I sighed. I was beyond pleading at this point. I was now at the begging stage.
"Please, Parker," I said to the small infant in his portable little chair, the one they had given me at the foster home. When they gave it to me, I couldn't help but htink that it was almost like buying a hamster that came with the cage included. "I'm tired. I know you miss your brother, but seriously, could you give it a rest for two seconds? That's all I ask."
He didn't even pause.
With a tired, defeated sigh, I stuffed the last of my clothes into the dryer and turned to him. I shouldn't have, really. His face was a deeper shade of red than was probably necessary even for an unhappy baby. Tears were just streaming from behind closed eyes, down his cheeks and even soaking the neck of his little pajamas. His toothless mouth was open wide and he looked more like he wanted to let out a blood-curdling scream rather than a high-pitched baby's wail. I had never seen someone look so utterly miserable before. Not even when I looked in the mirror.
"Oh jeez," I said, picking him up carefully and holding him so that his crying was slightly muffled against my shoulder. "I know, I know," I said. "I'm not liking it here much either. But I couldn't get myself to stay there, Parker. I had to leave. No one wanted me to take you or your brother. But I couldn't just let you go with some stranger, could I? Not you too. I hate to think of where he is right now. I promise we'll find him someday, though. You and I. We'll find Jordan, too."
I hardly noticed as I rambled on that he had quieted down and, even through his whimpering, seemed to be listening to what I was saying. Almost as if he was genuinely interested in the mention of his twin brother's name.
"Maybe we'll even find your mommy someday, huh?" I said, surprised that what wa smeant to comfort him had almost come out as though I was the one seeking reassurance. "We're strangers in a strange land, you and I," I went on, seeing that my voice was actually what was calming him, if not so much my actual words. "I'm glad you're here with me. I can't wait to see who you're going to be when you grow up, Mr. Parker...Lowell."
I blinked at that. Parker Lowell. Yeah, that sounded about right.
Carefully, I put him back in his little chair and he stared at me wide-eyed as I buckled him in. I guess the name surprised him as much as it did me.
"Just don't let it go to your head," I said, pointing my finger at him warningly. His curious expression melted into a grin as I added a silly face to the warning.
"Oh my," a washboard-like voice said from beside me. I looked up to see a small old woman slightly resembling Yoda standing next to the dryer next to mine, staring adoringly at Parker. "That is one handsome little fellow you have there. "
I smiled and looked back at Parker, who had taken on that wide-eyed curiosity once more.
"Thank you," I said.
She reached out and gently took one of his hands, letting his small fist wrap around her index finger.
"Strong, too," she laughed. "And he looks just like his momma. Don't you? Yes, you do."
It was true. With his dark blue eyes, Parker was Annie in baby form. Then again, I don't know how I could have thought anything else without knowing who his father was. But his eyes were exactly Annie's. They always say that all babies have blue eyes, but Parker had Annie's two sapphires.
"He does look so much like you," the old woman was saying as she finished her cooing and I tuned back in.
Me?
I felt my mouth open, prepared to tell her the truth, that he wasn't mine. But I shut it again when it occurred to me that she didn't have to know that. No one in Rochester had to know that. No one in New York State had to know that if I didn't want them to.
This was when I realized this was my fresh start.
I smiled kindly at the woman instead.
"Thank you," I said again.
She smiled brightly.
"What's your name, honey?"
"Gina," I said. "Gina Lowell. And this is Parker."
The woman nodded.
"I'm Louise," she told me. "I own the little convenience store down the street," she added, nodding in the direction of the store. "I noticed you in there this morning, too."
I didn't bother to keep myself from visibly wincing. I had embarrassed myself completely by not having enough money to buy the items I was trying to get. I was forced, much to the annoyance of those behind me in line, to replace a few things before I could pay.
"Now, I don't mean to sound like I'm judging you or stalking you or anything, but it seems to me you're in a bit of financial trouble," she said.
I nodded, only because it was so obvious.
"Need a job?"
My jaw dropped almost to the floor. Did I need a job? I had been in Rochester almost a month and was still in desperate search of one. I was running out of money fast between things for the baby and the essentials.
"Just so happens I'm looking for help. Nothing much, but it'll help you stay on your while you look for something better. And before you protest taht you've no one to watch the little one, I also happen to have a fourteen year old granddaughter who would be happy to help you out with that for now," she said. "Interested?"
Was this real? Stuff like this...doesn't happen in real life. It just doesn't happen.
Did it?
"Are you kidding me?" I said. "I'm beyond interested. I...Yes, I would love that. Thank you so much!"
I would have kissed her feet if she let me.
She smiled. "You seem like a nice girl," she said. "Start tomorrow?"
I nodded eagerly.
"Good. Then it's settled. I'll see you then, Gina."
And with that, she turned and walked out of the laundromat. I turned back to P arker. He was grinning hugely now and even giggled.
My new start.