29 Months

Cursing under her breathe, the dark haired woman grabbed for her wallet and pulled out her last twenty to pay for the gas as she took her debit card back from the attendant, cheeks burning with embarrassment. She had been playing a game of chance by filling it up this afternoon anyway, but with her son traveling with her she hated taking the chance of going below half a tank. As the attendant took the money she let out her breathe and let her head fall against the steering wheel. "You only have a couple of days until pay day. You can live on whatever is at home. You have enough milk and things for the baby, even if you don't eat…" she reminded herself as the attendant handed her a receipt. Forcing a smile onto her lips, she sat up and started the mile and a half drive to her apartment as she mentally did an inventory of her fridge and cabinets, wondering absently if she had any of her emergency supply of soup in the storage unit in her classroom and protein bars in her desk or if she had given them all away to coworkers or students…. "Well it really doesn't matter. You can go without a meal or two, but you have milk and cereal at home. Yogurt. A couple of bananas. Your son won't go hungry. Not ever," she mentally reprimanded herself.

Swallowing back tears, she pulled into her parking space and looked up at the apartment building. It wasn't the best place to live, but it was what she could afford and it was kept clean and safe. For her that was all that mattered- that and her son's needs. Those she always met; even before her own. The toddler had new clothes, books, a few toys, and always food. She would gladly skip meals to make sure he had the things he needed. She bought her clothes at the Goodwill- although a few towns over to avoid running into students or their parents- and slept on a mattress on the floor so that he could have a new one, but this was what it had to be right now. She had made her choice twenty-nine months ago and she had to live with it.

She had done what she believed was right, but had lost the life she had been living as a result. At first she had believed she could reclaim it- but time was a fickle thing, and as more time went by she gave up on having the life she had dreamed of.

A life that seemed more and more like a fairy tale as each day went by.

She only wished her son didn't have to pay the price. She could accept the step down in social class now that she was living as a single parent, but wished that he didn't have to live without the things that his father could so easily provide.

But that was a road not taken.
She had to trudge down the path she had chosen and do the best she could.
Usually, things weren't so tight, but the doctor's appointments for a respiratory infection, for him, and the medications to cure it as well as the repairs for her car coming at the same time as the payment for daycare was what caused her to be cutting things so close this week. A paycheck away from losing it all was her reality, and her son her priority.

Shaking away the distracting thoughts, she smiled back at her son who was chattering away before she slid out of the car and moved to gather her things as two of her students came up the drive. "Hey Ms. Bennett, need a hand?" the taller boy, who also lived in the complex, asked as his cohort absently bounced a basketball.

"Which assignment are you having trouble with?" she asked on a sigh as she pulled her over loaded book bag over her left shoulder and slammed the rear driver's side door with her hip.

"Miss…" he sighed, then at her raised eyebrow laughed. "I know… usually we have- what's that term you gave us? Umm… ulterior motives, but this time I really just want to do something nice for you."

"Yeah Miss, you the only one who really gives a damn about any of us," the other boy shrugged. "We want to help. You shouldn't be walking up the stairs with the little man and all the crap you have to carry. We got ya," he put in as he caught the ball on the rebound and placed it onto his hip. "So you gonna let us help you or what?"

"Sure, and I won't even correct your language or grammar," she teased tiredly as she handed off the book bag to the first boy and rounded the car to get her son. "You guys are very sweet to do this," she commented as she unstrapped the toddler from his car seat and then placed him on the ground while grabbing his bag from the floorboard.

"Ah miss… don't let everyone know. You'll ruin our image!"

Throwing her hair back she giggled as she slammed the door and locked up her car. "Our secret," she replied as she watched her son toddle over towards them. "BALL!" he said excitedly.

"That's right little man, we'll play upstairs," the ball's holder promised as he put his hand down for a low five, laughing as the little pudgy hand slapped his.

Biting her lip, she smiled tiredly as she scooped up her son. Some good things had come out of her circumstances, she reminded herself. She never would have ended up teaching HS English and being someone these tough kids could count on- and she knew that many of her students went without a lot more than she ever did.

Squaring her shoulders she reminded herself that if they could survive daily on the one meal they were served at school then she could survive a few days on only one. Half-heartedly, she listened to the conversation the boys carried on as she trudged up the stairs and rooted with her free hand in her pocket for her keys. Upon the group hitting the landing, she placed her son down; knowing at least one of the boys would take his hand to lead him to her door as she moved onto her purse to search for her missing keys.

