Page 53 of Feel the Rhythm

The cashier rang me up, and it was a lot more than I expected. I forgot that raw milk was about four times the price of regular milk. But between my job this morning, and the tiny amount of extra money I was making with running Blake’s rehearsals, I had enough to cover it. I drove home, feeling exhausted but satisfied I was able to contribute to my family.

I put the groceries away in the refrigerator as my mom came into the kitchen. “What’s all this?” she asked.

“Just picked up some things on my way home,” I said.

“Oh.” She perused the fridge, poking through all the items I brought home. “You really didn’t need to do this, Ivy.”

“I know. I wanted to.”

She nodded. “Well, thank you. This helps a lot.” She gave me a hug and a kiss on my forehead. “We’re very thankful that you’re here. Do you have work later today?”

I paused. “What day is it today?”

She laughed. “It’s Wednesday. Are you that tired?”

I nodded. I hadn’t told her about the catering job yet, and decided this still wasn’t the right time. “Yeah, I have rehearsals and classes today. But I think I have time to take a quick nap.”

“Good idea,” my mom said. “Thank you again for the groceries.”

But I looked around the kitchen and saw all my costumes piled up on the table. With a big yawn, I decided to work on the rhinestones instead. I could sleep tonight when I was done working for the day. For now, my jobs were calling my name, and I had no choice but to respond.