The Escape Collection: (The Escape Collection) by Elena Aitken Read Free Book Online Page A

week or so, she’d totally backed off, leaving Patty to do everything by herself. Really, she should’ve been angry with her mother for leaving her to stumble along with no idea what to do. But all Patty could think of as she watched her mother and child walk away from her—was relief.  

    ***
    “Let me tell you, my husband thinks he’s doing me some huge favor just watching the kids for an hour once a week,” the woman sitting across from Patty continued. The woman, Jennifer maybe, had been on a tirade about her husband for the majority of her manicure. At least she wasn’t a hand talker, Patty thought.  
    “Red again this week?” Patty held up the bottle of polish.
    “Of course,” Jennifer said with a head nod. “I mean, it’s not like they aren’t his children, too,” she slipped back into her rant. “It’s not like I had them all by myself. And I don’t care if he works all week. He still needs to spend some quality time with his children. He acts as if it’s a huge ordeal to play with them once in a while. I’m telling you…”
    “Patty.”
    “Right. I’m telling you, Patty. Make sure the man you marry understands how important it is for you to have time by yourself. It’s way too hard to do it this way.”
    Patty unscrewed the cap and pulled out the brush. The red polish gleamed like blood. She wanted to tell the woman that she didn’t have the first clue about what hard was. That having a baby on your own, and working in a nail salon part-time while you paid a neighbor to watch your illegitimate child because your mother was trying to teach you a lesson, that was hard. But she didn’t. Instead, Patty applied the bright red to each of the woman’s smooth long nails. One at a time, she methodically painted them the way she’d been trained, only nodding and occasionally offering a fake smile in response.  
    She would have given anything to have a husband like Jennifer’s. Because what her client failed to remember was all the times she’d come in and gushed to Patty about the flowers he’d brought her, and the way he’d surprised her with a family trip to Disneyland, or even how they’d spent an evening in, playing games with their kids. That was a family. And little did Jennifer know that Patty used to dream that she might have the same life for herself one day. Those dreams died the day she told Lance, the guy she thought she loved, he was going to be a father.
    “Get rid of it,” he’d said.  
    “It’s too late. I’m almost five months.” She’d clutched at her stomach. She’d hoped he’d be happy, that he’d want to marry her. But, if she’d been so sure, why did she wait so long to tell him?  
    “Five months? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Why hadn’t she told him? She knew the answer to that. She’d been terrified of his reaction. Patty stumbled over an explanation but Lance cut her off.
    “It doesn’t matter. Figure something out. I don’t want it.”
    “Lance, please.” She’d fallen to her knees and cried like a baby herself. After all, at eighteen, she practically was. “I love you. We can be a family.”
    He’d laughed. A cold, mean sound. “Family?” He spat the word at her. “You can do what you want. I’m out.”
    He’d walked away then. Without a second glance. As she watched him go, the tears gradually dried. Finally, she’d pulled herself up with new resolve. Sure, she could make him pay. But what was the point? Lance didn’t have any money either. And if he didn’t want her or her child, she didn’t want him.  
    “Are they dry?” Jennifer’s voice snapped Patty back to the present and away from the awful memory.  
    She nodded. “Yes,” Patty said. “They should be. You’re all done. Can I book you for next week?”
    “Of course.” Her client smiled and pulled a few bills from her purse. “And there’s a little extra in there for you.”  
    When Jennifer was gone, Patty took her time cleaning her station. She didn’t have