“I gotta go.” I waved over my shoulder, still too humiliated to face him again.
“Have a nice holiday, Becca.”
I didn’t respond to him. The window was my priority. I had never had to get one repaired before. Did I just call a window guy and beg? Were there window guys? Oh my gosh, how could I be a house mom and not know how to fix a broken window?
I rushed by the girls carrying various shirts and waved at the few sitting in the front parlor with their suitcases. Parents started picking up their girls today after finals, and I doubled back to say goodbye. They couldn’t see me with anything but a smile. No one ever saw my panic.Remain calm, stay positive, and always have a plan.That was my motto for life.
“Ladies, have a wonderful time at home. I’ll miss you.”
“We’ll miss you, too, Becs.” Ashley, Beatrice, and Maria all hugged me, and I squeezed them back. “We left you presents under the tree. You can’t open them until Christmas, though.”
“You did?” I almost cried at their genuine expressions. “I said no gifts!”
“We know, but you’re unlike other sorority moms. You invest yourself in us, and believe in us, and well, you deserve a nice holiday.”
My eyes watered. “I told myself no tears when you all left but look at me, already weepy.”
“You cry at animal rescue commercials, every rerun ofFriends, and when we get good grades. Never change, Becca Fairfield.”
“Don’t forget every single Hallmark movie,” Beatrice added.
“Okay, leave already.” I gently pushed her away, causing the three of them to giggle.
I peeled off my coat, refilled my cup of coffee with the newest hazelnut roast and coconut creamer, and sat. I had a crisis to deal with, and I had no idea how. But the first step: clean up the mess.
That I could do. I grabbed the broom, a trash bin, and heavy-duty gloves I still had from an intense scarecrow costume for Halloween and marched up to the third floor still wearing my puffy coat. Amanda’s room faced north—the exact direction of Harrison’s house—and sure enough, the wind whipped around her room. Pieces of glass decorated the floor, the windowsill, and the window ledge that spilled onto the roof.
I am their house mom. It is my job to take care of them when they are away from home. I can do this. I will do this.
“Becs, do you need help?” Kristin Garrison, the president of the Betas with enough potential to run the world—despite her terrible taste in men—entered the room.
A rush of happiness flooded through me at her offer. “I’d rather you don’t cut yourself. But could you find me a tarp and lots of duct tape? We should have some in storage outside.”
“You got it. Be careful.”
“You too. That shed is a piece of work out there.”
Kristin left, her face set in determined lines, and I scanned the damage. It took ten minutes to sweep up the floor, the desk area, and the windowsill. So far, no cuts.
Outside the window, there were huge pieces. I stepped onto the small porch on the roof—just one foot—and balanced, picking up the broken glass and tossing it into the bin. The wind blasted and I stumbled, slamming my shoulder into the window frame—right where a minor shard stuck out.
“Balderdash!” The cut hurt. The sharp sting stole my breath for a second, and I maneuvered myself back into the room. I unbuttoned my top and surveyed the damage. Yup. A small shard impaled my arm, leaving a trail of blood dripping down my pale skin.
My head spun… oh no. I hated blood. I did. It was the worst.
I needed to sit. Yeah, just for a second. I found my way to Amanda’s twin bed and put my head between my knees. Everything turned fuzzy, and I focused on my tasks.
Clean up damage.
Repair area with tarp.
Make insurance claim.
Call repairman.
I repeated it three more times as everything went black.
CHAPTER TWO
