Sedona

a Talk with Esme

(Y/N)'s POV

"(Y/N)," Esme approached me after Annie and Thomas slipped past her to play.

"Yeah?" I stopped myself from leaving through the door. We stood alone in the hall.

"I wanted to ask how you were doing." She stood by my side for an illusion of privacy. "I understand that you're a single parent and new in town?" The topic is taken with a gentlness, like she's trying not to break an egg's shell.

"Yes, I'm on my own here. It's fine, really."

Esme's POV

I could tell from just looking at them that's not true. Bags rest under their eyes, and their clothes are slightly disheveled. Wrinkles spread all over their scrubs.

"Is there any way that I can help you?" I felt worried for them looking so tired and unwell while Thomas and Annie were doing perfectly.

"No, no, it's okay. I'm doing just fine. Am I doing something wrong?" Their eyes looked past me through the glass doors at the kids playing.

"You did nothing wrong." I stepped closer. "I'm just worried about you. You don't look like you're doing too great." My brows furrowed as I took in their appearance once more.

"I promise that I'm doing just fine." They sighed, leaning against the wall.

"Could we have a talk?" I asked them. I could see it in their eyes, alone, how tired they are of juggling everything. They looked like they may not have had a full night of sleep in a while.

(Y/N)'s POV

I wondered a bit about what this talk would be about, so after a couple of minutes, I gave her an answer. "Okay, but it has to be short. I have work in half an hour."

"I'll keep it down to ten minutes." She guided the way into a small room in the hall. It looked like one that would be used for meetings; a table with six chairs sat in the middle.

I sat down in the closest chair to me, and she sat in the next one. She crossed her legs with one over the other. "Alright, what did you want to discuss with me?"

"I wanted to know what's been bothering you." She rested her hands one over the other in her lap.

"It's okay. You don't need to worry about it." I tried to reassure her that. I am fine; I just have a lot going on at that moment. It's a new town with just me and the kids. Once I get used to everything, I will be as good as golden.

"You don't look well, (Y/N)." She told me gently. Her words gave me some clarity for a moment. "If there is any way that I could help you, just let me know. It could be just a talk."

"Alright, I guess that I'm not doing all that great." I slumped in my seat in defeat. "It's just been a bit hectic, and one problem gets solved, ten more appear."

"What kind of problems?" She leaned into the conversation.

"You know the manager here, Mr. Charles?" I started off. It's an obvious question. Of course, she would know him. He's probably her boss.

She nodded her head and waited for me to continue talking. It's clear that she's getting into the listening ear role.

"Well, he's been...a particular nuisance." I sighed. In my head, I wanted to say that he's been a pain in my ass, but I didn't want to cuss in front of her.

"How has he been?" She moved her body to face me more.

"I have met him twice so far. It's like he enjoys telling others off. I'm not the only one who has met Mr. Charles for one reason or another." I sighed and shook my head. Just imagining his grinning face with that boring beige suit annoyed me.

"What have you had to visit him for?"

"The first time is for being late to pick up Thomas and Annie when I got that snake bite. The other is because Annie and Thomas have left toys here." I rubbed my temple.

"I need for it to work out here because I can't do the hour drive to a different daycare and then drive an hour and a half to my job." The stress came over me in waves like an ocean lapping at a shore. With all the things that I have going on, I might as well be in the Mariana Trench.

"That doesn't sound like a good option. Kids that young could have many tantrums without enough sleep." She agreed with my case.

"I know, I thought about that. It's just I can't afford every fee that he might throw in my face. So I'm sort of trapped into going here." I dragged a hand over my face.

"There's a fee for the toys?"

"Yep, it's about two dollars for each toy that's found. And just looking at the amount that they left, I would have had to pay 16 dollars. It would probably build up if I forget to tell them to get their toys." A headache bloomed in my mind quickly, thinking about all of these things at an early hour.

"I could help you with the toys." She gave me a firm nod. "I'll make sure that they clean up their toys at the end of the day before you come to pick them up." 

"You would do that for me?" I sat up straighter. "That would be very helpful. And that's so kind of you. That wouldn't be too much trouble?"

"It wouldn't be a problem." A smile came to her face. She seemed like such a nice woman. I'm glad that Thomas and Annie could have someone like her to watch them.

"Well, thank you. I have to go now to work. I'll see you later." I stood up quickly and pushed my seat in at the table.

"You're welcome. I'm happy to help."
_______________________________________
1001 Words