The Price of Forgiveness by Eve Vaughn

Free Story

Disclaimer: This story is intended for those 18 or older.

When We Collide

Chapter One

“I’m sorry, Miss Brooks, but we’ve decided to go in a different direction with this position. We’ll keep your application on file in case something comes up within the next six months. Thank you for applying with Jenzyme.” The impersonal tone of the woman’s voice told Kim—she wasn’t the least bit sorry.

Kim closed her eyes in frustration, gripping the receiver in her hand until her muscles strained. No matter how many times she’d heard this speech, it didn’t get any easier. “Thank you for your time.” She tried her best to keep the bitterness out of her tone.

“Yes, well, have a nice day, Ms. Brooks.” Click.

Kim replaced the receiver on the handset and stepped out of the payphone booth. That was the fourth rejection this week. What was point in applying for jobs, if no one would hire her? Her savings wouldn’t sustain her much longer and she had way too much pride to live off of public assistance.

It was the one thing she’d promised herself never to do. Having grown up in poverty, it was one of the cycles she’d vowed to break. No on told her when she’d decided on that course of action, that life had a way of bitch slapping you. And when you were down it kicked you over and over again and then laughed.

Of course, she should have known no one would want to hire someone with a criminal record, no matter what the circumstance. The glowing recommendation from her parole officer didn’t seem to matter, or the fact that she’d earned her associates degree while serving time.

The shame that she carried would be a stigma that followed her for the rest of her life. But she couldn’t stop now. Kim had Star to think of. If she couldn’t provide for her daughter, there’s no way the city would give her child back.

Four days into the New Year and already 1987 sucked.

The last thing Kim wanted was to go home to the roach-infested hell hole she currently lived in. Digging into her pocket, she pulled out her subway ticket. There was just enough left on her ticket to go to The Mall in front of the Washington Monument. She didn’t know what it was about the place, but Kim was at peace when she was there.

Her mother used to take her there when she was a little girl and it was still one of her favorite places.

The day had been cloudy when she got up that morning, but just as she stepped out of the train station the sun was coming out. Maybe this day wouldn’t be a total wash after all. The Cherry Blossoms were just starting to bloom and it was pretty warm for a mid-March day.

Kim purchased a hot dog from one of the street vendors and found a park bench. Here, she could forget about her worries. She could pretend to be one of the tourists from out of town on vacation with her family. They’d left their home in a comfortable suburb without fear of returning to find their possessions missing. In her fantasy, she’d have her dream job—a pediatrician.

Her husband would also be a doctor and the two of them would have their own practice. Star would have a couple brothers and sisters to play with, and she would be…like the other children, happy and playful.

A smile touched her lips at the vision dancing in her head.

If only.

A piercing scream broke Kim out of her silent musings. She looked up just in time to see a little girl on roller skates barrowing her way, arms flailing wildly. The child had obviously lost control and looked like she’d topple over any second.

Setting her lunch aside, Kim rushed over to the girl and caught her, just before she met the pavement face-first. “Are you okay?” she asked checking the child over.

Large green eyes looked at her imploringly. She was a pretty child with long black hair pulled into a somewhat messy ponytail. With a tilt-tipped nose and round pinkish cheeks, she had a cherubic look. The kid could be no more than seven or eight. “Tyler pushed me,” she finally said, tears filling those expressive green pools of hers.

Kim frowned. “Tyler?”

“My brother. He pushed me because I said Jem was better than his stupid G.I. Joes.” The little girl sniffed, looking like she’d burst into tears.

Kim knew she should probably walk away, but something about the child tore at her heartstrings, and she was not much older than Star. On impulse she gave the child a hug. “It’s okay, honey, Tyler was probably upset because everyone knows Jem is the best.” She had no idea if it were true or not, but it didn’t hurt to offer the child some sort of comfort.

The little girl perked up. “Really? Do you mean it? Which character is your favorite?”

“Er…uh…” So much for lying. “Jem?”

It seemed to be the right answer, because it got the kid to smile. “Mine, too! My name is Chelsea, what’s yours?”

Kim smiled her first genuine smile of the day. “Kim. You’re okay now?”

“We’re not supposed to talk to strangers, dummy!”

Kim jumped away from the girl as if she’d been scorched. She turned around to see who was speaking. A young boy, not much older than the girl, shot Kim a suspicious look. He had the same dark coloring as Chelsea, which told Kim this was the infamous Tyler.

“Daddy said you couldn’t call me dummy anymore!” the girl shouted back.

The boy shrugged. “Well, Dad isn’t here. He only said that in front of Nana. He doesn’t care.”

The girl scowled. “Daddy does so care. You are a big meanie, and I hate you!”

Tyler shugged. “So what? You’re just a big dummy. You can’t even read good.”

“She can’t read well,” Kim found herself correcting him automatically.

