The Act of Forgiveness

2

"You look precious my little Evie!" Mary Kate kissed her nose as she took in her little outfit. I dressed her in a purple shirt and two bows sat where her right shoulder was. She had puffy floral printed shorts and a matching headband. Her hair was too short to put little ponytails in so I settled with clips or headbands.

"Thanks Aunt Kate!" I answered in a high pitched voice and raised Evelyn's hands for her as she giggled madly.

"Come inside, its hot out!" Mary Kate grumbeled as we followed her into the cool home. Even though we lived up north, the summer heat could still be brutal.

"Where's my grand baby?" A voice rang out happily as Barbara waltzed in, wearing her posh work clothes.

"You saw her yesterday." I chastised fondly as she scooped Evelyn into her arms.

"I know but I have to work late so by the time I get home you will have be gone! Then I wouldn't get to see this angel until Monday!" Barbara bounced my cheeky baby around as peels of laughter left her rosy lips.

I looked over to see Evelyn's eyes light up before she let out a happy chirp, "Momma!"

Barbara and Mary Kate turned to stare at me, eyebrows raised and smiles ghosted on their lips.

"I sent you the video last night!" I defended myself quickly, hands raised.

Mary Kate slowly pulled her phone out, tapping the screen until she blushed. "Yeah, I just didn't open it..."

"Okay, I gotta go or else I will be late!" I kissed Evelyn on the forehead and thanked Mary Kate for watching her again.

"Wait!" Mary Kate stopped me in my tracks. "Jasper will be here tomorrow morning, if you're really going to Felix's then can you at least wait till then. I want to hang out with you tonight."

"Of course. " I smiled. "I was planning on telling Jasper once Sunday came around. I just need a little courage."

Mary Kate stepped forward and hugged me. "I'm proud of you, he will love her!"

"He better." I mumbled before finally stepping outside, letting the humidity consume my body. Molly jogged up and licked my hand lightly, she was probably around back when I first got here so she didn't notice me.

I stepped into my car and began the drive to my work. It was about twenty minutes away and I owned a tiny book store. I bought it with my friend when we were fresh out of high school but she recently moved away with her husband to be closer to his family. So I became the full owner and hired people to work when I couldn't.

I only had four employees and I was really close with all of them. They were all high school students but they were freshmen when I was a senior so I knew of them. One is a boy, Jake, who is planning on going to a university in the south on a football scholarship and is the first string quarterback for the local high school. The other three are girls that are dispersing all over the country to fulfill their dreams.

The bookstore was a little hole-in-the-wall type of place that many people passed by on a daily basis. It was in the heart of Seattle and generally people only came in for shelter from the rain but we did have a few regulars. I made sure to keep it cozy with mocha colored walls, a coffee corner where they could help themselves, and plush chairs or beanbags all over the place.

The store brought in a steady income for Evelyn and I, plus extra spending money. All my employees adored Evelyn and her rosy, chubby cheeks. They loved when I brought her in, but it's just hard when she would have to stay all day long.

"Hi Sierra!" I smiled as I stepped into the air conditioning. Sierra was the only one who came in before school started. She lived in an apartment two blocks down and loved reading here so sometimes, she even stayed overnight. I trusted her though and it was great because she was already here to open in the mornings.