New Beginnings

Morning sunlight reaches through sheer white curtains. A soft, sleepy groan comes from the pile of pillows and blankets on the bed by the window. With a dramatic heave, Renée pulls herself out of the depth of her dreams. She stumbles half asleep into the bathroom and into the shower. Her daughter, Zoey, sleeps sweetly, nestled in the innocence that only surrounds toddlers.

Renée sighs heavily as she prepares herself for the day. There are envelopes stacked on the table, all covered with block red letters reading PAST DUE. Blinking back tears, she reflects on the dreams she left behind. She was going to revolutionize industries. Change the world. The smell of breakfast drags her back to reality. Shaking her head, she sets the table, she has a job interview in a few hours. Medihelp Now, a medical insurance processing company. It would be the third job she was taking on. That does not leave much time to spend with Zoey. But right now, paying the bills was more important than tucking her in at night.

Renée hears a soft coo from the doorway and turns around to greet her daughter. Zoey’s blue eyes shine, and her soft blonde hair bounces off her shoulders.

“Good morning baby girl!” Renée calls, forcing a smile. Zoey doesn’t need to know how unforgiving the world could be yet.

“Hi Mommy!” Zoey replies. She zooms around the room with her favorite dinosaur plushie. Giggling, her happiness envelopes the room. Renée grins and watches her head strong, loving girl. They finish breakfast and get ready to head out. She styles her thick, curly brown hair and throws on a white button up shirt. A knock on the door announces their neighbor, arriving to watch Zoey while Renée goes to her interview and then to work.

“Hey Cora. Thanks again for coming early. I really need this job.” Renée greets her old friend. She takes in Cora’s short black hair. Her hot pink shirt sits loosely against her tan skin.

“No problem hon! I know you need this.” Cora scoops up Zoey and tickles her.

“We’re gonna have fun today aren’t we sweet babe?” Zoey giggles and nods. Climbing down she runs over to Renée.

“Buh-bye Mommy! I love you!” She cries, wrapping Renée in the tightest hug she can. Renée kisses her head, thanks Cora again and heads downstairs. The sun is shining brightly now, May in San Diego really is beautiful. Breathing in the fresh air she hops in her beat up Subaru and drives off.

Pulling up to the office building, Renée takes a breath to calm her nerves. If she lands this job, she will be able to pay the bills and maybe eventually drop one of her other jobs. She would be able to spend more time with Zoey. And they would be getting by, barely, but they’d be getting by. Taking one last deep breath she walks into the lobby. She is directed through a maze of identical grey cubicles, speckled with hints of individuality. She tugs nervously at the bottom of her shirt as she enters the interview room. It’s just as bland as the rest of the building. Stark white walls glare at her, the only other things in the room are the table she’s sitting at, and a grey file cabinet.

An older woman with wiry, maroon hair and pointy glasses joins her. She introduces herself as Mary Hotchkins. She’s the executive branch manager of Medihelp Now and had worked there for thirty years. She’s fifty- five but her husband tells her she doesn’t look a day over forty. Renée smiles at the falsity and charms her way through her interview. The interview ends and she makes her way back to the car, her car, praying that they pick her. She needed this.

A knock on her window startles her. She looks up to see a man in a black suit. A shiny watch sparkles from his wrist. He smirks at her from under carefully styled, dark brown hair. Rolling down her window Renée studies him with apprehension.

“Can I help you with something?” she asks. He chuckles and studies her for a second.

“I know who you are Renée. Our agency has been watching you for a while now. I know things aren’t going great for you. Bills are late, you’ll be facing eviction soon. You have a young child. I can help you with that.”

Renée scrunches her face up with confusion. “Look I don’t know who you think you are, I’m not interested.”

He chuckles again, and hands her a brown paper bag.

“Call me Xavier. And take this. I know you could use it. Inside you’ll find a small, black notebook filled with different addresses. Meet me at the first one at 6pm, tonight. Until then, take the day off. Spend time with your daughter.”

Xavier walks away and climbs into a black SUV. He waves one more time and drives off. Renée opens the bag and finds the notebook. It sits on top of a manilla envelope. As she counts up the stacks of money she gasps. There’s $20,000 in her hands. She starts hyperventilating, this money could change everything for her and Zoey. She is supposed to be at work in half an hour. Renée calls Cora, hoping she’ll know what to do.

Anxious sweat drips down her neck and she throws open her car door, calls Cora and spills out all that happened. No one gives away that much money for nothing. Renée paces around her car and her mind jumps to every possible conclusion.

“What if he wants me to sell drugs or something? Oh my God, WHAT IF HE WANTS ME TO HURT SOMEONE? How does he know my NAME?”

