A Second Chance

2

"Just get your shoes on, please." I said for the fourth time to Willow.

"Why do I have to go to dad's again?" She whined, tears streaming down her face.

"Because mum has work." I repeated the answer.

"But dad's is boring!" Willow cried out.

"I'm sorry, but you are going to dad's." I finalised, shoving her lunch box in to her bag. "Now, you have snacks for school and for after school, try to do your homework, ask dad if you need help." I told her as Willow pouted.

For a six year old, she was very mature. Always acting like a teenager. I huffed out my cheeks, trying not to smile. "Don't do that, Will. You look too cute to be angry." I teased her and saw the smile she tried to suppress.

"Come on, we'll go to dad's first, drop off your things and your dinner then we will go to school." I said softly, running a hand down her head and her ponytail.

Willow nodded, taking her school bag. I was already twenty minutes behind, having to help Willow with her homework since she didn't do it last night.

After dropping her off at school and walking her to her classroom, I went to the local daycare centres.

I might have to do after school care and Connor can collect her at five. I picked up the paperwork and piled it in to the car.

Out of six daycares, I narrowed it down to two after spending hours reading their policies.

I made myself lunch and did the dishes before having a shower and getting dressed for work.

The drive was a nice one, scenic really. The driveway was long and covered in the early autumn leaves as it wound up to the estate.

I looked at it in wonderment like I did the past two days. The brickwork was beautiful, the house large and tall, a bit intimidating but it looked so inviting as well.

I smiled at the nurse leaving as I went to the kitchen, doing a mental checklist in my head.

I checked the fridge to see if the lasagne was still there to find it gone, the dish and a plate washed up and on the rack.

I found some things moved around from where I left them and reorganised them back in the spots that are easier for me.

But someone moved one of the herbs up high and I couldn't reach it.

It wasn't till later, when Olivia joined me that I queried about a step ladder. I found it exactly where she said it was, in a different room, like, a butler pantry.

I took it and used it to collect the herb jar and placed it lower, ready to use later.

"Oh, so you moved everything around?" Oliver asked me over her teacup.

I peeked over at her. Olivia was on her break, having a tea and late lunch. "Why?"

"Maria was telling me somebody moved everything in the kitchen, the morning cook was having a whinge."

"Oh."

Olivia smiled. "Don't stress yourself. The way I see it is that why does she need marjoram and curry powder for breakfast?"

I laughed nervously. "Yeah." Oh dear. I started to prepare Liz's dinner, getting everything together. It had been a while since I made potato fritters and Liz also wanted homemade rissoles.

As the time went by, I was mixing the ingredients together in a bowl, the mince between my fingers, rolling the meat in to balls, frying each one on the electric frying pan while cooking the fritters.