"Ummm… Miss?" she heard one of the boys ask as he stopped short in front of her.

"Yes?" she asked as she snagged her keys and started to look up.

"I think you have company," he finished warily as her eyes shot up and to the area near her door.
At the sight of the two men standing there she stopped short and dropped her keys in recognition, causing the boys to go on the alert as the younger of the two men waiting leveled off of the wall.

Swallowing hard, she bent down to pick up her keys as he made his way over to them, the boys closing in around her, causing the man to show the closest he ever did to amusement at their protectiveness.

"Miss Bennett?"

"It's ok, David," she sighed as she straightened up and looked into the face of her husband's head of security. "Hello, Taylor, it's been awhile," she acknowledged as she pushed her hair back.

"Yes, Ma'am. It has," he said simply. "Sorry to surprise you like this, but we… well things have changed."

"Have they now?" Ana wondered as she watched Carrick's eyes go from her to her son. Shaking her head, she turned to the two boys with her. "David do you think you two to take Ted to your apartment for a little bit?"

"You sure you want us to leave Miss?" Mikal asked taking Taylor's measure.

"They don't have to leave if you're not comfortable," he suggested.

Sighing, Ana looked down at Teddy and then at the two teenagers who were willing to take on the very formidable Jason Taylor out of loyalty to her. "Boys, how about you watch him in my place. Keep him busy while I handle my guests?"

"Sure Miss. Promised the little man we'd play with the ball anyway, right kid?" Mikal asked causing Teddy to laugh as the teen pushed the ball towards him.

"BALL! PLAY!" he said as he wobbled on his feet.

"Let's go," Mikal said with a tilt of his head towards David who smiled back as they ambled with Teddy towards their teacher's apartment.

"Still encouraging loyalty in those around you," Taylor remarked as he took Ted's bag from Ana and fell into step with her.

"Don't start, they're good kids," she remarked with a roll of her eyes as the boys eyed Carrick.

"Was just stating a fact, Ma'am. Nice to see you."

"No offense, Taylor but why are you two here?" she asked as she came up to the door and juggled her bag as she unlocked her door, throwing a glance at the boys who were a few feet away rolling the ball back and fought with a chortling Teddy.

"I'd prefer to discuss this inside," Carrick put in seriously, causing Ana to roll her eyes: "Of course you would."

Carrick sighed as he wiped a hand tiredly down his face: "Ana we're here to take you home," he said as soothingly as possible.

Shaking her head, Ana turned her back to him and walked into her apartment, her shoulders falling as she looked around the apartment, wondering what they would think. "Why even bother coming…" she muttered tiredly as she felt Teddy run into her. Sighing, she looked down at the little boy who looked back at her with her eyes set in his father's face.

Taylor looked to Carrick who seemed shocked by her reaction. "Gail packed some food for the trip. Why don't you come down to the car with me so we can get it?" he suggested.

"I don't…" Ana started as Teddy pulled on the edge of her top. "Momma 'ungry." Closing her eyes against encroaching tears, she rubbed her son's head. "Ok, Momma will make something," she said then looked pass Taylor and her father-in-law and two her two students. "Can you guys keep an eye on Ted?'

"You sure you don't want one of us to go and help your guests bring stuff up?" Mikal asked.

"His ulterior motive is he wants to talk to me," she told the boy with a shake of her head. "Ted's favorite book is on his bed. Practice your oral reading skills, will you. He doesn't like monotone," she added in a conspirator grin as Ted started to fuss. "'ungry Momma. Now!"

Carrick chuckled slightly: "he sounds like Christian, Ana."

"What…." David started.

"Mr. Grey here is Ted's grandfather. Ted's father used to always call me Ana… it's short for my middle name," she got out quickly while glaring at Carrick for his slip. "He said Jane was too plain for me," she then looked down at her son. "Momma's going to go get you something to eat. OK?"

"Kay," Ted sighed as he clung to her leg. "Me play ball with Id?"

"David and Mikal will play with you inside. They're even going to read to you."

"Sory… Sory NOW!"

"Go get your book then," she said and he rushed off.

"Ok, Taylor. Let's have that talk…"