Stow away.

i

A/N
In this book, it's "mum/ mom". I've done it because people use different spelling. I don't really know what country it's set in or what accents the characters have for that matter so you can pick what you prefer.
Also, I find it gets better after the first two chapters, they're set ups almost so...
happy reading.
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"Cole! Cole! Ugh! You're going to be late and Cassy needs a lift to school! Cole!" Natasha Healy was trying to get her 18 year old son out of bed. it wasn't easy for the single mother, with a teenage son and an 11 year old daughter, money was difficult to come by.

At least Cole could help out with the chores/cooking. But soon he'd be off to college. Leaving her and Cassy to take care of things.

Natasha was in her mid forties but looked late thirties - early forties, with dark brown hair usually in a messy bun or ponytail, her light blue eyes standing out. She wasn't as thin as she used to be and had some love handles but she was comfortable in her skin. Natasha's passion was her kids and her art, she hoped she'd become a painter but her family came along instead of her dream, meaning she needed a regular paying job, especially after her husband left, when Cassy was only 4 months old. She also got money from painting and selling her works to private collectors and clients, she was actually quite well known in the art community and her art went for hundreds, but it wasn't enough to keep a float, the music shop was a 'backup' job, in a way.

Cole soon started to grumble and move "uhhh. I'm up." he told her, in a muffled voice thanks to his head smashed in his pillow. "good, now. listen carefully." she instructed, knowing his annoying habit of doing the opposite.

"Are you listening Cole?" she made sure. He nodded into his pillow, I slight "ah hum" coming from his direction. "You need to get Cassy to school, the bus broke down, if you don't get up you're both going to be late, speaking of late, I'll be home at 9pm. Jessie has kindly let me go over time tonight so you'll need to get food into your sister, got it?" She sped past everything on her mind to him. "Yep, can do" he said as he got out of bed, walking over to put any clean t-shirt he could find on. "thank you so much Cole" Natasha breathed a sigh of relief.

After saying goodbye and wishing a good day to her favourite two people in the world she left to get to work. Natasha worked at the only music shop in town. 'Little Big Music' was its name and the owner, Jessie, was an experienced musician. He had been in several bands, orchestras and one man shows and knew how to play anything you could think of. Even the spoons.

However, none of his endeavours had been successful for more than a few years, including the almost famous 'jess the mess' comedy music act, him being the only member of the band as well as the crew. This only lasted 4 glorious years.

After his last hurrah, he decided to buy a shop and sell what he loved, music/instruments. Now being an experienced fifty something year old, he sold, repaired and taught music/instruments.

"Morning Tash" he sang as he played the ukulele to the rhythm of his humming sitting cross-legged on the counter. You would always find repairing or playing an instrument. "Morning" Natasha chuckled. He put down the ukulele and got down off the counter "ready to begin the day?" He asked her as he flipped the closed sign to open. "As I'll ever be" she sighed under her breath.
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When Natasha got home she found Cassy reading her favourite book in bed.

"Hey sweetie" she said as she hugged her little girl, kneeling beside the single bed. "Hi mama, how was work?" she asked in a strained voice, Cassy was tired, "it was normal, and school, did you make it in time?" Natasha asked, a little concerned. "Yeah" a simple yet relieving answer coming from Cassy. After Natasha put Cassy to sleep she wondered into Cole's room.

"Thank you, for today" she engaged the conversation as he sat at his computer, scrolling through social media. "It's no problem mum/mom, really" he said, sincerity in his voice, "okay, okay." she said, knowing how difficult it would be without him there. "Well, I'm dead, I'll see you in the morning then huh?" she finally spoke after a brief silence. "Yep, night" Cole answered as she spun around and went down the corridor to her bedroom, retreating to the only place she didn't have to think about the next month and money. Sleep.