Traded for Love Read Free Page A

even for just a little while.
    Maybe I should have been upset, because I'd known he didn't care about my satisfaction. Instead, I was grateful .

First Steps
    (Emily)
    Two days later, I was reading in the bedroom when I heard Katherine crying. I waited for a minute or two, expecting Donna to respond to her, but the baby kept crying. Having nothing particular to do, I went in to see her.
    Donna appeared, almost knocking me over in the process. “I'm so sorry, ma'am. I was in the bathroom,” she said, flustered. A few strands of silver hair had fallen over her cheek and she tucked them away.
    “It's okay, Donna. She's only been crying for a minute.” I checked the time on my phone. “It's almost time for you to go, isn't it?”
    “I was going to make sure the baby had her bottle and a fresh diaper before I left,” she said, wiping her hands on her apron. I'd always questioned the need for her black apron, which she wore over her soft polo shirt and black pants, but she insisted it helped her carry things when she had the baby in her arms.
    “You can go ahead, honey. I'll handle it.” I smiled.
    “I don't mind, really!” Donna said, rushing up to the crib before I could reach it.
    I narrowed my eyes. “Is something wrong? Did Mr. Duncan get upset with you for something?” I asked, reaching in and picking up Katherine. I bounced my daughter in my arms and took her to the window.
    “No, I'm just … very mindful of how I spend my time when I'm here. I don't want it to seem like I'm slacking off.” Her lip looked like it might start trembling.
    “Don't worry, Donna. You're doing a spectacular job,” I said with a smile. “You can go now if you'd like.”
    “Only if you insist.” She untied her apron and strung it over her arm. “I appreciate it. It'll be nice to get to the bus stop early,” she said.
    “Would you like me to drive you to the stop?” I volunteered.
    “No thank you, ma'am. I can make it. It's not too far.”
    I smiled warmly. “Have a safe walk, then.”
    I half expected her to bow as she stepped into the hall. She was incredibly obedient, just the type of staff member I would have expected Jack to hire.
    The baby sniffed and grumbled. “Don't cry, baby,” I said softly, giving her a view of the window. “See? If you look across the river, you can see Rainey Park from here,” I said. “And look at the birdies on the water.” I pointed to a flock seagulls gliding above the East River. I loved that ours was one of the few houses on Roosevelt Island. Apparently, Jack's family had owned his palatial three-story house for decades.
    Katherine laid her head against my shoulder. I used the edge of my sleeve to wipe away her tears. “Aw, you just missed mama, didn't you?” I cooed, taking her back to the floor. “Want to play?”
    For the next few hours, I sat with her and, in vain, taught her shapes, colors and letters. She had already learned how to say basic syllables, though the way she strung them together was still nonsensical. She'd managed a 'mama' a few weeks before, but I didn't think she knew it meant me .
    She hadn't said 'dada' yet, but Jack hadn't seemed disturbed by that fact. Katherine was my pride and joy, and though I did love Jack, she was most of the reason we were still together. I had needs, like any other woman, and Jack wasn't fulfilling them.
    Maybe I just need a hobby, I thought, handing Katherine a colored plastic ring. Though I spent a good amount of time with the baby, I didn't do as much mothering as most women did. I had Donna to do a lot of the daytime stuff for me. This left me with lots of free time.
    It occurred to me that I could pick up a part-time job. I'd begun to feel that my social life was lacking, and a part-time job, even if I didn't need the money, would give me the opportunity to meet people. My only obstacle, it seemed, was Jack. He had put a stop to many of my “low class” practices after he'd married me.
    He dressed me in expensive clothes,