Valerie took a deep, grounding breath and nodded. Despite the overwhelming financial stress, she had genuinely fallen in love with their new neighborhood in Logan Square. They had a small but undeniably cozy apartment, there were friendly bodegas on every corner, and the beautiful tree-lined streets were constantly buzzing with an infectious, vibrant life. Chicago felt like a massive, living, breathing beast, heavily laden with unwritten rules that she was still desperately trying to figure out. She just kept telling herself that all she really needed was a little bit of grit and a whole lot of patience to finally make this concrete jungle feel like home.
She slipped her trembling hand into the structured pocket of her blazer, her fingers brushing against the cool glass of a small bottle of calming lavender oil she’d tucked away earlier. Two hours left until the interview. Maybe, just maybe, today would actually be her lucky day.
Valerie’s nerves were completely frayed, practically buzzing under her skin. Landing this job wasn’t just about her own survival anymore—it was entirely about securing Tessa’s future. She had to somehow push past the paralyzing fear and lock in her focus.
“So, what’s the actual job?” Zoe asked, loudly popping a fresh stick of mint gum into her mouth.
“Assistant manager,” Valerie replied, adjusting her collar. “It’s a massive company that supplies bulk groceries to local stores around the city. From what I gathered, it sounds like they’re pretty desperate for some reliable help, so they’re hiring incredibly fast.”
“Pay any good?” Zoe asked, tilting her head. She wasn’t currently in the grueling trenches of job-hunting herself—her parents were still working full-time and graciously helped cover the endless expenses for her and Parker.
“They said it’s enough to start,” Valerie said, her tone heavily tinged with creeping doubt. “If they don’t bump up the salary later down the line, I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled and keep looking.”
“Don’t stop looking now,” Zoe advised, sharply snapping her gum. “Always have a backup plan in your back pocket.”
Valerie nodded slowly, even though she deeply hated the uncomfortable idea of job-hopping before she had even managed to land a single offer. It felt inherently disloyal, like she was actively betraying a phantom boss she didn’t even officially have yet.
She knelt down to securely double-knot her worn sneakers, then pressed a lingering, tender kiss to Tessa’s soft cheek. Glancing back up at Zoe, a sudden, powerful rush of profound gratitude washed over her.
“I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you,” Valerie said, her voice thick with absolute sincerity. “You’re an absolute lifesaver.”
“Girl, you help me out too,” Zoe grinned warmly, digging into her oversized purse and offering Valerie a brightly wrapped peppermint candy.
Valerie gratefully tucked the sweet candy deep into her blazer pocket, right next to the little glass vial of lavender oil. These were her makeshift good-luck charms for the daunting day ahead. The impending interview loomed over her like an incredibly high-stakes game of poker, and its ultimate outcome felt terrifyingly impossible to predict.
Over the grueling span of the past two months, she had painfully dragged herself to at least a dozen different interviews. She possessed two hard-earned degrees, a very solid track record of practical work experience, and yet—absolutely nothing. Total radio silence. Only one single company had actually bothered to pick up the phone and call her back, and that was just to coldly inform her that she simply wasn’t the right fit.
Every single polite rejection forcefully chipped away at her fading reservoir of hope, quickly being replaced by a dark, growing panic. But she absolutely couldn’t let the fear win. She had to project an aura of total calm for Tessa’s sake.
Fifteen minutes later, Valerie found herself swaying gently on a crowded CTA bus, steadily heading straight for the Blue Line. Another ten grueling minutes passed before she successfully navigated the chaotic labyrinth to switch trains at the bustling Clark/Lake station. The corporate office was located deep downtown, a daunting trek that honestly didn’t faze her in the slightest. She would gladly sacrifice endless hours commuting for just a fighting chance to provide a decent life for her daughter. She had no secret trust fund to fall back on, no wealthy relatives waiting in the wings to bail her out—all she had was her own relentless hustle.
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