Page 74 of SnowBound

“To us,” I repeated. At that moment, I chose to lock all my fears down and enjoy the time we had together before being slapped in the face with a reality check in a couple of days.

* * *

“This will be your room,” Martha, the supervisor of Baby and Me shelter said, opening the door to a small bedroom with a single bed, a crib, a sink, and a closet. “I know it’s not much but for the time you are here, it is yours.”

She had short brown hair sprinkled with gray strands, and her eyes were a deep shade of brown. She was a petite woman with broad shoulders and a soft expression on her face, reminding me of my late grandmother.

I surveyed the space. My lower lip shuddered, and I clamped it between my teeth, doing my best to keep my emotions in check. White walls that would require a new coat of paint, steel bedframe with a mattress that looked clean enough, a rectangular birch crib with baby-yellow sheets and blankets, mocha carpeted floors, and a padded rocking chair in a corner next to a window framed with dark curtains that let the sunlight in.

“It’s perfect,” I murmured. Beside me, Ellie squeezed my hand in hers.

“You sure, Abby?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll take it.”

“Awesome,” Marta said, a protective hand on my forearm. “Most girls here have had a tough life. They often have escaped abusive relationships or were sleeping on the street. A few were using hard drugs and are now trying to get clean and sober. We have an alarm system and cameras all over the property. Breakfast is served between seven and eight, and dinner between six and seven. Lunch is your responsibility. We have a nurse who comes once a week for health checkups. And workshops every Tuesday. Healthy habits for a healthy pregnancy. What to expect when in labor. How to care for a newborn. Breastfeeding. Juggling responsibilities as a new mother. We encourage you to find a job and put money in a bank account so you can afford your own place within six months. If your stay is to be longer, we’ll sit together and talk about your options. We won’t throw you out in the street without resources, but we expect you to do the work to gain your independence back. We have a used clothes store next door that is run by our residents. You can pick a few shifts there, if you like, based on their availabilities. And you can also work in the kitchen if you can’t find a job outside of here or if your security is at risk. We’ll talk about all of this once you move in.”

She offered me a warm smile that I returned the best I could. All this seemed surreal. Like I was stuck in a dream I had no way of waking up from.

“Abigail, do you have any questions?”

I shook my head. “Huh, not for now. I think you covered it all.”

“Oh,” Martha exclaimed as if she had forgotten something. “Bathrooms are down the hall. You don’t have your own, but there are six shower stalls, and they’re kept clean. There’s even a baby station with a bathtub, a changing table, and everything you might need.”

“Huh, o-okay.”

“When are you due?”

I swallowed. Nobody except my doctor and Ellie ever asked or took an interest in my pregnancy. “September sixteen.”

“You’ll have enough time to get familiar with the installations until then. So, I’ll see you on Monday morning?”

I bowed my head and forced a smile out. Tears flowed down my cheeks. I couldn’t comprehend why a perfect stranger would help me out and show me acceptance when my own parents refused to.

Martha hugged me. She was in her late fifties and had a motherly look and gentleness spread across her features. “It’s okay, sweetie. I know what it’s like. I was in your situation once. You’ll do great. I can tell. All you need is to get back on your feet to feel in control. And I’m here for you. Always. My bedroom is on the second floor. You can knock on the door night and day. The best reward for me is when I see my girls thriving after they leave this place. It’s okay to feel emotional. Those pregnancy hormones are the real deal, and your life has been uprooted, but you’ll get there, I swear.”

“Thanks.”

“Anytime. Let me show you around. Come on, follow me.”

In the hallway, Ellie and I kept a short distance from Martha. “Hey, are you sure you are fine with moving here?” my friend asked. “We can find another place if you’re not.”

“Yeah. I never pictured myself living in a shelter. And depending on other people to get through my life. It’s a lot to take in.” I inhaled a cleansing breath, trying to reel in my emotions.

“The lady is right, though. Give yourself some time, and you’ll be back to being the fearless Abby I know. You call me if it’s not working, and we’ll figure out something else.”

I squeezed her hand. “Thanks.”