Novel Palace
Chapter 68
68 Imagination Overload (Winona)
I just have time to grab a juice at the café closest to the preschool. There's a lot of people here and I assume it's the thing to do before school pick up. Abby's pick up time is after lunch for the first week.
I look around the other patrons as I sip my tropical smoothie. My mind is full of what to make for dinner. Shopping went great and as the time-progressed, I did feel better about Abby being in school. Now I'm excited to hear all about her morning.
A profile catches my eye. I snap my attention back to this man. He's across the road. No. My blood runs cold, and I squeeze my eyes shut. When I open them again, he's not there.
Is my mind playing tricks on me?
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It's a sea of people weaving in and out of each other. I'm sure that it was a mistake. It has to be. It's simply not possible. My father cannot be here in Santa Monica. Judy knows he's alive but surely she wouldn't tell him where we are even if she knew.
If she understood how bad that could be for Abby, she sure wouldn't. That man has no loyalty to anything but the next get-rich-quick scheme. He's a crook and a violent one. But he can put on a mighty good show of charm.
That man looked so much like the profile I could never forget. My skin prickles. But of course, there's going to be other people around who look similar. I've just never seen anyone that got my attention like that. My heart pounds. Honestly, I'm just being paranoid. I finish
my smoothie and leave the café to walk up to the school. It's about ten minutes from here, but parking was easier in the carpark out the back behind the little shopping center. I shake off the weird feeling.
Now I'm just manifesting stupid crap. Stop it. It's imagination overload.
Inside the preschool, Abby comes running up to me. "Mommy, I missed you! Can we go home now?"
"Hey! We sure can. Is everything okay?"
She nods. "I'm tired, I made this card for you, Mommy.
I take the card she hands me, still dripping with glue and paint.
"Sorry about that. Abby wanted you to have it right away and not leave it here to dry." Her teacher smiles as she approaches. "First morning done like a champion."
"Well, that's okay, I love the card. I'm glad you had fun, Sweety. Let's head home for a nap."
"See you tomorrow, Abby." Her teacher says and high-fives her.
"Thank you, Miss Harris," I said to her
"Call me Susie, please."
"Okay, Susie. I appreciate your care and understanding I was a little stressed this morning.
8 Imagmation Overload
"She aced it. Made a lot of new friends." She says as a child crying takes her attention and she moves off. "See you tomorrow," she calls back.
"Come on. Let's get home to our little house."
""Where's Daddy?"
"He had to go make some new friends just like you. He'll be visiting for dinner later."
"Cool."
We make the small walk back to the car lot and the feeling I had when I thought I saw my father lingers as
I pass the cafe. Maybe some meditation and relaxation therapy sessions won't hurt.
I can't have my imagination running wild like this.
There's no sign of anyone who looks anything like anyone I know. It was just my mind playing tricks on me. I'm letting the stress get the better of me. I hold Abby's little hand firmly.
I feel better when I get her into her car seat and strapped in. I don't think we're five minutes along the road and Abby is asleep. I glance at her in the mirror I have set up. She really has had a big morning. I'm very proud of my baby.
She's growing up. I hope I can give her all the skills she needs to cope with life.
The traffic here isn't too bad, and I've practiced the school route a few times so I know where I'm going and how long it should take at any given time of the day. Preparation is key to keeping my edgy nerves quiet. "I drive into my small driveway and Jayden's car is here already. Abby is still asleep, and he comes out to greet her. I give him the shhhh sign and he carefully opens her car door, unbuckles her and carries her inside. I smile and lock the gate. Then I get the groceries from the boot of my little car. It's only a few bags. I meet Jayden at the doorway.
"She's on her bed. Anything else to get?"
I shake my head. "I have everything. I didn't expect you till later."
"It went better than expected. I wanted to get back and see how Abby went."
"See how I went, more like it," I say.
"How did you go?"
"It was fine." I'm not telling him about my imagination overload moment. It was nothing. "Abby had a wonderful morning." I start to unpack her bag. "Here's a card she made and it looks like she ate all her food." "Perfect. Tomorrow, I'll pick her up. If you want?"
1 tense a little at this. I know this should be a normal everyday thing. No big drama. I trust Jayden with
Abby, I really do. I think this is a step I need to take, for me.
68 imagination Overload
"Sure. I'm going to see if there's a yoga class or meditation sessions close by." I pretend it doesn't bother me at all.
"That's a great idea."
"I'm looking forward to immersing myself into this amazing community."NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
"Dinner at my place tomorrow then. Meet you there after I pick up Abby. I had a play area installed in the front yard."
"Your front yard is the beach."
"Exactly, so I had a splash pad area installed and some shaded equipment."
"Um... a normal life, remember? Not a personal play park."
"I can always just let Abby test out the waves, I suppose," he says, clearly teasing me,
"Okay, point taken. Now take out the trash, will you?"
"Ugh! Real life sucks balls."