Page 19 of Sweeter than Honey
But everything takes twice as long with a little kid. Eli insists on counting each stair, and starting again when he forgets. We’re already forty-five minutes late, since I had to change his clothes and pack a bag for him before leaving, and we had already missed our bus.Finally, I just pick him up.
“Hey!” he shouts. “No fair!”
Panting, I carry him as quickly as I can up the stairs. He wriggles defiantly in my arms. Finally, we get to the office floor, and I push the door open.
“Lily?”
Shit. It’s the Head of Human Resources, Mel. She stands in the hallway with a mug of steaming water in one hand. Her bright green hair is piled haphazardly on top of her head, with several pencils sticking out of it in different directions. Her eyes, a vibrant shade of magenta today, immediately find the squirming Eli. I put him down quickly.
“Who’s this?” she asks, a clear note of disapproval in her voice.
“Oh, this is my son, Elijah,” I explain, plastering what I hope is an appeasing smile on my face. I can feel the bright red flush across my cheeks, worse now because of the sprint I just did up the stairs. “Say hi, Eli.”
He looks up at Mel with a pout. “Are you a Princess Pony? You look like a Princess Pony.”
Mel gives me an offended look.
“Princess Pony is his favourite toy,” I tell her. I have to admit, shedoeshave the colour palette nailed.
“A workplace isn’t an appropriate setting for children,” Mel says. “And our daycare closed at six p.m., Lily.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” I say, a nervous twinge in my stomach. “My mother was supposed to watch him, but…”
“Just make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble,” Mel says, taking a sip of whatever’s in her mug. “And that Renata doesn’t see him.”
“Um, ok,” I reply, as she passes me to go down the hallway toward the HR office. “Thanks, Mel!”
Her office door slams shut.
“Let’s walk quickly, Eli,” I say, speed-walking down the office hallway.
His feet are like little bricks as I pull him along. “Where are we going?”
“Um…” I check my phone quickly. I missed sunset. If I’ve got the timing right, Renata will be in her office with the donor for at least another ten minutes.
We hurry past the CEO’s office door, and my desk. After talking to Mel, I’ve realized that I can’t bring Eli to my desk with me. I don’t know exactly what she meant when she said not to let Renata see him, but I don’t get the sense that Renata would be happy about him being here. She’s always so focused on work, and I don’t want her to think I’m being unprofessional. I’ve spent so long building up a good reputation with her.
And…I’ve never told her about Eli. Or Dylan. I don’t know why. I just wanted to keep my two worlds separate.
I guess that’s over, now.
“Orange!” Eli shouts.
“Actually, it’scoral.”
I look up to see Lexi coming down the hallway, wearing a brightly coloured tube dress with matching platform heels. Her hair falls in long, platinum waves around her. Her office is right beside Renata’s. She must be just coming in to work.
Luckily, her tone is chipper and she does a little spin for Eli. “I got it vintage, do you like?”
He giggles at her attention, then hides behind my legs.
“He can be a little shy sometimes,” I explain.
“He’sadorable,” she says, as though complimenting an accessory. “Is he your’s?”
“Yes,” I answer. “My mother usually watches him, but her hip was bothering her tonight.”
“You should bring him in all the time!” Lexi says, giving Eli a bright smile. “Kids are great. It’s too bad Renata’s so weird about them.”