"Are you making your presentation before the board tonight?" I glanced up at Peter Riley, who worked in the same department as I, and sighed tossing my long blonde hair over one shoulder. "I suppose I have to." I said tucking my files into my briefcase. "Don't you ever get tired of these meetings? All drone and no fireβ¦they're a total drain of two hours when I could be spending time with Connelly." I complained, referring of course, to my four-year-old son who was waiting at home for me having been promised pizza and cartoons. That is, until my boss sprung a surprise meeting on me for that night. Peter grinned mischievously tapping my head with his pencil. "Don't let old man Rogers hear you talk like that." I made a face. "Mr. Rogers," I said in disgust. "He is not." Peter chuckled shrugging into his suit jacket. "I agree whole heartedly, but he does, with however much disdain cut our paychecks, so if I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut. The wall have ears you know." He winked slapping my rear with his files before heading out the door. Dreading what I had to do I picked up the phone and dialed my home. Christine, the babysitter I employed answered on the first ring which alerted me to the fact that she was probably already on the phone, undoubtedly talking to her boyfriend.
"Hello, Valance residence." She greeted in her usual, nasal tone that drove me batty. Unfortunately, I didn't have much choice when it came to childcare. Daycare was simply too expensive and there seemed to be a shortage of annoying teenage girls in my neighborhood which left me with Christine who had successfully killed my faith in the next generation. "Chris, it's Helena. Would you put Connelly on the phone please?" Christine hesitated, clearly debating whether to click over first and hang up on her boyfriend, thereby incriminating herself, or leave him hanging for however long until I hung up with my son. "Uhβ¦sure thing Mrs. Val, hold on a second." She set down the phone and I waited for a long minute before Connelly came on the line, wondering for the thousandth time if I should accept the transfer to Austin, Texas for a sizable pay increase. The only thing holding me back was that moving to Austin would mean leaving my family behind and uprooting Connelly from his school.
"Mommy?" I smiled hearing Connelly's voice, but his next question crushed my spirit. "I want pepperoni on my pizza, okay?" I hesitated, then sighed slinking into my office chair. "I'm sorry baby, I've got to work. But I'll have Christine order you a pizza, okay?" His telling silence depressed me considerably. "With extra pepperoni." I offered. "Mommy, you promised." I swallowed, closing my eyes and pressing my finger to the space between my eyes. "I know honey, and I'm really sorry, but I just can't make it home. I'll make it up to you tomorrow. I promise." Connelly whined. "But you promised last night!" Knowing he was about to cry, I felt close to tears myself. "You're right, and I feel just awful, but how about I make you a deal? You can stay up till I get home and we'll have some pizza together." Connelly brightened a little. "Really?" He asked. I smiled weakly. "Yes, really." After we had hung up I walked across my office to the little mirror hanging on the wall and pinned my long pale blonde hair up to look professional for the meeting. I normally made it home by six or seven, but I wouldn't get home tonight until nine or later. Connelly's bedtime was eight thirty and I wondered if he would be able to stay awake that long. Being a single mother was never easy, but if I wanted to keep food on the table, work had to come first.