not a handout. I will pay you back somehow." Danis voice was growing rougher.

"Just admit it's a handout, and maybe I'll ask my husband if he feels like donating to a charitable cause." Alyssa was thoroughly enjoying the game now. 

"Mommy down." Gavin held his arms up, trying to wiggle out of his booster seat.

"Eat your lunch first." Alyssa pointed to his still full plate.

"Forget it, forget I even called," Dani muttered before hanging up the phone.

Alyssa giggled gleefully. "That was so fun."

"Mommy, it's yucky." Gavin was cringing as he took a bite of food.

"You're not getting down until you finish your plate," Alyssa said firmly.

He looked down and sniffled, his eyes pooling with tears. "I want Mary."

"Stop saying that." Alyssa huffed and walked over to him. She unhinged his booster chair and lifted him down. "Fine, if you don't eat what I made, you must not be hungry."

Her phone rang again, and she sighed in frustration. She glanced back at Gavin but knew she couldn't ignore the call, it was her manager, Edward Smith.

"I'll make you something else right after this call. Now go play." Alyssa dismissed Gavin, and he nodded and ran through the archway toward the living room.