No Name (For Now)

Chapter 1

"I'm sorry Miss, but we just aren't hiring right now. You're more than welcome to leave a resume though and if anything opens up we can give you a call."
"Yeah. Thanks." I mumble to myself as I walk out of the fifth department store today.
Handing out resumes is hard work. First I started with restaurants and gas stations, followed by hotels and the laundry mat and today I am hitting up department stores. It feels like no one in this city is going to hire me just because of my last name. Not that being a Sorenson was bad enough but to get married and divorced from a Wesson is just social suicide. Everyone knows who you are and that you didn't make the cut. Great.
Glancing down at my watch I realize it's only 1pm. I still have two and a half hours until I have to pick Gwen up from Kindergarten. Maybe I could splurge and get myself a coffee, drop off a resume and relax for a minute before taking on the second level of the mall. WhenI walk up to the counter to order my coffee the smell of chocolate catches my attention and in the case beside me the young man was putting out fresh baked chocolate chip muffins. My stomach let out an involuntary growl and I hear a chuckle from a man I didn't even realize was waiting to take my order.
"Hi, I'm Luke. What can I get for you?" His voice is like silk.
"I'll just have a large black coffee to go please."
"Are you sure you didn't want one of those muffins? They're to die for. I won't tell anyone." He smirks at me and winks.
My face instantly flames bright red.
"No, thank you though. Just the coffee today." I finally spit out.
"Alright then." And with a wink he's gone from sight.
I set my stack of resumes down on the counter as my body instantly relaxes, I didn't even realize that I was tense. Slumping up against the wall beside the counter I let out a big breath. Why is this so hard for me? It's not like I have a reason to be so tense. He comes back up to the counter with a coffee and a small bag to go.
"On the house!" He says with a smile. "No one should be devoid of chocolate in the middle of the day." He's full on smiling now and I can feel my knees weaken.
"No really," I protest "I can't take this. I have no way of repaying you."
"Don't worry about it little bird. Just say you'll be here at the same time tomorrow for another coffee and that's all the repayment I need." Again he smirks.
It's like he knows the affect that he has on me already.
"Fine I'll be back tomorrow." Because honestly what's the harm in having one more coffee. Plus from the smell of it this isn't your every day Folgers caned coffee. This is specialty.
Without even thinking another thought I breathe in the coffee and float to a seat nearby.
Now is when I start to panic. I have a $450k mortgage to pay on my own now plus raise a 4 year old all on my own and I have never worked a day in my life. How pathetic is that? I'm 31 years old with no life experience. My head thumps against the hard table and my eyes close as the throbbing above my eyes starts again. Stress headache. I've had one every day since last Thursday when the divorce papers were signed and finalized. Honestly I should just be grateful James and his slut are out of my life now but how can I really be when they took everything except the house and the clothes on my back.
Plus to top it off Gwen started school yesterday and I had to make sure she had all the stuff on the list from her private school which James insisted on sending her to. Thank goodness the list for G. A. Prep wasn't too over the top, most just every day things she would need for day to day activities. Finishing my coffee and muffin I get up and throw out my trash. I'm just leaving the food court when I hear my name being called.
"Sang! Hey Sang! Woah wait up!" It was the barista from the coffee place.
"Uhm," I hesitate. "How did you know my name?" I barely get it out without stuttering.
"Oh, sorry. It was on the pile of resumes you left on the counter." He holds out my stack of resumes to me. "Here, I figured you still might need these."
"Thank you." I blush. With all this worrying about my situation you would think I could keep an eye on the most important thing to me right now.
"Hey listen," Luke interiors my training thought. "I know it's not much, but if you're interested I have a part time barista/Baker position open. We have other locations around town as well if you want to work at those as well." He stares at me waiting for a response and I must look like a fish out of water because I don't know what to say and I can feel my jaw hinging opened and closed.
"So.... Is that a yes or a no?" He laughs at me.
"Uhm, yes. Of course! I mean, please. Yes please!" I stumble over my words.
"Awesome! So I'll meet you here at 9:30 tomorrow morning and we will start your training and set up a schedule. We can also discuss your availability and pay and benefits too. Make sure you come with a list of demands, the boss is a hard bargainer." There's a twinkle in his eye like I'm missing some joke, but I let it go because I'm too excited.
"See you tomorrow." He says and walks away leaving me there looking like a crazy person.

As soon as he's gone around the corner I break out in a little dance. I just got my first job! I take a deep breath and basically skip like a school girl out to my old beat up Volkswagen beetle. This is the start of good things to come, I just know it.

At 3:30 I pull up to Gwen's prep school pick up zone to see her standing there with a teacher.
"Mrs. Wesson," I cringe. "nice of you to finally join us. You do remember that classes end at promptly 3:25 every day with no exception." He sneers at me.
"I'm sorry Mr..." I let myself trail off on purpose. I have no idea who this arogent ass is, but he better damn we'll make it known.
"Mr. Hendricks. I am the principal of this institution." He gives me a sneer that seems like it was meant to be a smile. "Please moving forward remember to be on time. Or next time we will call her Father to arrange a pick up." I can't help but to short at that.
Like James Wesson has 2 seconds of his busy life to give up to his daughter. But I keep my mouth shut.
"I'm so sorry." I apologize. "I will be here 3 minutes earlier next time." I grab Gwen's hand and lead her to the car. I can feel Hendricks eyes on my back the entire time I'm buckling her into the car.
As I round the car I avoid making eye contact with the principal who is still staring, and get into the car. I drive away not giving a care in the world.