Christine stood staring at the guy from the party store. He couldn’t have looked more shell shocked if he’d tried. She almost wondered if he’d heard her because of the blank look on his face, but it morphed into something close to fear and she knew he was going to say no.

“Never mind,” she said, saving him from awkwardly turning her down. She didn’t know why she even asked him out. Dating as a single mom was borderline crazy. Most men weren’t interested in taking on the responsibility another man left behind.

Christine turned away from him and focused on loading her groceries onto the belt. The cashier worked quickly, but it wasn’t nearly fast enough. Standing just a few feet from the guy she’d just asked out, the guy who looked like he’d rather swallow fire than go out with her, Christine felt heat climb her neck and settle into her cheeks. She desperately wanted to pick up the gallon of milk that rolled by and press it to her skin, but she knew that would only draw more attention to her embarrassment.

“Do you have your rewards card?” the cashier asked, pulling Christine from her distress. She dug through her purse for her wallet and unearthed the card she needed. Ready to go as soon as her groceries were paid for, she swiped her credit card and helped bag groceries, throwing granola bars in with bananas, formula in with ice cream, and anything else she could get her hands on.

As soon as the cashier declared she was free to go Christine bolted for the door. She didn’t look back. She couldn’t have another memory of him looking at her like she was the last person he’d ever date. She just had to get away.

At her car she opened the back and started loading bags. She cursed herself for the way she’d packed the bags, knowing it would mean she had twice as much work to do when she got home. Instead of just carrying in the cold stuff when she brought Angela in and going back for the rest when she was sleeping, Christine would need to carry it all.

“Dammit,” she swore at herself. She couldn’t leave it like it was. She had to redo all the bags so she could actually carry it in without leaving her child alone inside, which wasn’t an option.

Shaking her head, Christine set out to unpack and repack every bag. She put cold items together and other food together. She separated the non-food items and was finally ready to start loading everything into her trunk.

Then she heard his voice, “Do you need some help?”