Chapter 1

"Make, make, make 'um do a double take!" I sang as I danced around my bedroom.

"Mommy!" My sweet little boy laughed. "You're funny!"

I grinned at my little 3 year old. I loved him more than life. But, his father... My blood ran cold even thinking about him. At least my son had my curly, brown hair, my chocolate, almond shaped eyes, and my quirks. He was basically a mini me! Hardly a thing of his father in him. Aside from his tanned skin.

"Mommy's gotta get ready for work, Alex. Ready to go?" His smile dropped from his face.

"Mommy... You always go to work. Can't you stay home with me?" He pulled his puppy dog pout.

I flinched. I hated this. Despised it. We barely have any money. I could barely afford to keep my apartment. My best friend occasionally pays my rent, which I hate. She has a very well paying job, but I feel useless. I couldn't find a job that payed well. So I went with my last resort. I am a stripper and prostitute. I hated my job. But what would you do if you had a 3 year old son, and you couldn't afford to keep food on the table?

"I'm sorry, little bear. So sorry." I hugged his little body close to mine. "I wish I could stay with you and sing and dance all day, everyday." I kissed his cheek. "I love you."

Alex wrapped his arms around my neck. "I love you too, Mommy. Can we go to the park tomorrow?"

Hope shined in his little eyes, and there is nothing that could make me refuse. "Sure thing! We can even go out for ice cream!"

A smile lit up his face. "Yay! I love ice cream!"

"Okay. Now, go grab your jacket and we can head over to Auntie Tish's!"

When he first started learning to talk, he couldn't quite pronounce his r's. So, instead of saying Trish, he called her Tish. Alex is the only one she allows to call her that. If anyone else were to try... Well, let's just say that it wouldn't end well.

"Ready, ready, ready!" Alex yelled as he ran to the front door.

I laughed as I grabbed my bag, which held my change of clothes, and my purse. I grabbed his little hand and we walked out of my apartment and down the three flights of stairs. Trish only lived a block away so we walked.

A few seconds after I rang the doorbell, a short girl with bright copper red hair answered the door.

"Aunt Ally!" She flung her arms around my waist. She was 6 years old and already half my height.

"Hey Daph!" I greeted my best friend's daughter. I followed her inside and spotted Trish at the stove. "Trish!"

She whipped her head around and smiled. "Ally! Just in time for supper. Hey Alex, are you hungry?"

"I'm starving, Auntie Tish!" I winced. We don't have a lot of food, but most of it goes to him. I barely scrape by, but it's more important for my little bear to have as much food as he could.

"Well, you're lucky then! I'm making your favorite!" Trish walked over to us.

"You mean...?" Excitement radiated off of his little body. Trish nodded. "PANCAKES!"

He started running in circles around me. I laughed. I have never met anyone who gets so excited about pancakes. His father didn't. And I certainly don't! But if it were pickles...

"You should have some to eat really fast before you go to...work." Trish winced. She hated what I did for money. If she could, she would make me live here with her and support me herself with her's and her husband's jobs. But, even though her job pays well, it isn't enough to support 5 people.

"That sounds nice." I smiled at her. I'm so lucky to have her after all of these years. We have been best friends since we were itty bitty. And now here we are 24 and still just as close.

We all gathered around her table as she set out the plates. I noticed an extra one.

"Oh, is Dez coming home early?" I questioned.

Her face glowed. "Yes he sure is!" Then her face dropped a little. "He uh, broke his leg over in Iraq. They honorably discharged him!"

"That's wonderful and sad at the same time!" I told her.

"I can't wait to see Daddy!" Daphne said. "It's been forever!"

"It's been 5 months, sweetie." Trish corrected her.

"Well, close enough. At least he gets to be here when I start first grade!" Daphne exclaimed and dug into the pancakes her mom put on her plate.

Trish and I laughed at her. She finished handing out the pancakes. And we all ate quietly. A couple minutes later we heard the door open and close.

"DADDY!" Daphne took off running towards the front door and clutched her arms around Dez's leg that wasn't covered with a cast.

"Hey, my favorite little girl!" Dez looked down at her lovingly. "I've missed you and mommy so much!"

Trish went over and released her daughter's arms from her husband's legs. "I love you." She declared and kissed him.

"I love you too," Dez replied as they pulled apart.

"Eww!" Daphne exclaimed and ran back over to me.

"Ally!" Dez exclaimed when he saw me.

"Hey there, cooper top." I replied to which he rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the pancakes, Trish. But I gotta get going. Bye, little bear!" I kissed Alex's cheek.

"Bye, Mama bear!" He kissed my cheek.

I gave him one final hug, then headed over to Trish and wrapped my arms around her. "Thank you."

She wrapped her arms in a tight hug around me. "I love you, Ally!"

"I love you too. Bye Dez." I said as I walked to the door.

"See ya later, alligator." He replied.

I walked the five blocks to my destination.