Tyler looked her up and down with an arrogance of a man three times his age. “Who the hell are you, lady?”

Kim’s mouth fell open. Was this kid for real? “Do your parents know you talk like this?”

Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “What’s it to you?”

Kim shrugged. “Nothing really. But you are being rather rude. Chelsea could have been seriously injured. The right thing to do would be to apologize.”

Tyler poked out his lip mutinously. “You’re not the boss of me.”

Kim raised a brow. “No, I’m not, but I would certainly like to have a talk with the person who is.”

The boy looked unimpressed. “Miss Appleton doesn’t care. She’s sleeping on the bench over there.” He pointed.

Kim followed the direction of his finger. Sure enough, a woman half lay and half sat on the bench. “Oh, my God, is she okay?” She rushed over to see if Miss Appleton was okay.

Kim tapped the woman on the shoulder. “Are you alright?”

The older woman groaned, not bothering to open her eyes. “Lemme alone, you little brats,” she muttered. The strong scent of alcohol was on her breath.

“Is this your babysitter?” Kim asked with concern. What kind of irresponsible parents would hire a drunk to watch their children?”

Chelsea gave her a forlorn look. “She’s our Nanny. I think she was drinking from her special medicine bottle again. She told us not to bother her for a couple of hours.”

Tyler crossed his arms over his chest shooting Kim an “I told you so” look. “See? She doesn’t care.”

Kim frowned. “Does your mom and dad know Miss Appleton takes special…uh, medicine?”

Tyler shrugged. “We don’t have a mom, and Dad wouldn’t care.”

Kim seriously doubted that. She attempted to wake the dozing woman again. “Miss Appleton?”

“Lemme ‘lone,” the nanny slurred, falling vertically on the bench.

That was it. The mother in Kim wouldn’t allow these two children to be alone with this obviously drunken woman. She toyed with the idea of offering to take them home, but that probably wouldn’t be a good idea. The children didn’t know her and the last thing she needed was to be thrown in jail for kidnapping two white kids. They’d lock her up and throw away the key this time for sure.

Kim spotted a payphone a few feet away. “Do you have your Daddy’s work number?”

Tyler looked her up and down. “What do you want that for?”

She sighed. God save her. “Because he’ll need to come pick you up, or send someone over to do it. Miss Appleton is in no position to supervise you.”

Tyler looked at the now snoring nanny and then back at Kim. “I don’t know it.”

Kim had the sneaking suspicion he did, but she couldn’t call him a liar on such short acquaintance. “Look, Tyler, I have no ulterior motive other than to make sure the two of you get home safely.

“I know Nana’s number,” Chelsea piped up.

“Shut up.” Tyler punched his sister in the arm.

“Oww!” Chelsea’s eyes filled with tears.

Kim had had enough of the little boy’s nastiness. “Tyler, do not hit your sister again.”

Tyler crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t have to listen to you.”

“Oh, yes you do. Because I’m bigger and meaner, and if you don’t apologize to Chelsea now, I’ll show you just how mean I can be.” She stared him down.

To his credit, Tyler held her gaze for a good while before his face turned beet red and he looked away. “Sorry,” he muttered, not bothering to look at his sister.

As apologies went, it was a pretty lousy one, but Kim saw no point in forcing the issue.

Chelsea stuck out her tongue. “Haha, you got in trouble.”

Kim lifted a brow. “Chelsea, young ladies don’t tease their brothers.”

“I’m sorry.” At least the girl sounded more contrite than her brother.

Kim nodded her approval. “Now that we’re all sufficiently sorry, how about giving me a number of a responsible adult who can come get you?”

Tyler remained mutinously silent, but Chelsea supplied her grandmother’s number.

“Could you two stay here while I make the call?” She knew she’d have to appeal to the little boy if she wanted some cooperation. “Please?”

“Well, okay, but Nana is probably not home,” he muttered.

“It’s a chance I’ll have to take. What’s your Nana’s name, by the way?” Kim asked.

“Madeline Meade.” Once again it was Chelsea who supplied the information, much to her brother’s apparent annoyance.

Kim dug in her purse and thankfully found a quarter to make her call. The phone rang five times before someone answered.

“Meade residence, how may I direct your call?” a cultured male voice greeted.

“Is Mrs. Meade there?”

“I’m afraid she’s indisposed at the moment. May I take a message?”

Kim figured indisposed meant she wouldn’t come to the phone. “My name is Kimberly Brooks, she doesn’t know me, but I need to speak to her if she’s there. It’s about Tyler and Chelsea.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Hold on a moment, Miss. Let me see if I can find her.”

That’s what she thought. “Thank you. I’d really appreciate it.”

While Kim waited on hold, she looked over her shoulder to see if the children were still there. Thankfully, they decided to listen.

“Hello? Miss Brooks?” came a panicked voice on the other end of the line. “What about my grandchildren?”

