My Mr. Manny Read Online Free Page A

and black Mary Janes.
    “Come on, baby girl. What do you want for breakfast today?” I asked.
    “Good morning, Momma. Um . . . I think I want waffles today,” she replied.
    I made some coffee, poured her some orange juice, and popped the waffles in the toaster. She sat at the breakfast bar on the big stool and waited for her food.
    “So, do you know what you’re doing in school today?”
    Her mouth spread into a big smile that showed the adorable dimples she had gotten from her father.
    “Yup, we’re working on our sight words today. I already know them all, but the teacher said I have to work on them with the class anyway.”
    “That’s great, baby. You practice so much, don’t you?” I asked.
    “I do, Momma, and it helps me learn them faster,” she said with such pride.
    I placed in front of her a plate of waffles with very little butter and syrup spread on top, and I continued to sip my coffee.
    My daughter was beautiful. She had long, russet brown hair with a slight curl, and her dad’s crystal blue eyes. Her skin was fair, but in the summer, she tanned with ease and never burned. She was small and petite like a little flower. She was a girly girl who loved dresses and pink. In that aspect, she was nothing like me; I was more of a tomboy.
    I drove Lucia to St. Augustine’s Catholic School and walked her to her line. All of the children were split by classroom and had to line up until school started. It kept them all in order. We waited there until the teacher came for them. Lucia gave me a big hug, and her little arms could almost make it around my waist. I whispered, “I love you,” in her ear when I bent down, and she kissed my cheek and whispered the same.
    Lucia was my sunshine, my partner in crime, and my distraction. She was my heart.
    After drop-off, I made my way toward Pershing Drive, our employee parking lot behind LAX. School began at eight for Lucia, so I had plenty of time to make it to work before I started an hour later.
    I found a parking spot near the employee bus stop and snagged it fast. I was lucky; most days, those spots were full, and I had to park a long way from the stop. The busses ran every fifteen minutes and I always made the half past tram.
    On the way to my workspace, I waved to some of my coworkers. Opening the door to my office, I heard my boss on the phone. I peaked in to let him know I had arrived. He nodded and continued with his conversation. Once I put my stuff away, I got down to business. Since my boss was the manager of a department with over three hundred employees, I was kept busy responding to their needs. I gathered their timecards from my inbox and began to work on payroll. Mr. White handed me some letters to type for him, and then gave me some money to pick up lunch for the both of us.
    He said, "I'll buy if you fly."
    I couldn't refuse because I was starving, so I ran to the food court and ordered us some sandwiches from Chili's.
    Five o’clock arrived before I knew it, and while I sat on the bus to go to the parking lot, I decided to call Alex. I was hoping he would be home for dinner today.
    “Hello.”
    “Hi, honey. How are you?” I asked.
    “I’m busy.” He sighed like he was irritated.
    “Oh, I was hoping you could make it home for dinner today. I’m on my way to get Lucia from after school care.”
    “Mia, I can’t. Being the CEO of this company is not easy. I have idiots working here, and I have to fix their mistakes. Paperwork never ends, and we are doing some employee replacements,” he spat out. I flinched and scowled at his reaction to my simple request.
    “I’ll be home late. Don’t wait up,” he said.
    I sighed. I was sick of his attitude and disregard for his family.
    “That’s fine, Alex. Lucia and I will have dinner alone as usual. It’s not like we know any different. You work seven days a week and never find time for us,” I whisper-yelled. There were a few other people on the bus, and I didn’t want them to hear my