Then that blew up spectacularly in my face. But at least I hadn’t been excommunicated, unlike Mary.
I still emailed my sister from an account my parents didn’t know about, and she sounded happy. She had a great job and was living in Savannah with her boyfriend, José. Maybe there was more to life than what the Righteous Truth Church suggested.
Lainey looked incensed when she started to spout, “Your parents don’t—”
Jade cut Lainey off and asked me, “You still live at home?”
“Yeah. Once I confessed my sins in front of the congregation, they let me stay.”
Oh my God, Jessica—shut up!
Lainey sat up straighter with an incredulous look. “They made you stand up in front of—”
Again, Jade interrupted her. “I’m sure your parents are a big help to you.”
No, not really.
I was free labor. I’d barely gotten home from the hospital when I was given a list of chores they wanted done before I went to bed that night.
I’d known I’d have to pitch in, there was no such thing as a free ride in the Bradbury house, but I’d thought maybe I could have a little time to recover from giving birth before being expected to mop the floors and clean the bathtub.
Still, I didn’t want to disrespect my parents, even if they didn’t know about it, so I simply answered Jade with, “Yeah.”
Lainey was like a dog with a bone.
“So, who are you worried is going to try and take your daughter? Her father?”
I snorted at that thought. “No, he doesn’t want anything to do with her. I’m worried Child Protective Services could.”
“But why?”
“I can’t provide for her without my parents’ help.”
Something they reminded me of regularly.
Jade responded gently, “I don’t think that—” but this time it was Lainey doing the interrupting.
“Would you feel better if you had a job?”
“I mean, sure, but who’s going to hire me? I have to nurse my baby every four hours.”
Lainey gave me a crooked grin as she used both thumbs to point to herself. “You’re looking at her.”
Chapter Two
Jessica
“How soon can you start?” Lainey asked.
I still wasn’t sure I understood what was happening.
“You’re offering me a job?”
“Yep.” She then outlined the starting wage and hours. “I wish I could offer more, but it’s above minimum wage.”
After quick calculations in my head, I determined I’d make more in a week at the bakery than I had in my lifetime of babysitting for church members.
It was almost too good to be true.