“Whoa honey, why don’t you come back home, and we’ll talk it all over? Everything is going to be fine” Cora reassures her. Renée pauses to catch her breath and hangs up. She calls her job to tell them she won’t be in and goes home.

She unlocks the door of her one-bedroom apartment and Zoey greets her with an elated hug. “Mommy’s home!” She cries out. Renée picks her up and spins around with Zoey in her arms. She breathes in the smell of lavender from Zoey’s hair. For a moment Renée sinks into tranquility. The worries of the world are replaced with a quiet stillness.

She sends Zoey to play in their room and sits down with Cora. She empties the paper bag and Cora’s eyes widen.

“Holy smokes hon! Are you sure the money is real?” She gasps. Renée shrugs.

“I think it is. What should I do?” The room is silent for a moment, the only noise is the faint sounds coming from the bedroom. Cora folds her arms and sighs exasperated.

“Do you think this is safe?” Renée shakes her head.

“I don’t know. This whole thing should be giving me really bad vibes, but for some reason it’s not.”

Cora pauses for a second.

“My mother always said that the gut instinct we have when we shouldn’t do something is really our future self, feeling regret for making that decision. If you do not have that feeling now, maybe it’s an okay idea.”

Renée stands and walks around the room, pausing in front of the kitchen sink.

“The lady who interviewed me today had been there for thirty years. Thirty years staring at the same, three grey walls. Same office chairs, same routine, day in and day out.”

Cora grimaces,

“Is that really how you want to spend the rest of your life?” Renée shakes her head.

“No. Not really, but I want Zoey to have a good life.”

Cora thumbs the stacks of money still sitting on the table.

“It looks like whatever this is could give her that. Just be careful.” Renée drags her hands over her face and sighs.

“I think you’re right. I think I need to go to the address and meet Xavier.”

Cora nods and makes her way over to Renée. She gives her a reassuring hug and promises to stay with Zoey that night. Renée changes into a black T-shirt and black skinny jeans. The clothes fit snugly on her slim frame. She gathers up the money and notebook, pulls Zoey into a deep hug and heads out.

Renée pulls out the little black notebook and reads the first address,

“638 Roanoke Road.” She murmurs. That’s almost an hour away, outside of the city. Grumbling to herself she drives off, hoping she isn’t making a huge mistake.

When she finally arrives, she pulls up to a beautiful, huge colonial house. The grey exterior surrounded by a white picket fence. It looks it belongs on the cover of a Décor magazine, she thinks to herself, what the hell am I doing here? She steps out of her car and makes her way to the front door.

Before she has a chance to knock the door swings open. Xavier stands before her, the jacket of his suit now missing. He grins and motions for her to enter.

“I knew you’d come.” He leads her to a dining room where she finds three other men baring uncanny resemblance to Xavier. Same strong, fit build, same brown hair, same flawless smile. The only difference comes from the older man in the room. With lines around his eyes and grey flaking through his hair.

“Renée meet my two brothers Roman and Dominic. And my father, Mateo. “All three extend warm greetings. Mateo pulls out a chair next to him and motions for Renée to sit.

“Welcome Miss Kilroy, we’re so glad you decided to join us.” Matteo says. Renée swallows hard,

“I haven’t decided I’m gonna do that yet. What is this exactly?” Mateo chuckles.

“A business. You’ll be employed by us, be able to quit your other jobs and spend more time with your daughter.” Renée studies Mateo’s face. His eyes never waver, the friendly smile planted firmly on his lips.

“What would I have to do? I’m not doing anything illegal.” The room erupts in laughter and hot crimson tears itself through Renée’s cheeks.

“There’s nothing illegal about what you’ll be doing. You will be delivering packages. That’s all.” Renée fidgets with her fingernails.

“Delivering what?” Xavier leans his arms over the table and sits forward.

“You don’t need to know that. But that book I gave you, has the addresses of all our clients. And you’ll be paid handsomely for your time.” Renée stares at him and bites her lip anxiously.

“All I have to do is deliver stuff? It’s not drugs right?” The men around her laugh again.

“No, it’s not drugs. As we said it is nothing illegal. It’s just… sensitive.” Mateo slides a contract and a pen in front of her. Renée picks the pen up and twirls it in her fingers. Xavier clears his throat and adds,

“That money we gave you was only a taste. Even if you say no, you can keep the money. But when you start making actual deliveries, you will be paid double or even triple the amount for every delivery. This is only the beginning.” Renée spins the pen in her hand and studies the paper in front of her.

“I need a minute to think about this.” Xavier nods and the men leave the room. Sighing Renée tosses it over in her head. More time with Zoey, and the money to be able to give her everything she could ever want. She shakes her head and clicks the pen, checking the boxes and signing her name. She smiles and her thoughts go to Zoey.

This is just the beginning my love.