by Judy Duarte
As Renee started up the tree with a handful of stuff, her sandal slipped off the step. She lost both her grip on the wooden frame and her balance, then fell to the ground, landing on her butt with a thump.
Her eyes widened, and her hands immediately went to her stomach. She hoped she didn’t hurt something—or jar the baby loose.
“Are you okay?” Tommy asked.
“I hope so.” She was planning to go to the clinic at the end of the week or after she got a job, but maybe she’d better go sooner. Some girls her age might be happy to have something go wrong and miscarry, but Renee wasn’t like the others. She’d grown to love her baby, even if it looked like some kind of alien right now. She’d even begun to think of it as the little girl Jesse had said she was having.
But that probably wasn’t too smart of her. The baby could be a boy.
Dang, her butt hurt. Her stomach, too.
She must have been wincing because Danny asked, “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah, I think so.” She got up and brushed herself off. Then her stomach cramped when she bent to pick up the birdcage she’d dropped in the dirt, and she winced.
“You landed pretty hard,” Tommy said. “And you’re walking kind of funny. Maybe you broke your back or something.”
“I’d still be on the ground if that happened. But I am worried that I might have hurt …”
“Hurt what?”
Aw, man. She really couldn’t tell them. What if they didn’t keep her secret?
But the weird thing was, these guys had kind of become friends—her only friends in Fairbrook. And they’d been nice to her.
Besides, she still had that fake ID in case anyone wanted to know if she was really twenty-one.
“Come into the tree house,” she told them. “I want to tell you guys something. But you have to swear on a hundred Bibles not to tell anyone.”
She started up the laddered steps—more carefully this time because her dumb shoes were so loose—and the boys followed her. Once they were all inside, they sat cross-legged, facing each other.
“What’s the big secret?” Danny asked.
Renee rested her hands on her knees. “I’m pregnant.”
“What’s that?” Jason asked.
“It means she’s going to have a baby,” Tommy told him.
The smaller boy looked at her stomach. In fact, they were all looking at her stomach.
She placed her hands over the bulge, allowing them to see the bump where her baby was growing.
“Does the baby have a daddy?” Jason asked.
“Yeah, but the baby will never know who he is.”
Jason studied his lap and grew pensive.
Danny elbowed him. “Hey, don’t feel bad about that, Jason. I know who my dad is, and it’s not that big of a deal.” Danny looked at Renee. “His mom doesn’t know who his dad is, and he gets sad about that sometimes. But my dad is in prison for getting in a fight with a guy who died. So having a father isn’t always that great.”
Renee reached over and patted Jason on the knee. “Hey, my dad hasn’t been in my life for almost as long as I can remember. And the way I see it, sometimes having a dad can be more trouble than it’s worth.”
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “And some kids get stuck with two of them, which is really weird.”
“How’d you get two dads?” she asked.
Tommy adjusted his glasses again, something that seemed to be a habit. “My first dad picked another family over mine, so he and my mom got divorced. And then she got married to Mac.”
“Yeah, but your dad buys you a lot of neat stuff because he feels so crappy about leaving. And Mac is really cool.” Danny turned to Kristy. “His stepdad is a detective, and he’s got a gun and a badge and everything.”
Whoa. She hadn’t realized Tommy’s stepfather was a cop. That could be a problem, especially if there was a law against people living in trees. And even if there wasn’t, what if he asked her age, then checked out her ID? It was a good fake, but it might not be good enough to fool a detective.
She was suddenly sorry she told the boys her secret, but it was too late now.
“That’s kind of neat that you’re having a baby,” Tommy said.
Renee looked at the boys, all listening intently and staring at her like she was one cool kid, when she was really scared and dumb and not at all sure where to turn.
All she’d ever wanted to be was somebody and to belong somewhere. And here she was—almost sixteen years old, a high school dropout by default, and living in a tree.
“Don’t worry about us telling,” Danny said. “You’re our secret. Right guys?”
They all nodded.
“Well, I’ve got another problem,” she said. “I need to find a job, and no one seems to be hiring right now. They keep telling me to check back in the summer, but I can’t wait that long.”
The baby was coming in July, as best as she could guess. And even with the rent only costing a dollar-fifty each day, she’d probably be out of money by then. And she’d still be living in a tree. What kind of mother brought her baby home to live in a tree?
“Barbara isn’t going to work for us anymore,” Jason said, “and my mom needs someone really bad.”
Renee perked up. She could clean house or iron or something. “What kind of work did Barbara do?”
“She babysits me and looks out for my grandmother.”
“What’s wrong with your grandmother?” she asked, thinking maybe she was going a little goofy, like some of the old people who’d lived at the Regal Arms Apartments.
“She can’t walk,” Jason said, “so she’s stuck in bed unless someone puts her in the wheelchair and takes her in the living room. But she kind of likes staying in her room.”
“It’s hard work,” Danny said, “‘cause his grandma needs help to go to the bathroom. I wouldn’t want to have a job like that.”
“And she gets cranky sometimes,” Jason added.
