The Strongest Stone

Chapter Four

"You alright, you look like you've just run a marathon" Ana exclaimed rushing over to me.

I nodded and tentatively walked across the floor and in to the lounge. My lips still tingled from the kiss. I hoped wherever mom was she'd seen it. It couldn't happen again, it wouldn't.

"Oh, Lucas just asked me to help move something, and well it was heavy" I lied.

Ana's eyes narrowed and she nodded slowly "Oh---kay" she murmured, clearly not believing a word I'd said. I frowned. I didn't have time to worry about the kiss, or what Ana thought was going on. I had to find a job so that relying on Lucas wouldn't need to be an option.

I went upstairs to my room and opened up my laptop. It took me two minutes to discover a severe lack of job options available, especially with a lack of qualifications. In fact, once I factored in everything. There was only one job open to me. A waitress at an all hours cafe. A couple of days I'd been studying English, looking forward to becoming a journalist, and now...

I sent my resume to the email provided and closed my laptop.

I checked on Tom and Ana before I went to bed. Thankfully sleep came easier and stuck too. When I woke I almost forgot what had happened. All to soon reality bit me when I opened my eyes to see Allie and Cassie staring at me.

"Ana said the phone is for you" Alfie exclaimed with a smile

I nodded and stood up. I ushered the kids out of the room and downstairs. Ana handed me the phone after shrugging her shoulders. I took it and placed it next to my head.

"Hello?"

"Is that Charlotte Stone?" A males voice asked, he sound nice and friendly, but I wasn't sure why he was calling.

"Uh yes"

"I'm Eric Jones. You filled in an application last night, the thing is, we've just had a worker leave the night shift, so now we're down two workers. Going by your resume you've worked as a waitress since you were 16, I've called your referees here and in NY. If you can get here by 5pm for a ten hour shift, the job is yours"

I didn't answer right away, the proposition had taken me by surprise. Bosses didn't usually hire staff without meeting them.

"what are the regular hours and wages" I asked finally.

"Wednesday through Sunday. Monday and Tuesday off. 5pm til 3am. Its a hard shift, but the people are nice and its like a family. The wages are $9.50 per hour plus tips"

I gulped. I'd have to figure out care for the kids, there was no way I could expect Ana to sacrifice her youth to look after the kids every single day. The job itself was too good to pass up though. It meant money, and a way to pay the bills. Eventually I could do something else, but for right now, I had to take it.

"I'll be there."

"Great. We've got spare uniforms, so just wear some comfortable black shoes. I'll send you an email with the address. Can you bring all your details too please" Eric replied, his voice cheerful

"Okay, see you then"

 I hung up the phone and smiled.

"Who was that?"

"I just got a job!" I squealed.

Ana grabbed my hands and for a second we jumped up and down. I filled Ana in on all the details. She insisted that she didn't mind being home from 5pm every day. But I insisted she have the same right to a childhood like I had. Eventually she'd want to get back into the social scene. Right now the shock of our parents death was still fresh. Staying in like hermit crabs sounded preferable, but eventually life would continue to move on around us, and Ana would want to live.