Jack sat at the breakfast table waiting for his eggs to cook a bit more. Since his divorce he'd learned pretty well how to fend for himself. He had read cook books and watched cooking shows and by the spare tire he was beginning to develop, he knew he was onto something. He stood and straightened his pajama bottoms and moved to the stove where he carefully plated his meal and headed for the table carrying his newspaper, cup of coffee and plate. He had just sat down when the door seemingly kicked open startling him into spilling his coffee on his hand. He jerked it away and cried, "Fuck!" He shook his hand in obvious pain as he made for the front door.
Jack round the corner to find his ex wife Carla pushing a very large suitcase in front of her as she battled the door. She was a mature woman of forty six, five foot five, and short brown hair. No real remarkable physical features could he determine other than from memory as she pushed through the door. She wore a blue slack outfit, with low black heels and a nice white top covered with a jacket. From the look of it, she was going to work.
"Jack!" She called as he rounded the corner. She saw him coming and she began,
"Jack, I need you to watch Millie for a few weeks. The firm in all of its infinite wisdom has temporarily transferred me to the Minneapolis office."
Jack said, "That's too bad Carla. Sure I'll be glad to have Millie for a bit. We haven't spent time together in a long time. How old is she now?"
Carla stopped in her tracks and said, "You know very well that she's eighteen as of last week, you were at her party remember?"
To which Jack replied, "Oh yea..."
Carla said "This is one of her suitcases, the rest is still at my house, here is the key, help yourself but for the love of God, do not snoop. Just take her over there, give her the key and wait by the door, she can get whatever she likes. Oh and by the way Jack I know you're out of work just now so here's five hundred dollars to help with the extra food and expense."
Jack took her money and slid it into the breast pocket of his pajamas. Millie came through the door wearing her usual shorts and tight pullover top that he'd bought her for her birthday. She rushed inside, "Daddy!" she cried hugging him tightly. "It's so good to see you!"
Jack stepped back and said, "Well look at you! Aren't you beautiful?"
Millie slapped him mockingly on the arm and said, "Dad!"
Carla butted in, "Now Millie I want you to feel free to return home and take whatever belongings you need before the twenty eighth of this month. That's when the movers are coming to collect my things and deliver them to me in Minneapolis. I've given your father some extra expense money but remember he's not working just now, so if you need any more for any reason just call me."
With that she kissed Millie on the cheek and said, "A moment Jack..." as she walked back to the door. Jack followed her.
Jack shouted back inside, "Make yourself at home Millie, I'll be right back." He closed the door and walked Carla back to her mini van. She opened the door and sat down on the driver's side and rolled down her window and said, "Now Jack, back there you looked at me as if to say something, what was it?"
"Well Carla, I do need some money. I hate to ask but everything's due and I just don't want to inconvenience Millie, after all it's not quite what she's used to."
Carla popped open her check book and said, "How much do you need?"
Jack said, "Really Carla I don't know without going inside and figuring it out."
She said, "Listen, I wouldn't normally do this but take this blank check and pay your bills for three months. No phone or cell phone however, I'm trying to break Millie from talking to those boys till all hours of the night. Hopefully with summer break here, you live far enough away from the city that they won't just show up on your doorstep. If you can keep her away from boys for the summer, I'll pay your bills for the entire summer. All you have to do is watch her."
Jack took the check and said, "Carla you know sometimes you make me wish you were still together." Referring to the check he had in his hand.
She replied, "Well Jack, we did have our fair share of problems, and I don't know if I'm ready to go through all that again. Don't get me wrong Jack I still love you but I can't live with you. The fighting between our families gave both of us such pressure that it tore us apart. I suppose it's my fault though I did not think of the implications of marrying outside of my social circle, let alone how my father and mother would react to me marrying a blue collar man, but that's a conversation for another time. I really have to go Jack. Good luck, if you need me call my cell phone."
He sheepishly raised a hand as she started the car and drove off. He stood there holding the check which he dutifully placed in his pocket along with the five hundred dollars cash and returned to the front door.
Jack walked inside and said "Millie?" she said, "Up here dad!" He trudged up the steps and found her in his spare bedroom that really only had a mattress and box spring on the floor. She'd taken the liberty of dragging the heavy suitcase along with her.
