12
Jaynee
My fifteen-minute break couldn’t come soon enough. The whole time on stage, all I could think of was Sadie. My sweet baby had never looked at me with contempt in her eyes. I never wanted to see it again.
I shuffled off the stage in my favorite five-inch heels. When I’d packed them in my suitcase, I didn’t think I’d wear them to dance again. They were my most expensive pair, and I couldn’t part with them. It seemed somewhere in the back of my mind I’d known I’d need them again.
Relief washed over me when I saw Sadie where I’d left her, clutching my cell phone.
I slipped on my black silk robe, tied the belt in a loose knot, and squatted beside the recliner. I rubbed the back of her head. “Hi, baby. Do you need to potty?”
She nodded with a scowl on her face. No words, only anger in her hazel-green eyes.
I picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.
Setting her down in front of the toilet, I reached for my phone. “I’ll hold it while you pee.”
“No. I can do it.” She twisted away defensively.
I held my hands up to show her she could keep it. The last thing I wanted was to upset her all over again. I had two hours left before I could take her to the hotel. She could keep the damn phone if it made her happy.
She looked at the screen weirdly. “Be right back.” The device went into her hoodie pocket. She’d seen me do the same thing plenty of times.
What was going on with her? If she was pretending my phone was her imaginary friend, I’d be up a creek. She’d for sure throw a fit if I took my cell back.
After she did her business and washed her hands, she took the device out of her pocket. “I’m back.”
I glanced at the black screen.Lord, help me.
We returned to the dressing room. Sadie allowed me to hold her hand, but I sensed her unease. It shouldn’t worry me, considering she didn’t want to be there. Of course, she wasn’t her usual sweet self. My baby was angry with me and had every right to be.
“Boss man brought you some drinks.” A young blonde pointed her red talon at the table. “A Shirley Temple for the kid.”
“Thanks.” I took the drinks. The bartender knew the dancers’ cocktail preferences, so a server would bring them to the dressing room during our breaks. Mine was vodka and cranberry juice. Sadie’s was garnished with three maraschino cherries.
I smelled it and wiggled my eyebrows as I passed it to her. “Oooh, look at this yummy drink, baby.” I gulped half of mine. A little liquid courage before I needed to leave her again.
Sadie sipped hers through the pink cocktail straw. My stupid phone was held to her chest as if she feared I’d take it from her. It hurt that she thought so little of me. She might be only four, but Sadie’s opinion was the only one that mattered.
I took another large gulp. The alcohol kicked in, making my head fuzzy and my body relaxed.
Wait.
I could hold my liquor. One drink wouldn’t turn me into a limp noodle. It took a lot to get me drunk.
Wait.
Did the blonde say the boss man brought them? Why would he do that?
I glanced at Sadie’s half-full glass and relaxed features. Her scowl was gone.
Wait, wait, wait!
Was I drugged? Was Sadie?
My heart raced as I stared at my daughter. Her hand dropped, spilling her drink on the floor.
“M-Mom…” she stuttered, leaning to the side of the chair.