The Apple Tree Read Online Free

mother and Owen stood next to her hairbrush, while her father’s photo lay inside the top drawer, under her t-shirts. She couldn’t bear to get rid of it, but didn’t want to see it every day either. Her closed laptop sat on the nightstand. She gazed at it wistfully, wishing she had time to work on her blog.
    Opening the dresser drawer, she took out her Papa’s Pizza uniform, a red logo tee and white pants. She cringed, hating the ugly carpenter-style pants, but yanked them on anyway.
    Dressed, she walked across the hall to find her mom still sleeping amongst a pile of tangled sheets. As soon as she stepped in the room, the sickly, sweet and sour smell of stale wine assaulted her, turning her stomach. She held her breath and sat down on the edge of the bed.
    “ Mom, get up. I have to go to work.” She shook her shoulder.
    Her mother groaned and opened one eye. “What time is it?”
    “ It’s almost eleven.”
    “ Ugh, okay… I’ll get up.” She didn’t move.
    “ I’m going downstairs to get Owen a snack and then I have to leave. You need to be up in ten minutes.”
    “ Uh huh.”
    Bianca rubbed her forehead, stood, and left the room.
    Downstairs, she sliced an apple and put the pieces into a little plastic bowl with some animal crackers. She stole a bite of the fruit and frowned, not as sweet as the apple she’s tasted in the orchard.
    A retching sound came from the bathroom upstairs, but she tried to ignore it. At least her mom was out of bed.
    Owen sat on her shoe with his arms and legs wrapped around her calf like a fire pole. She stumbled to the dining room table, swinging him along. He giggled with joy at the ride. After pulling him off her leg and plopping him down at the table, their mother made it downstairs and collapsed onto the futon. Hopefully they would be okay today. It always made her a little nervous to leave Owen with their mom when she wasn’t feeling well.
    After kissing Owen goodbye and waving to her mother, she walked out to the porch to unlock her bike. She didn’t own a car. The rent took most of her money. Maybe if her blog took off… someday.
    Papa’s Pizza Parlor was only a few blocks away, a brick building with maroon trim and matching metal roof. Large square windows ran along the entire front. On the right side, a colorful indoor playground attracted families to the parlor.
    As she slipped her card into the punch clock, Jeremy, the new dough roller, greeted her with a friendly smile.
    “ Bianca! Hey, I’ve got a funny one for you. How do you fix a broken pizza?”
    “ I don’t know.”
    “ With tomato paste!” He gave her a light punch on the shoulder.
    She rolled her eyes. “Funny.”
    Kate, another coworker, walked into the back, her blonde ponytail bouncing behind her. She grabbed her timecard. “Hey guys!” She smiled at them both but lingered on Jeremy.
    “ Kate, have you heard this one? What does an aardvark like on his pizza?”
    She shrugged. “What?”
    “ Ant-chovies!” He slapped his thigh, laughing.
    Kate giggled.
    “ Oh, my gosh, where do you come up with these?” Bianca asked.
    “ What? Do you think they’re too cheesy?” He grinned and placed a hand on Kate’s shoulder.
    “ Hilarious,” Bianca said. It was amusing, but not laugh out loud humorous.
    Kate smiled. “I think it’s funny.”
    Faustino, the manager, came over and reminded them all to get to work. Jeremy trudged back to the dough room. Kate and Bianca walked into the front kitchen and started preparing a large delivery order. They spent the next couple of hours alternating between working and gossiping. Kate was one of those women who knew everything about everyone and loved to share.
    Halfway through her shift, Bianca stood at the prep counter, covering a large pizza with Canadian bacon. She glanced up at the window when a blue pickup truck pulled into the parking lot and stopped in a space near the back. The man from the orchard hopped out of the cab.
    She dropped the bacon on