“Then you’d best get started.” He handed her a heavy plastic bag and headed toward the back of the house.

Infuriated, Cassie clenched the black bag and whirled around. If all he could find for her was this, then by heaven, she’d make sure the construction site was pristine by the time she left.

After the first thirty minutes Cassie had to agree that there certainly seemed to be a lot of junk lying around. She collected more than the obvious, like Coke cans and papers. She separated what she could for the recycling bin and set nails and other small screws aside. She wasn’t sure what to do with them, but she didn’t want to toss them, thinking it was better not to waste what could be used later.

Her cell phone rang about forty minutes later. She looked at the ID and saw that it was the Seattle shelter. That meant it was probably Maureen contacting her.

“This is Cassie.”

“Hi, Cassie.”

“What’s up?” She didn’t want to be rude, but by asking the question, Cassie let Maureen know that she couldn’t talk long.

“I went for a job interview today.”

“Maureen, that’s great. How did it go?”

“Okay, I think. It’s not much … I’d be working at the Safeway store, carrying out groceries. The manager was a woman and she was patient with me because I was so nervous. She said that if I was dependable and worked hard that she would keep me on and train me for other work. Lacey Wilson from the support group has a connection with her and she recommended me for the job.”

“Do you feel good about how the interview went?” Cassie asked.

Maureen hesitated. “I think so, but I wouldn’t have done nearly as well if Lacey hadn’t talked to me first. We did a mock interview with her asking me questions. She gave me several tips, which helped boost my confidence.”

“You’re going to do just fine,” Cassie assured her. “Take one day at a time and do the next right thing.” Once Maureen had a chance to earn her own way, her self-esteem would increase to the point that she’d be better able to deal with other obstacles. In the beginning Cassie had experienced that same hesitancy, the same lack of confidence, mingled in with all the fears that went along with having walked on eggshells from the years she’d been married to Duke. When you are being told you are a useless excuse for a human being over and over, it’s almost impossible not to start believing it to your very core. It had taken counseling and the support of women who had walked in her shoes before Cassie was able to come into her own. Eventually, she found the inner strength to break free of her self-imposed fears and move forward. Maureen would, too.

“The job is in the north end of Seattle, so if I am hired I’ll be moving to a shelter in Edmonds, and then eventually into government housing. That means I probably won’t see you for a while.”

Cassie tried not to show her disappointment. “You’re going to do so well,” Cassie assured her friend. “I want you to know how proud I am of you, Maureen.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Cassie pressed her hand over her heart, deeply touched by Maureen’s comment. “Stay in touch, will you?”

“I will. Thank you again, Cassie, for everything you’ve done for me.”

In reality, Cassie felt like she should be the one thanking Maureen; the other woman had helped show her how far she’d come.

“Cassie.”

Her name was shouted from the top of the house. It sounded more like a bark than a summons.

Disconnecting the call, Cassie turned to find Steve Brody standing on the roof, staring down at her. Even from this distance she could see he was frowning.

“Have you finished with your call?” he demanded.

She didn’t bother to explain. “Yes.”

“You have a job to do. I suggest you get to it.”

She held her palms up as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. “Aren’t I allowed to get calls?”

“Not where you stand like a statue on the construction site and talk for fifteen minutes.”

She gritted her teeth to keep from arguing. Steve had it in for her. If this was how their working relationship went, it would be impossible for them to work together.

Chapter 6

Cassie worked half a day at the salon on Saturday and then picked up Amiee at the apartment before she headed toward the Young housing site in South Seattle. Amiee insisted she was too old for a babysitter, and while Cassie agreed, she was uncomfortable leaving her daughter by herself for an entire day.

“Can we go to the lake?” her daughter pleaded, as she hopped into the car.

“Sorry, honey, not today.”

“But, Mom, it’s beautiful out,” her daughter protested. “How many sunny days can we expect in April and on a weekend?”

What Amiee said was true. A glorious spring day in Seattle in the middle of the rainy season was rare. Blue skies and lush green foliage all around was an amazing combination. Unfortunately, Cassie had other commitments for this afternoon. “I need to put in my hours so we can get our house.”

Amiee slumped down in the car and crossed her arms in protest. “Do we even know where the house is going to be?”

“Not yet, but we will before long.” Megan had assured Cassie that there were several options opening up soon.

Options.

The word reverberated in her head like an echo against a canyon wall. How lovely it sounded. Options, options, options, options.

“Can I have my own bedroom?” Amiee asked, showing the first sign of enthusiasm for this project.

Cassie stopped at a red light and glanced over at her daughter. “You have your own bedroom now.”

“Mom, my friends have bigger closets than what you call my bedroom.”

That, sadly, was probably true. “Your new bedroom will be much bigger.”

“With real closets?”

“Oh yes, with room for all your shoes and books and a desk for you to sit at while you do your homework.”

“A real desk?”

“A real desk,” she echoed. Cassie didn’t want to make a promise she couldn’t keep. Her hope was that the very desk she’d used as a girl would be among the furniture her sister had mentioned. It would mean a great deal to her if she was able to give her daughter something that came from her own childhood.

“Can I help at the construction site?” Amiee asked.

“I don’t know, but my guess is probably not.” Cassie had asked Megan about Amiee and learned that no one could work on the project until age sixteen or over. However, Megan hadn’t said anything about not bringing Amiee to the construction site. It might be boring, but at least they’d be together and she would be able to keep an eye on her daughter. All she could do was hope that Steve Brody didn’t take exception to that along with everything else.

“Then what am I supposed to do while you’re working?” Amiee whined, clearly not excited about the prospect of hanging around with nothing to do.

“You’ll have to amuse yourself.”

“With what?”

“Did you bring a book?”

Amiee sent her a pathetic look. “You actually expect me to sit in the car and read when it’s beautiful outside?”

Cassie sympathized. “It won’t always be like this, Amiee, I promise. You can talk a walk and enjoy nature, or any number of things.”

Her daughter’s shoulders slumped forward as she went into her sulking posture.

“It won’t be so terrible.” Cassie wished it could be different. She felt bad about this, but there was no help for it.

Amiee crossed her arms over her chest and made a huffing, disgruntled sound.

Cassie arrived at the work site and parked behind Steve Brody’s truck. Her heart sank; she’d hoped to avoid him after their clash Friday evening. The night before, when she’d left the construction site, Cassie made sure there wasn’t a speck of anything that could be termed garbage anywhere close to the lot. If Steve noticed what an excellent job she’d done, he didn’t mention it. It went without saying Steve Brody was the kind of man who would be sure to point out the tiniest infraction but would be stingy with his praise. Just thinking about how critical and rude he’d been made Cassie tense.