The widow

chapter 1

McKenzie-

"Mama I wanna have barbie mama. Can I?Can I?" I have come to accept that no matter how hard work I sacrifice enough to make my daughter happy, I can never provide her toys like other toddlers have. Cheap or not. The only thing I can provide her is my love. Through my love for her, I do my best to make her happy. 

"Daisy, you know I can't buy you that. I'll bake you cookies later if that makes you happy. But no toys for now. We'll have to wait for Aunt Jenna to send us the toys in two weeks. Okay?" I bent down on my knees to level her.

Jenna is a very good friend of mine who has a lot of money with her family owning at least three shops in the city. She sometimes donate old toys of her children to Daisy. She is my helping hand. And those simple secondhand toys are enough to make my angel happy. And I'm glad because she appreciates small things. Just like her dad. Her dad.

"Cookies! Yay! I luf you mama!" Two small arms wrapped around my neck, followed by sweet kisses and I laughed.

"Aww. I love you too sweetie. Now go and play with Nathan. I'm sure that friend of yours may be needing a company." I pinched her chubby cheeks before she ran towards the playground on the backyard of the store.

"I swear that little girl is not yours Kenzie. She's an angel." We both chuckled. Ari entering the place. Apron wrapped around her waist.

"Are you saying I'm not an angel? Beg to differ Ari." I playfully slapped her arms.

"So you're taking the bulky man's offer of a date?" The shop is not that busy so it's okay for us to banter.

"Can you not bring that up? And speaking of the devil, he just told me once that I'm his angel before I rejected his offer so I could say no." With that, she tugged my hair a bit and I flinched at the ache. For my three years of working here same as our friendship, I could say it's not like most of people's friendship. Ours is very playful majority of time. We can be serious when time needs to. And can be child when we want to.

"Are you fucking serious? McKenzie Winters Cadwell, it's been like four years since the incident. Aren't you seriously not settling down? Look for a man. Your daughter needs a fatherly figure." My heart aches at the mention of incident. I know Daisy needs a father but I'm still not ready yet. Have not let my walls down yet. I just shrugged her off.

The door bells when a customer walked in saving me from the silence.

I faced my customer, seeing a tall man, mid-thirties I think, with shoulder length hair that needs to get cut. So tarzan exist now? But damn it. This man is attractive. Like a model or some famous bachelor.

Focus Kenzie. No man. My unconscious scolded me.

I snapped out of my thoughts, giving him my best welcoming smile before asking, "Goodafternoon sir. What can I get for you?" Which he returns, expect he has dimples that I wish I have.

"I'll just have some cinamon rolls. Five orders please." His eyes are mersmerizing and very beautiful green orbs. Too bad I don't need him.

"That will be, $15." He handed me his money and when I was about to give him his change with is just 20 cens, his hand stopped mine.

"It's okay love. Keep the change." His husky voice filled in my ears with unfamiliar accent. British I think. He gave me a smile, his hand still on top of mine that's very warm and a bit rough. Also big.

I just nodded. I'm easy to get attached from a sweet gestures which is what he's showing me. I don't need another person in my life. When I'm also being left behind. And that's my worst nightmare.

He gave me a final smile before getting his order and leaving.

I felt Ari elbowed me and gave me a teasing look. I glared at her.

Showing some kindness isn't a big of a deal for her. What's with her and that look?

--AN--

I suck at english I know. It's not my first language so I appreciate if you just bear with it. I'll make sure to improve more next time. And I'm not from chicago so I don't know your currency there so please consider if I may have some errors regarding those kind of things. :)

Lee