“Is this Mrs. Meade?”

“Yes. Please tell me what the matter is.”

“First, let me assure you, your grandchildren are okay. I met them in the park by the monument a few minutes ago, and their nanny is…uh, incapacitated. Someone will need to escort them home.”

“Oh, my goodness! Is that woman drunk?” If someone knew the nanny was a lush, then why in the world did they place her in charge of the children?

Kim sighed. “I’m afraid so. If you can arrange for someone to pick the children up, I’ll stay here with him.”

“Give me your exact location and I’ll be there. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your doing this.”

“It’s not a big deal. I’m sure anyone else would have done the same.” Kim gave Mrs. Meade directions and clicked off, before rejoining the children.

“Your Nana is on the way,” she let them know.

Chelsea jumped up and down, clapping her hands together. “Oh, goody! She’ll take us out for ice cream.”

Tyler rolled his eyes. “Well, now that Nana is coming, you can go away now.” The boy could have been a king the way he dismissed her in that haughty tone.

Kim crossed her arms over her chest. “Excuse me? I must have misheard you, because you weren’t talking to me like that.”

Tyler mutinously poked his bottom lip out and glared at her. “You’re not the boss of me.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Kim held the boy’s gaze, not looking away. She would show him that she wasn’t easily intimidated. A good minute passed before Tyler turned a bright shade of red and looked away. Exactly what she thought; the kid was all talk. With a sigh, she touched his shoulder. “I’m not your enemy. I’m just concerned that you and your sister are virtually alone. I have a daughter of my own, and if she were in this position, I’d want someone to look out for her. For my peace of mind, would you put up with my company long enough for your grandmother to come get you and your sister?”

Tyler looked uncertain, torn between giving in and remaining stubborn.

“Please, Tyler. You’d be doing me a huge favor. Besides, would you turn your back on a fellow G.I. Joe fan?”

He eyed her suspiciously. “What do you know about G.I. Joe?”

Not a thing, actually, other than the obnoxious television commercials, she thought to herself. “Well, I know it’s a much cooler show than Jem and the Holograms,” she whispered low enough for only him to hear.

A slow smile tilted his lips. “Yes, it is. Well, I…I guess you can stick around.”

Kim nodded solemnly, biting back the giggle. It would be an interesting afternoon.

* * *

Later, when the kids were waiting in their grandmother’s Jaguar, Kim and Madeline Meade had a long talk, which had taken a surprising direction.

“Kim, I appreciate your honesty about your past. While I can’t pretend to understand everything about your circumstances, I think we all make mistakes, and you’ve paid far more dearly than I think you should have. You’re in need of a job, and the kids need a nanny. Won’t you reconsider taking the position?”

Kim was tempted to give in, but the past few months had taught her to be more cautious about things sounding too good to be true. The offer of a job had taken her by surprise. Not only would she be the children’s full-time nanny, the job included room and board; a great opportunity to move out of her apartment and a chance to save more money. This would mean her being able to get custody of Star sooner.

Mrs. Meade placed her hand on top of Kim’s. “Kim, I see the hesitancy on your face, but I think this is a wonderful opportunity for you. I had a chance to observe you with the children when you weren’t looking, and they loved you. Chelsea hasn’t stopped talking about you since I’ve arrived.”

“But you don’t know anything about me, Mrs. Meade. Why are you risking your grandchildren’s well being? I’m a stranger to you, and for all you know, I might be lying about my history.”

“Please, call me Maddie, dear. I know I may seem like a silly old woman to you, but I think I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I knew I liked you the moment I laid eyes on you. Your aura is a bright orange. That’s a good thing. That means you’re full of positive energy, although that tinge of blue tells me there’s a deep sadness in your life.”

Kim lifted a brow. “You’re into astrology?”

“I never leave the house without reading my horoscope. My son thinks I’m a little out of touch, but the stars haven’t let me down yet. Besides, you know what my horoscope said this morning?”

This woman was absolutely nuts, but who was Kim to judge? She smiled politely. “What did it say?”

“It said that I would meet someone special today, and I believe I have. I hope you don’t mind my being frank, but can you really afford to turn down this opportunity?”

Kim couldn’t say no to that. “What about your son? Ultimately, wouldn’t he have the final say on who he puts in charge of his children? I really can’t blame him for being cautious.”

“You leave that to me.”

“The minute he finds out I have a record, there’s no way he’ll hire me.”

Mrs. Meade gave her a smile. “Trust me, dear. I’ll set everything up for you. There’s no need to worry. Besides, what harm would it do to come in for an interview?”

What harm would it do indeed! Kim didn’t want to get her hopes up because as she’d learned already, there were no guarantees in life.

To be continued at….http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evevaughnsbooks/

story can be found in the file sector of Eve's group under free stories.