Right now, Renee was desperate. Besides, she was used to people being mean, especially old people. “Well, I’m definitely interested, Jason. So tell your mom that you know someone who would like to apply for the job.”
“Okay.” He brightened. “It’d be cool to have you as a babysitter, Renee.”
Before she could respond, a woman’s voice shouted into the canyon. “Jason! Jason!”
“Uh-oh. I’d better go.”
The boys got up to leave, and Renee watched them go, hoping she hadn’t made a big mistake in sharing too much personal information with them. She’d never actually admitted to them that she was living in the tree and not just using it sometimes. But she figured they had to know.
“Don’t forget to tell your mom that I’d like the job,” she called out to Jason.
“I won’t!” he said, before scampering off.
Kristy stood at edge of the canyon, hands on her hips. She didn’t care that Walter Kleinfelter told the boys it was okay to play on the Bushman Trail. Jason knew she didn’t approve, and he should have spoken up.
She was going to have to chat with him about this as soon as they got home.
“Here, I am!” Jason called out, the other boys trailing behind him.
Maria, Danny’s mother, thought the canyon was pretty safe. But Kristy worried about Jason something fierce. He was only six, and the other boys were much older. Maybe when he was their age, she wouldn’t be so fussy. And then, maybe she would.
There were probably snakes in the brush, not to mention that this world just wasn’t as safe as it had been when she was a kid.
As the boys approached, she assumed her best stern expression. “I’ve told all of you that I don’t like Jason down in the canyon.”
“Yeah, but Walter said—”
“I don’t care what he said. You should have told him that Jason isn’t allowed down there. He would have respected my wishes.” At least, she hoped he would have.
She placed her hand on Jason’s shoulder, then guided him
toward the house.
“Hey, Mom,” he said. “I forgot to tell you, but I know a nice lady who needs work. And she’d make a cool babysitter. I think Gram would like her, too.”
Kristy’s steps froze. “You met her in the canyon?”
Jason’s eyes widened, and he seemed to consider either her question or his response. “No. I met her the other day.”
“Where?”
“She was … She was coming out of her house.”
“Is she one of our neighbors?”
“Yeah, she lives pretty close.”
At least that was convenient. “I’d like to talk to her. Why don’t you point out her house, and I’ll go to see her.”
“I… uh … can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because he doesn’t remember exactly where she lives,” Danny interjected. “But I do. How about I go and tell her you want to talk to her about a job, and then she can come to your house and talk to you.”
“Well, that would be better for me. Thanks, Danny. I’d appreciate that. I have to work this afternoon, but if she has time to talk to me this morning—”
“I’m sure she does.” The bigger boy took off like a shot, taking the path down to the canyon.
“Where’s he going?” she asked Tommy.
“To the lady’s house. She lives kind of by the park, and he’s taking a shortcut through the Bushman Trail.”
Twenty minutes later, while Kristy was doing the dishes and Jason was hanging out in the living room, peering out the window and waiting for the lady to show up, the doorbell rang.
“She’s here, Mom!”
Kristy dried her hands on the dish towel, then strode into the living room, where Jason had already let the “lady” inside. She studied the young blond teenager with long, stringy hair.
“Hi,” the girl said. “I’m Renee.”
Was she the one Jesse had mentioned?
Kristy introduced herself and reached out a hand in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Renee tucked a stringy piece of hair behind her ear and smiled. “Danny said that you needed a babysitter.”
“Actually, I need a nurse, too.”
Her expression drooped. “Well, I don’t have that kind of experience, but I can cook and clean. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Except maybe give shots or something.”
“How old are you?” Kristy asked.
“Twenty-one.” The girl, who was wearing a pale pink sweat shirt and a pair of jeans, reached into her pocket. “I’ve got an ID, if you want to see it.”
Kristy was used to carding people at Paddy’s, not when it came to hiring someone, but she found it hard to believe that Renee was that old. She glanced at the ID, saw the photo. But she didn’t study it too long.
“I’ve got references, too,” the girl added.
“Where did you work last?”
“Actually, I’ve been volunteering my time at the soup kitchen with Dawn Randolph and her husband, Joe. I’ve also worked with Pastor Craig. I don’t know if you know him or not, since he’s kind of new.”
“Actually, I do know him.”
Renee smiled, her blue eyes glimmering with hope. “I’ve been helping out at the church in my free time, but I really need a job that pays. So maybe I could work for you for minimum wage or whatever to start. And then, if you like me, you could pay me more.”
Well, she was definitely cheaper than Barbara. And if she was volunteering down at the church, that was a good sign. Kristy didn’t know Dawn Randolph, but she would talk to Pastor Craig, of course. But without a dependable and responsible sitter and caretaker, she wouldn’t be able to work, and even though she’d found the money, it wouldn’t last long. So she was a bit more desperate than she wanted to be.
“I’ll tell you what,” Kristy said. “If you’re available on Friday night, I’ll try you out. And we’ll take it from there.”
“Cool.” Renee brightened. “What time do you want me?”
Mrs. Delacourt had said dinner was at six. So Kristy figured she’d want Renee here a lot sooner than that so she could show her around and get to know her better. “How about five o’clock?”
