Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“I swear, Julia, I’m trying,” she whispers. “I swear if you give me one more chance, you won’t regret it.” I look down, and my head is screaming no, but then I look up at her. “I swear, I just need one more chance. If I fuck up again,” she says, and her hands circle Penelope’s waist, “then you can take her from me.”
“We aren’t taking her from you.” I try to say it as delicately as I can. I love my job, I really do, but days like this… Days like today when I have to take a child from their parent, I really rethink what the hell I’m doing this for. “We are helping you get everything you need to help with Penelope.”
“What she needs is to be with her mother,” Monica pleads. “I know I haven’t always been on the ball with some of her things. But I’m learning.” My stomach flips. “I swear to God, Julia, if you give me one more chance, you won’t regret it.”
I tap my finger on the papers, knowing I should just take Penelope and turn away, but I also know this might just be the wake-up call Monica needs. Knowing she is one step away from losing her little girl might be the kick in the ass to straighten her up. “You know if I give you this one last chance, I’m putting my neck on the line,” I say honestly.
“I swear, Julia, you won’t be sorry,” she assures me, and I believe her. At least I believe she wants to be a better parent.
“We meet again in two weeks. If anything, and I mean anything, comes up…” I don’t finish my sentence because she jumps up. I pop up at the same time as she does.
“I promise you, Julia.” She turns Penelope around so she can sit on her hip. “You won’t be sorry.”
“I want you to call me every other day,” I say. “And I want you to have a job in the next two weeks.”
She nods at me and turns around, walking out faster than ever, for fear I’ll change my mind. I sit back down in my chair and put my head back. “How did it go?” Rosalind asks, and I turn to look at her.
“She has fourteen days to straighten up,” I inform her. “I know we said that—”
Rosalind holds up her hand to stop me from talking. “This is your case, and you know best how to deal with it. I haven’t doubted you once since you’ve been working here.”
I take a deep inhale. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I say as she walks away laughing. “When does this get easier?”
She stops walking and turns around. “I’ve been doing this for over twenty years, and I still ask myself that every single day.” She shakes her head. “You will have good days and bad.” She smiles at me. “Cherish those.”
“Thanks,” I say as my phone vibrates on my desk. I turn it over to see Jillian, my twin sister, is FaceTiming me.
Pressing the green button, I see the circle going around while it says connecting. “Hello,” I greet, and my face lights up when I see my six-year-old nephew, Jamieson, on the screen. “Well, isn’t it the most handsome man in the whole world?” I love three people more than anything in the world, and those three people are my nephew and my two nieces. I would lay down my life for any of them. I put the folder away, looking down at my watch and seeing it’s just after five o’clock. I get up, grabbing my purse and the canvas bag I got when I started working here. It had my information package in it, and since then, it’s been with me. I know it’s silly, but the bag has a sentimental part to it being as it holds everyone’s story.
“Auntie Juju,” he says softly. “Mommy said I can’t have the cookies you bought me.” I can tell this little man is playing me.
“And why did she say that?” I ask as I walk into the elevator and press the P button. “Mommy wouldn’t say no unless there was a reason.”
“No.” He shakes his head, and his black hair falls on his forehead. His baby-blue eyes look full of mischief, and I can’t wait to hug and kiss him. “I did nothing.”
I roll my lips because his face is so angelic-looking. “Let me ask Mommy,” I say, walking out into the parking garage. The clicking of my heels fills the empty garage as I grab my keys and unlock the car doors. I get in, putting the phone in the holder as I start the car, and Jamieson calls Jillian.
She comes to the phone and grabs it from him. “Did he call you?”