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"Do you think it's setting a good example, Claire?"
I don't have to ask her to clarify what she's talking about because her eyes are locked on the truck behind me.
"I think," she continues, and it just hits me all wrong like it has so many times she's given me her opinion.
Only this time, I've met the end of my rope.
Instead of arguing with her, something I'd never do in front of Larkin, I simply reach down and take my little girl's hand and guide her right back down the front steps.
Walker climbs out of the truck when he sees me walking back in that direction, and he has Larkin's door open before we reach him.
I'm almost in tears by the time she's strapped in her car seat and I'm climbing back into the passenger seat.
I don't have time for tears. I don't have time for anything, especially not throwing a fit and ruining the one place that I knew I could take Larkin while I worked. Nora isn't mean to my daughter. It's always been me she has a problem with. Now I've caused problems I don't have the luxury of causing all because I got my feelings hurt.
I pull out my phone, pressing Kristina's contact information before Walker can make it back into the driver's side of the truck.
"Hey," Kristina says when she answers. "What's up?"
"I'm going to be a little late this morning," I say.
"Oh no. Is she not feeling well again?"
"Larkin is fine," I assure her. "I'm just working through a babysitter issue this morning."
"Did you finally tell that old hag off?"
I huff a laugh. I might've voiced my opinion of Nora out loud before catching myself on occasion. Kristina is the closest person I'd call a friend, but she stays really busy with her little boy, so we haven't been able to hang out before.
"We'll see you when you can make it in," Kristina says when I don't confirm.
"Thank you," I whisper, hanging up before I start sobbing on the phone.
Walker pulls out of the driveway and I stare at Nora's disappointed face as she watches me leave with him.
I'm honestly surprised she didn't start yelling at me when I escorted Larkin off her porch without a word, but she has to keep up pretenses, doesn't she? If she yelled, it wouldn't fit in the narrative that I'm the problem. What would the neighbors think?
Tears streak down my cheeks, and I try to dash them away as quickly as they fall, but I'm losing ground as Walker drives.
He opens the console of his truck, pulls out some fast-food napkins, and hands them to me.
I appreciate him not offering advice right now, but if he had a solution, I'd be all ears.
"Nanpup?" Larkin asks.
"No, sweetie," I begin but her mention of Madison's dog reminds me that the woman offered to take Larkin because she wanted to start a home-based daycare.
Any other time, I'd never make this call, but I'll never be able to make things work if I don't have childcare. I'll be damned if I'm going to go crawling back to Nora after making such a show of walking away.
I pull up Madison's contact information, feeling a sense of dread when she answers the phone. I hate asking people for favors, but I know I have no choice.
"How serious were you about that home-based daycare?" I ask when she answers.
"Depends on your expectations," she says just as quickly. "Do you expect me to be out of my pajamas when you drop her off in the morning?"
"Of course not," I say with a huff of laughter. "You could stay in them all day for all I care."
"I wouldn't do that, but getting small kids fed when they wake up like they haven't eaten in a week is always my first priority. I'm making pancakes. Does Larkin like pancakes?"
