Seeking Love

"Mamma!" called Malik, "I'm home!" He ran into their kitchen where she was currently preparing some dinner. Maria smiled as her seven-year-old ran up to her and gave her a hug. He always would do this after coming home from school. She fixed her schedule at the saloon just to get around his school hours. That way, the two of them were able to spend the most time with each other that was possible.

Her life had just taken a turn downhill. Elena Bendict had been killed while protecting her daughter and grandson from brigands. The two had been saved by some passing Drifters, but it was too late to revive Maria's mother. In order to better aid her sister in raising the child, Jenine had moved to Claiborne and got a job as a stable hand. She'd realized that engineering wasn't her field, and was currently looking for some kind of opportunity when the tragedy occurred. Funds were low and Maria couldn't afford to go and do a lot of the things with Malik that many families take for granted. She worked out a deal with her employer that she'd work from seven to three from Monday to Saturday, and in return get a free room for them to sleep in.

Of course, finding a babysitter on Saturdays was somewhat harrowing. But all of the kids who had been a few years younger than her in school were willing to do their part. Usually it ended up being Elliot and Jess; now married and living down the street together. They were both responsible nineteen-year-olds now; Elliot was actually being considered as a candidate to join the long known yet somewhat mysterious Council of Seven for his biology expertise, and Jess worked as a pediatrician in her father-in-law's clinic. They also were both extremely fond of kids; Jess was currently trying to get pregnant with a child as well.

But for the other days of week, she was home with him for the most part. Malik didn't get back from school until three-thirty because he was a member of the Junior Science Club. And in the morning he took part in a club for child prodigies. He would get there around seven; dropped off by his mother before she went to work. Sunday was the one day of the week they were both free and could all of it together.

"Good to see you darling. How was your day at school?" Maria inquired. She gave her son a small smile; just like she always did. It was hard to believe that underneath that little gesture she was practically dying inside. How she wished she could give the boy a better life. It had been so clear when her mother was still alive to help her. Maria had believed she had time on her side. But with cash not as accessible as it had been before, she'd cut back on a lot of things she wished to give him. If only she had someone to do this with. However, with all of the help and support of her family, she thought she would have time to find the perfect someone. Not just anybody could be worthy of becoming a father to her son; only the best fit man.

Working at a saloon, you'd think it would be easy to find someone to love. The problem was that a lot of guys around her age weren't looking for a girl who had a child already. They wanted to have a partner who was able to go places without having to worry about her kid and have a good time. If the two of them decided on a child later on, or it happened without them thinking about it, that was a whole different story.

Today was Friday, and the two were going to have bison for dinner. It may sound really expensive, but it was in great quantity in Filgaia around that time. Saying Bison was expensive then is like saying a bag of chips is expensive to us now. Besides, since she was a good employee, the saloon's mistress would often slip her a few spices or some vegetables to have on the side. She had raised a daughter as a single mother too, so she was easily understanding of the situation Maria was in. It never hurt anyone to help a little. Besides, as a port town, Jolly Roger was filled with activity and the saloon was never empty.

. . .

Malik went to bed around eight; he did have to wake up by six the next day. Maria decided to sit in the saloon's main room and take a break. Since the only thing she could be given was a room to sleep in, she didn't have her own kitchen or living room. So she cooked in the kitchen of the saloon, they ate on a small table in her room, and the only place she could go to relax after her son was asleep was the common room of the establishment. If only there was a way to bring her and the child up in the world, she'd do it.

Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her say, "It doesn't seem fair. I mean, a beautiful woman such as yourself sitting here all alone. I'd say you could use a little company from someone else. Do you want me to pour you a drink?" She turned around to see a man with short black hair and vibrant green eyes. He was wearing a white button down shirt and a pair of neat black pants. The flashing of his teeth seemed to indicate that he was one of the local Romeos who spent all of their time wooing women. Usually, that can be a real heartbreak or a big break for women; it's a risky gamble. But when you are as desperate to find the perfect father for your son as Maria Bendict was…well then the gamble was well worth it in the end.

She looked back at him with a smile of her own; her green eyes seemingly dancing on their own accord. "Thank you for the compliment. I don't get too many of them while working here. Everyone knows me as the single mother who can barely feed her son, not as the pretty little girl that wants to have a chance at feeling love." It seemed like a stupid move on her part by mentioning that she was a mother. But, in the opinion of Maria, if the man cared that much about whether or not she had a child then he wasn't fit to help her raise him. The person who would become Malik's step-father had to be fully accepting of his existence.

"My name is Francis Sonnolo," he told the woman, "I have just moved to this town in order to get a job loading and unloading ships. Despite my somewhat delicate and frail appearance, I am actually one of the strongest men in my village. So I decided to put my talents to good use by working on the ship docks."

"Maria Bendict. I've been a barmaid for the past seven years of my life, and have just begun living on my own following my mother's death. I'm a single mother despite my youth; my son Malik is seven. But he never knew his father, sadly," she replied. Of course, it wasn't really sad that he never knew the man who fathered him. It was sad only because the man who fathered him didn't care enough to acknowledge that he had a son. The man probably had wanted Maria to do what the other girls did and try to kill the baby instead of making a big stink about it. Well he could rot in Hell for all she cared; this was her big chance.

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Teefa's Last Words…

Ok, I know you're thinking "What's up with this?" This is supposed to answer the questions about Malik's past. So we've thrown a step-father into the mix. His role will get defined in the next chapter. Is he the one Maria falls in love with? Or is he going to leave her?