Hidden Depths

After my interview, I rushed back to the diner to finish my shift.

“Chels, take table five.” Blake, my boss, snapped at me.

“Yes, sir.” I groaned, hurrying to the table.

I hoped he was in a better mood tonight or I may have to take Maddison to our apartment. It wasn’t nearly as nice, and I often worried for her safety with the amount of mold that I could never seem to get rid of. Not to mention the rotten floors and broken windows. I kept it only to have a place to go when Blake was in a bad mood.

Yes, I was in a relationship with my boss. The first year I worked here he had been sweet and persistent. I had finally agreed to go out with him. At some point though, I had ruined it. I never could satisfy him the way he wanted and he had started to get unnecessarily rude. I had to fix it though if I wanted Maddy to have any chance of having a father figure. As he pointed out regularly, nobody else would want me.

My phone binged and I cursed under my breath as I read the message. My sitter, who was supposed to be at the daycare, had just told me she overslept and wasn’t going to get Maddy. Blake was not going to be happy about this.

I slowly walked up to him, “I have to go pick up Maddy. My sitter flaked.”

Anger flashed through his eyes but he quickly forced a smile. “Sure thing, Chels. I’ll see you later.”

I flinched away from the insinuation in his voice.

“Thank you, sir.” I forced a weak smile, before leaving to pick up Maddison.

I knew if I went to his place, I was going to get an earful tonight. Then he would probably leave to find some bimbo who could make him happy for the night. I wasn’t going to allow Maddison to hear the things he was bound to say.

“Mommy!” Maddison called excitedly as she ran to me.

Her black curls ran down to her waist and bounced as she ran. Her porcelain skin and blue eyes were so different from my tan complexion and dark brown eyes. Sometimes, I was mistaken as her babysitter. Her facial features and heart shaped face were identical to my own, though. She was adorable in her pink summer dress and dollar store flip-flops.

“Hey, princess.” I knelt down on the strip mall sidewalk outside the daycare door.

“Your late, Ms. Davis.” The owner snapped.

She stood in the doorway with her arms crossed. Her short, blonde hair spiked at odd angles and she glared at me angrily. Her peachy skin was flush, slightly red. I wondered why she was so mad, I was less than half an hour late.

“I’m sorry. My sitter flaked and I had to get off work.” I apologized, standing up and grabbing Maddisons hand.

She held up her hand to stop me. “Excuses don’t fix problems, and it is not my job to make up for your shortcomings. The center closes at five. Be here then or find another daycare.”

“Excuse me, is that how you talk to…” the voice behind me paused for a second before continuing. “anyone, ever?”

“Excuse me?” The center owner asked in surprise.

“No. I will not excuse that behavior. You were being a total bitch to her.” A woman with long, blonde hair stepped up next to where I stood awkwardly.

“I…” the daycare worker glanced back and forth between the two of us before spinning around and closing the door behind her.

“You didn’t have to do that. I could handle her.” I said turning to the stranger.

“I’m sure you can but you shouldn’t have to.” Her honey colored eyes turned to me. “I’m Amber.”

“Chelsey, and this is Maddison.” I said, reluctantly.

I didn’t like involving people in my life. If I had learned anything, it was that everyone in your life will hurt you, but you do get to choose who is worth the pain. I had decided years ago that nobody was worth that much hurt.

“Hi, sweetheart! Oh my god. You are such a doll.” Amber beamed down at Maddison.

Maddison frowned, “No. I’m a girl.”

“Of course, you are.” Amber grinned.

“Anyway, thank you.” I smiled kindly.

“Of course.”

I wasn’t sure what else to say so I turned to walk away.

“How dare you.” Blake’s cold, angry voice startled me as I went to unlock the door to my apartment.

I gasped and spun to see him standing in a shadow down the building. He had his back against the wall and his foot propped up behind him. In the near darkness, I hadn’t seen him. Now, though, I wondered why he was here.

“What are you doing? You scared me.” I snapped, annoyed.

He pushed off the wall, and walked deliberately towards me. His posture was stiff and I knew there would be no avoiding this fight. I had pushed him too far today, between leaving for the interview and to get Maddison.

“Do you want to come in?” I asked calmly.

He didn’t respond, but pushed his way in first. I turned on the lights then knelt in front of Maddison. I brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. It amazed me how she and Seth look exactly alike, but my feelings about them varied so greatly.

“Can you go clean your toys, please, princess?” I asked calmly. She nodded before skipping towards her room.

“How dare you do that to me. You make me look bad as your boss every time you take advantage of my kindness towards you.” Blake hissed as I trudged into the kitchen.

“Hon, I have had a shit day. Can we just not do this today?” I asked exhaustedly before turning back to face him.

The slap was so hard, and unexpected, that I fell onto the floor. For a second, I lay in shock. Had that really just happened? The burning hand print on my cheek proved it had. I had never been hit before and I wasn’t sure how to overcome the shock and react.

“Get the fuck up, you over dramatic bitch.” He spat.

I did as I was told. Shakily, I stood, trying to ignore the taste of blood in my mouth. My head was spinning and I was too confused to see the next blow before the punch to my gut had me stagger back against the nearby wall. Instinctively, I slid down allowing myself to ball up on the floor.

“Get up!” He snapped forcefully.

This time, I didn’t respond or obey. Instead, I squeezed tighter, silently sobbing, as he angrily started kicking me. I just wanted him to leave. I didn’t know what to do, or why me having to pick up my daughter made him mad enough to cross this line. Then he stopped.

“This is your fault.” He panted after a minute, “If you weren’t such a selfish bitch, I wouldn’t get so mad. You do it on purpose, don’t you? You like getting me mad.”

I shifted trying to be even smaller as I sobbed. It was quiet for a long time before I heard the front door slam.