LANA MASON
It's only my second day of going to Allison's, but I still remember the route clearly enough that I don't need to map the address on my phone. I also gave myself enough time to grab an iced coffee, despite the colder weather this morning, and I'm feeling good about today. I feel optimistic.
I'm more than positive that Jane has everything a little girl could ever want or need after seeing her room yesterday, but that didn't stop me from picking up a few little gifts for her. One is a small coloring book with a new pack of crayons and the other is a small stuffed bunny that I thought could be friends with her stuffed bear-Charlie, I think it was. I'm not necessarily trying to kiss ass, but I'm sure Allison will appreciate my thoughtfulness as much as Jane will.
As I step up to the building, I hold my phone in my left hand to read the five-digit code to myself so I can type with my right index finger. When the little light on the keypad turns green, I pull on the door and let myself in just as someone starts heading toward me from the elevator.
I jog past them to step inside the cozy cubicle before it can close on me and tap the button for the third floor. Sipping my iced coffee, I feel a bit self-conscious about it and now I wonder if maybe it's not entirely professional for me to show up with a drink. I really don't think Allison would mine, or at least my last boss never cared if I came with a drink or food, but I guess we're about to find out.
The third-floor hallway is silent apart from the sound of my sneakers padding on the polished concrete. I knock confidently on the door three times and wait with my latte down by my side. Allison opens up, not in workout clothes, but in black trousers that hug her perfect lets and annoyingly perky ass, and a fitted long sleeve white button-down shirt that cinches at the waist to accentuate it. Her hair looks soft to the touch and curls in and out at the ends. She looks like a Barbie doll.
"Good morning," she smiles. "Come on in."
"Hi," I reciprocate and step inside. "Should I take my shoes off, or?"
"Oh, don't worry about it," she laughs and flicks her wrist, so I follow her further into the apartment to see Jane lying on the couch in a rainbow onesie. Bluey is playing.
"Can you say hi to Miss Lana, baby?" Allison speaks over her shoulder on her way to the kitchen. There's a glass bottle of green juice on the counter and a container that seems to be housing a salad of some kind. I'm assuming that's her lunch for the day.
Jane doesn't say hi to me, but her eyes do move from the TV to look at me for a second. Then they focus back on the large screen in front of her as the kids' show captures her attention once again. I voice my understanding when Allison reminds me that it might take Jane a few days to warm up to me, but with the amount of time we're going to be spending with each other, I hope that happens sooner rather than later.
"Morning, Jane," I tentatively take the remote on the lightwood coffee table and turn down the volume. "I love your pajamas."
She looks down as if she needs reminding of what she's wearing. Then she looks back at the TV with furrowed little eyebrows and big green eyes.
"Honey, we're going to turn that off now, okay? Remember, I said no more TV once Miss Lana got here," her mother is only half paying attention to the situation as she leans over the counter to write something on a large notepad.
"Is it okay if I turn this off?" I ask Jane.
She blinks at me, so I hit the power button and gauge her reaction. It's subtle, but I think she might be trying not to freak out. Maybe she's like one of those kids who gets embarrassed to throw a tantrum in front of strangers. That might work out for me now, but not in the long run once we get more acquainted.
