Losing Bella

Chapter 2

Introductory chapter number 2!              

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THE SPOON went flying across the dining table and Leila sighed for the umpteenth time.

Her daughter squealed as though it was some sort of game she was enjoying and Leila could do nothing but reluctantly oblige. How could anyone say no to such an angelic face?

She placed the bright pink utensil in the sink and put another one into the questionable orange substance she was feeding Bella. She took another look at the contents.

Pumpkin and sweet potato.

She made a face at the odd pairing, but Bella seemed to like it so she put another spoonful into her mouth. The girl clapped excitedly and babbled, orange goo dripping from her mouth. Leila massaged the sides of her head, exhausted and barely awake. 

She was on her fifth cup of coffee this morning, and Scott was sat opposite her, helping himself to pancake after pancake. Much to her dismay, his food was drowning in sickly-sweet maple syrup.

"You're sure you want to babysit?"

He pouted like a small child, the forkful of sugar-coated breakfast stopping inches from his mouth.

"Don't you trust me? "

It was not even close to that. Scott was the only person that Leila had ever trusted to look after her daughter. But that had only been for short periods of time. A quick run to the grocery store or when she ended work late and needed someone to pick up Bella from daycare. She had never been away for longer than that.

Things were different now. 

The daycare had been shut down after the owner left for a holiday and failed to return, and unfortunately, it had been the only one she could afford for Bella. Every other daycare centre in the area charged exorbitant prices, including a compulsory tuition fee, for "world-class" education and very little care.

"I'll be gone all day Scott! I should just take her with me."

She tickled Bella and smiled at her squeals as Scott rolled his eyes.

"How are you going to get anything done with a baby around, Leila?"

Working in a restaurant took a lot of time and effort. Two things that she would much rather spend on her child, but she needed this. Her meagre income was the only thing keeping them from being kicked out onto the streets.

"Trust me", Scott continued, "I can handle this. I'll just call in sick at work today."

He was a bartender at a local pub nearby. She did not know who his manager was, but she sure did wish he was her manager. Scott called in sick more times than she could count and he still had his job.

Maybe it would not be such a bad thing having someone she knew looking after her child. He was her only family and he loved Bella.

With no other option available, Leila relented. Scott could not possibly mess this up. Her child's well-being was at stake here. 

"Fine. But I will call to check in!"

"You got it, Boss!"

He did a two finger salute and ruffled Bella's hair playfully, about to say something when a ring distracted him. He took a quick look at his phone's screen and excused himself to take the call.

Sometimes, Leila forgot that he had a social life. He spent so much of his time with her and Bella that she had to remind herself that this apartment was a tiny part of his much larger world. 

Lifting Bella out of her highchair to change her, she started getting ready.

Scott showed up just as she was gathering her things for work.

"Everything good?" She asked, whilst hurriedly throwing things into her bag.

"Yep yep. That was just the guys at work, some health official came over for a check." His voice cracked mid-speech and she stifled a laugh.

Grabbing her keys, she pecked him on the cheek and gave Bella a long kiss to the forehead.

"Don't worry, that won't go too bad since you're not there" She mocked, one foot out the door.

"You just had to go there didn't you?" His eyes narrowed at the slight, his lips itching to spew out some very colourful language.

She made her escape before he could and quickly shut the door behind her.

"Wouldn't be me if I hadn't! See you tonight!" 

Walking to work was usually a brisk affair, but today it seemed longer than usual, maybe because her nerves were getting to her. Daycare was just such a feasible option that she still could not wrap her head around the idea of Scott as a babysitter.

Focus Leila. Focus. 

The decorative lamps at the front of the restaurant greeted her with a dull glow and the word "Mirage" came into view. 

The bell let out a happy jingle as she pushed open the door, thankful to find it unlocked, and her co-workers greeted her cheerfully when she stepped in. Some smiled, others waved, while the rest, like her, were struggling to stay awake. 

A beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers from the boutique nearby had been placed on top of each dark, chestnut table alongside some cheap candles. The tablecloths and napkins had all been ironed and laid out, the curtains were drawn open and the wooden-tiled floor shone from the efforts made to scrub it clean.

Just as she inhaled the faint smell of baby's breath and vanilla, a familiar figure caught her eye, slinking away to the kitchen, mop and pail in hand. 

"Darcy", was all she managed to say before that same figure came barrelling towards her, hands wrapping around her waist in a fierce hug. She felt the shorter woman smiling against her and returned the hug.

"I missed you so much, Leila!" 

"You better have! How was Operation Deflower Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome?" Leila quizzed, waggling her eyebrows. 

Darcy blushed and sent her a wink that had the both of them burst out laughing.

"I can't wait to tell you all about it!" 

With that, the two friends linked arms and sauntered towards the kitchen, preparing themselves for a long, tiring day of service.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Thoughts on Darcy?

Do you have a work best-friend?

Who is your favourite character so far?

What improvements do you have in mind?