“No problem. I’ll see you then.”
Renee let herself out the door, but Kristy could have sworn she saw her wink at Jason.
Chapter 10
On the night of the Delacourts’ dinner party, Kristy stood before the bathroom mirror, struggling to get a faux diamond stud into her right earlobe and wondering if the set of pearls Gram had given her for her sixteenth birthday might be a better choice.
At the time she’d unwrapped Gram’s gift, she’d thought the earrings and necklace were too sophisticated for a teenager. She’d planned to exchange them for something a little more trendy, but one thing had led to another—that stupid party, Gram’s stroke, pregnancy—and she’d never gotten around to it.
Fortunately, they just might do the trick now. So she returned to her bedroom and rummaged through the chest of drawers, hoping she remembered where she’d stashed them.
The doorbell rang, and she quit searching long enough to glance at the clock on the bureau. 4:43.
“She’s here!” Jason called out from the living room, where he’d been awaiting the new sitter.
Renee had agreed to be here at 5:00, so the fact that she’d arrived a few minutes early was a good indication that she was responsible.
Kristy left the drawer open and went into the living room to see that Jason had already invited Renee inside.
She wore a pair of jeans and a large tie-dyed T-shirt, and her shoulder-length hair had been pulled into a ponytail, which made her look especially young this evening.
“That’s a great dress,” she said. “You look really nice. Where are you going?”
“To a dinner party. And thanks.”
Renee had no idea how many outfits Kristy had already pulled out from the closet and tried on, even though the black dress that Shana had given her for Christmas last year had been her first choice all along.
You need to start going out, Shana had said, as they’d sat around a twinkling Charlie Brown tree in Kristy’s living room last December.
Yeah, right. I have enough trouble getting a sitter for work. Besides, there’s no place to go by myself.
I was talking about dating.
Deep inside, Kristy had known exactly what her friend had been hinting at. But she didn’t have any interest in men. At least, she hadn’t until now, but Craig Houston didn’t count.
“Thanks for coming,” Kristy said. “I don’t have to go yet, but I thought it would be best if you came early. I’ll pay you for the entire time.”
“That’s okay. I didn’t have anything else to do.”
Kristy was a bit uneasy about leaving Gram and Jason with a girl she really didn’t know, but she’d been comforted by Renee’s connection to the church. She’d also been desperate.
“You sure have a nice house,” Renee said, taking in the cream-colored walls that needed a new coat of paint and the dark wood beams that could stand to be sanded and refinished.
“Thanks.”
A lot of people liked the old Victorian-style homes and were drawn to Sugar Plum Lane, where some of the houses had been renovated better than others. And a few, like this one, needed a lot of work.
Even the décor, with its drab curtains and shabby furniture, left a lot to be desired, so Kristy figured Renee was commenting about the overall appeal of the place.
“I’ll leave you a number where I can be reached,” she told Renee. “I also baked some chicken and potatoes. I’m not sure if you’ve eaten yet, but there’s plenty if you’d like to join Gram and Jason for dinner.”
“Sounds good. Thanks.”
“Gram will be coming out into the living room to watch television with you this evening. So I’ll help you get her into the wheelchair before I leave.” Kristy had already talked to her grandmother about Renee coming to work, and Gram, of course, was
n’t all that keen on having anyone new. But Kristy had insisted she’d feel better if Gram would come out into the living room in her wheelchair and keep an eye on things.
She also planned to give Gram the portable phone that was programmed for a one-touch dial to either 9-1-1 or Kristy’s cell.
Interestingly enough, when she’d explained the situation and the game plan to Gram, she’d only met with an initial grumble but no further complaints.
This was, Kristy realized, the first time in seven years that Gram had been given a chore to do, other than the rehab she’d had during the first year. Not that Kristy hadn’t tried to encourage Gram to cultivate new interests, but Gram had refused until Kristy had just given up.
So, taking a lesson from Pastor Craig, she made a mental note: Admit to Gram that life indeed sucks and then give her a job to do anyway.
Something told Kristy it wouldn’t be that simple, though.
“Is there anything I should know?” Renee asked. “Like does anyone have allergies or anything like that?”
“No. Jason isn’t allowed to go outside tonight. I also monitor the television he watches. No violence, no bad language. Just G-rated shows, if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I totally get it.” Renee smiled, and her eyes, an ocean-blue shade, glimmered. “Those rules will be easy to follow.”
Kristy hoped so. “Would you mind helping me get my grandmother out of bed now?”
“No, not at all.”
Another good sign. If Renee had any qualms about working with Gram, the chance of any long-term employment was out of the question.
“Just tell me what you need me to do,” the girl added, as she followed Kristy down the hall. “I’m a fast learner.”
Kristy entered her grandmother’s bedroom, the one she’d had to fix for her downstairs. The footsteps behind her seemed to freeze at the entrance, but just briefly. She wasn’t sure if Renee had paused out of respect or because the hospital bed was a bit daunting. But she guessed it didn’t matter; she was beside her now.
“Gram, this is Renee.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” the girl said, as Gram gave her a once over.
“You’re not a nurse,” Gram said.
