Chapter 38 – Just My Luck

I rubbed my bleary eyes and dragged my feet into the kitchen. The early morning light spilled through the half-drawn curtains, soft and golden, but my head still felt like a heavy rock.

I hadn’t gotten enough sleep. Again.

“Coffee first,” I muttered under my breath, reaching for the tin of cheap instant coffee on the shelf.

The kids had school today, and it was my day off. No work, No meetings and no screaming bosses. Just peace, coffee, and maybe a clean house by the end of the day.

I poured hot water into my chipped mug, added two teaspoons of sugar, and stirred slowly. The first sip made me sigh with relief. It wasn’t good coffee, but it was hot.

My eyes drifted across the living room. Crayons on the walls, a sock stuck to the ceiling fan—I still didn’t know how they managed that, a spilled cereal under the table, and Legos that had embedded themselves into the carpet like tiny landmines.

“This house needs a serious deep cleaning,” I muttered as I spotted another blue crayon drawing of what looked like a monster with wings.

I took another sip and stared at the wall.

“Sigh. Such good skills,” I mumbled, looking at the crayon monster. “Yet I don’t have the money to help the child.” That thought hit hard and my heart sank.

Nate or Jay probably drew that. They had so much talent, but here we were, barely surviving.

I shook the sadness away.

The kids needed breakfast, packed lunches, and to be dressed and ready by 7. I downed the rest of my coffee and got to work.

----

By 6 a.m., the house turned into a war zone of sound and movement.

“Mama! Zane wore my socks!”

“No, I didn’t! They were in my drawer!”

“Sophie, get off the table!”

“Jay, stop writing on the dog!”

“We don’t even have a dog!” I shouted from the kitchen, nearly dropping a spoon into the boiling oatmeal.

Lily came in crying because one of her braids came undone. Adam and Diamond were playing catch with a plastic bowl. Nate and Tera argued over who got to choose the lunchbox playlist today. It was chaos.

“Everyone, sit down!” I called, waving the wooden spoon like a weapon of peace. “Breakfast is ready. Oatmeal and toast. Sit or starve!”

By some miracle, they listened. Maybe the smell of food helped.

They scrambled to the table, fighting for chairs, while I poured the oatmeal into bowls and passed out slices of buttered toast.

“Jay, stop putting syrup on Zane’s head!”

“But his head looks like a pancake!”

“No, it doesn’t!”

“Yes, it does!”

“Eat. Quietly. Please,” I groaned, rubbing my temple.

---

By 7 a.m., the madness calmed enough for me to get them dressed, pack their lunchboxes, and line them up near the door.

“Shoes on! Backpacks ready!”

“I’m missing one sock!”

“You’re wearing both socks, Nate!”

“I mean emotionally missing it.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

While tying Sophie’s shoelace, I heard my mom behind me.

“Mannie, I won’t be around today.”

I looked up from the shoe rack, still crouched, and raised a brow. “Okay, Mom.”

She looked… happy. Her eyes sparkled like she’d just been kissed by a rich prince in a fairytale.

“Why are you so happy?” I asked, smiling despite the chaos.

“You know that women’s group I’ve been trying to join? The classy one? They finally accepted me. Today’s our first picnic, and I’ve been invited.”

“That’s great, Mom!” I said, holding open the door and ushering the kids out. “Enjoy yourself. I’ll be back in 30 after dropping them off.”

She waved cheerfully and disappeared back inside.

-------

The school drop-off went as usual—noisy, crowded, but smooth enough. I gave each kid a kiss on the forehead and told them to be good.

As I walked back home, I treated myself to a cone of vanilla ice cream from the corner shop. It melted too fast in the heat, but I didn't care. I licked the last drop just as my phone rang.

Ring!

Ring!

I frowned, looking at the screen.

The name, “Annoying Supervisor” popped up.

I hesitated, then answered.

“Good morning, Supervisor.”

“Where the hell are you?!” his voice exploded from the other end, sharp enough to make me yank the phone away from my ear.

“Sir, today is my day off,” I said calmly, even though I wanted to throw the phone into traffic. “I’m not supposed to be at work.”

“Forget the day off!” he snapped. “You need to get here in thirty minutes and finish the report. Aria said you promised her you would!”

I blinked. “Sir, that’s not true. I promised nothing. There’s no record of that. You know exactly why she said that.”

He huffed loudly, frustration pouring through the speaker. “Aria that b*tch. You know I can’t exactly touch her, so just do me this favor. I just saw Arin, and trust me, the president might be forgiving, but his secretary? Never.”

I didn’t respond right away. I could feel my day slipping away before my eyes.

He sighed. “Look. Just come. I’ll have HR send you an overtime pay… and a holiday bonus.”

My eyes widened slightly.

But I wasn’t a fool.

I pressed the record button on my phone.

“Sir, I didn’t get that clearly. Please repeat.”

“I said,” he grumbled, “I’ll have HR send your overtime and holiday pay. Just come in.”

My mind swirled with thoughts.

I had cleaning to do.

Mom was going out.

Who would pick the kids?

But… I needed the money and badly.

I exhaled and said, “Supervisor, you were the one who promised me, not the other way around.”

“Yes, yes! Just come in.”

The line went dead.

----

I rushed home, heart racing. Luckily, I had already bathed, so I just needed to change into something work-appropriate.

But as soon as I stepped into the house, I stopped.

My mom was still sitting in the living room.

She looked… sad. Her picnic dress still hung over the chair.

“Mom?” I walked closer. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going again?”

She turned slowly toward the window, her eyes blank. Her shoulders slumped. “No… I changed my mind.”

I frowned. “But why? You were so excited.”

She didn’t answer.

“I was called in to work,” I said gently. “My supervisor promised extra pay. I’ll try to pick up the kids on time.”

Then, she suddenly exploded. Like I had stepped on a landmine.

“Why aren’t you rich?!” she shouted, standing to her feet. “Why couldn’t you be like Zarah? Her husband is powerful. Wealthy. Handsome! While you on the other hand, had to carry eight burdens instead!”

I blinked. “Mom… where is this coming from?”

She didn’t stop.

“If you were rich, you wouldn’t care about petty holiday pay. You wouldn’t get called into work on your day off like some desperate dog!”

“Mom—”

“If you had even a little sense, you’d have trapped a man like Zarah did. But no! You had to give birth to eight kids after one night! Eight! What are you, a human rabbit?!”

Her words cut deep.

But I stayed quiet.

I’d heard worse from her.

“You don’t even have a single man in your life!” she continued, pacing now. “Your only luck was sleeping with a handsome man! And you gave birth to eight kids. Not one. Eight!”

I stared at her. Not surprised. But still… it hurt.

“Look at Zarah’s husband,” she said with a dreamy sigh. “So tall, rich, charming. You, on the other hand…”

I rolled my eyes.

There was no one more handsome than Dominic.

But I didn’t say that aloud.

“And your birthday gifts to me!” she scoffed. “Every year—no perfume, no gold. Just a hot noodle and scarf! Do you know how embarrassing it is to tell people my daughter can’t even buy me a fake gold necklace?”

She wasn’t yelling anymore.

Her voice had turned bitter.

I tightened the straps on my blouse and walked to the door.

“Mom,” I said calmly. “I won’t be sitting here listening to you insult my life today. Please help pick up the kids if you’re not going anywhere.”

I grabbed my bag.

“There’s food in the fridge. Please heat it for you and the kids.”

I didn’t wait for her reply.

She shouted something behind me—maybe another insult.

But I didn’t hear it.

I had already slammed the door shut and taken off running.