In another life

6

Sorry I haven't posted, been a little busy with my sisters birthday :)

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The next morning came around quickly and I was making breakfast for the girls,
"Mummy who is Amelia?" Elsie asks,
"What sweetie?" I place down the bowl of cereal,
"You have a message from Amelia"
"Oh" I pick my phone from in front of her, "do you remember in the shop the other day when you bumped into that woman?"
"With pretty hair?"
"Yeah, well we actually met after that too and we've become friends"
"Oh, you're welcome!" Oh you cheeky little, well, I suppose I should thank her actually. I wouldn't have a clue who she was if Elsie didn't bump into her that day.

The message just read 'good morning' to which I replied the same and she asked about Elsie's birthday. I told her she had the best time and can't wait for her party on Saturday before putting my phone back down to get the girls bags.

"Izzy where is your school bag?"
"Oh... whoops" oh don't tell me- "I left it in dad's car" this is not the first time this has happened. The other week she conveniently left her p.e kit at dad's too. I guess that's one of the perks of having separated parents.

"Did you have homework or something?"
"No no I actually left it there by accident I swear"
"Alright alright, you'll have to be without today then, unless you want dad to drop it off later?"
"I don't think I'll need it, I'm on school meals anyway so I don't need a lunch box today" well that's alright then.

...

After dropping the girls off at school I make my way to work. Today we have a new child in, Jacob. Marjorie told me he is a transfer from the sister nursery.

"Have you been told why I decided to transfer Jacob?" His mum asks,
"No I haven't"
"Well, when I first enrolled Jacob, his key worker was actually quite lovely, however over time, things started to get a bit weird"
"Weird?" She goes on to explain how his key worker would kiss him on the lips and face, which is weird all together. But continues to explain how she didn't want Jacob on the iPad that day but at collection, they were both watching it.

"Well that's not okay at all"
"Yes, I did confront her but she just replied with that he loves it" oh my gosh. She then continues to go on about how she complained about his normal clothes and said he should be in baby grows? As well as 'suggesting' he stops eating the soft finger foods she was giving him. It seems as though this worker really had an issue with Jacob growing.

Which seems to get worse, as she also told me about how she walked in on his key worker stopping him from crawling.
"So I confronted her once more and she went on to say that she knows him and what's best for him. And that she would be a better mother"
"Oh my gosh that's awful"
"Yes, I took Jacob out that day and applied for the transfer here"
"Well I'm glad you did, and of course all the staff here are nothing like that I can assure you"

"Yes it does seem this would be a better suited place for the both of us. I should get going though. Goodbye"
"Bye" wow. That is crazy that a key worker would act like that. I'm glad she took Jacob out of that setting.

...

After I finish work I check my phone again, seeing that I have a message from Amelia. We've been talking a lot more lately and it's been really nice. She asked to meet at a little coffee shop in town, knowing it's my favourite. It's not like I have the kids tonight anyway, so I'll happily accept the company. It's actually kind of nice to have a friend outside of work.

Don't get me wrong, I love my work family. They are everything to me. But I don't really have much friends outside of work. My kids are my home life.

Amelia and I are complete opposites, honestly. I much prefer the quiet life, just be nice and polite and don't make a fuss. That's just me. I was taught to kill them with kindness. Whereas Amelia, as it seems, was taught to just kill them.

She's not a bad person, from what I can see. She is so confident and a little flirty too. But she doesn't seem like the type of person to sit back and take people's shit.

...

"Hey sweetheart" I look up from my phone to see her standing there. I don't know why, but her calling me sweetheart hits different in some way. Jason and I never really had any pet names or things like that. I kind of like it.

"Hey Amelia, how are you?" She sits down opposite me,
"I'm good thank you. And you can call me Mia if you'd like, most people do"

"I'm sorry I'm late, I had an unexpected... thing?" It came off more like a question. Like she was unsure of how to put whatever she had to do. But I brush it off and tell her it's no problem.

We order our drinks and I get a little muffin too, they have the best blueberry muffins here.

"So how was your day?" She asks
"Not to bad thank you. And yours?"
"A complete bore. But it's getting better" she smiles. I laugh at her comment as we continue our conversation.

...

I don't have the kids tonight so I invited Mia over. Shes much better than being home alone. When the girls are away the house is so quiet. It makes me miss when they're being unbelievably loud with the Tv on full blast and shouting and laughing and running around like crazy.

"What are you thinking about?" I'm pulled away from my thoughts and look at the red head across the table,
"Oh, I just miss my kids. Sorry"
"Don't apologise. You just need to take your mind off it for a bit" she smirks with mischief written all over her face.

"What are you thinking?" She stands up and goes over to my fridge. taking out a nice bottle of red, she holds it up to me,
"It's Wednesday Mia, and I have work tomorrow"
"Oh live a little sweetheart! And I know you're on the late shift tomorrow" I really shouldn't. It would be a big problem for me tomorrow morning. All I need is a glass and a half for a full blown hangover. Oh to be 20 again.

"One glass" I sigh. I know I shouldn't but her smile is way too convincing and she does have a point. What's one glass right?

Mia takes two glasses from the cupboard and I walk into the living room as it's a lot more comfy in there. She follows and places the glasses down on the table before filling them up.

"Hey Alexa, play 'Char's playlist' on Spotify" I call and 'sweater weather' starts to play. Mia hands me a glass with a raised brow "what?!"
"Nothing sweetheart"