"What the hell are you doing, Salt? You can’t leave him here," Peggy Angia said, glancing down at the baby, who couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old.

“You’re my sister, and we both know you’ll handle this much better than I would.” Salt handed over a bag filled with all kinds of crap a newborn needed. “I’ve got everything here. His food, clothes, diapers. Oh, and here is some money to tide you over.”

Taking the envelope from her older sister, Peggy looked inside and saw well over ten thousand dollars.

“Fuck, Salt. What the hell have you been doing?” Peggy stared at the baby, and then at her sister. Salt was a slender, slender woman with long, silky blonde hair. She’d admired her older sister for as long as she could remember. They were half-sisters as they didn’t share the same dad.

“Nothing. It’s what I’m due.”

Peggy watched as her sister started to head out of the door.

“Wait, you can’t just leave me like this with a baby and no fucking clue when you’re going to get back.”

“His name is Hakte. You’ll be better for him. I can’t look after a baby.” Salt raised her arm, showing the track marks of her addiction.

“You said you were getting clean. You can’t do this to me. I’m only just surviving myself. There’s no work for me to take care of a baby.”

“I’ve given you all of his paperwork. I’m sorry, but I can’t be around. If someone comes calling for me and asking questions, promise me you won’t say anything. You and Hakte shouldn’t say anything.”

Following Salt out of the apartment, Peggy felt her whole world crash. At twenty-one years old, she couldn’t believe she had a baby.

“This is wrong. I shouldn’t take him at all.”

“Then I’ll be back for him soon. You’ve just got to keep him by your side and love him. I know you can do that. We’re different like that,” Salt said, tears glinting. “I can’t love him, Peg. You’re the only one I’ve got who’ll give him a good home.”

Before she could say anything more, Salt climbed into a beat-up car with a guy who looked too pale to drive. Shit. Peggy charged toward the car only to meet dust. Staring up and down the beat-up street, Peggy realized she was alone. She was all alone with a baby who should be with his mother.

“What are you staring at?” she asked the old lady who hadn’t moved on from their scene.

She lived in a rundown neighborhood that any government funding had long forgotten. Heading upstairs, she heard Hakte screaming. Peggy ran to her apartment, closed the door, and went to the little carrier where her new charge lay. His face was screwed up, and the cries were deafening.

Her next-door neighbor slammed their fist against the wall, demanding they shut the fuck up. How had her life changed so fucking quickly? One moment, she’d been getting ready for work; the next, she had a baby to look after.

Lifting Hakte out of the carrier, she held him close and was shocked when he grew silent, staring up at her. His eyes were a beautiful blue color, shocking in their appearance and so startling they made her melt instantly.

“Hello, little guy. I’m your Auntie Peggy.” Stroking a finger down his cheek, she fell instantly in love. She’d always loved children and babies, recalling all the times she’d babysat for the kids in the surrounding area when she’d been younger. “It looks like I’m going to be taking care of you. I promise to be nice at all times.”

Fuck, she didn’t know the first thing about looking after a baby.

Blowing hair out of her eyes, she carried him to the kitchen where her second-hand fridge stood. Opening it, she saw the few items of cheap food she owned. Returning to his bags, she started going through everything with one hand.

The moment she tried to put Hakte down, he screamed. She’d grow accustomed to what to do for the next few days. There was nothing else she could do.

Peggy put his things away, noting the formula he used and the diapers and creams. When she was finished, she carried him to the nearest store to look at what everything would cost.

By the time she left the store, the tears were threatening to fill her eyes. There was no way she could afford to have a baby. The other problem she faced was that she had come to love Hakte in the last few hours. It was the strangest feeling in the world. She didn’t know this child in any way, yet all of her mothering instincts begged her to take care of him. Pushing hair out of her eyes, she stared down into his sleeping face.

“There has got to be something I can do.”

She headed out to work the following day, but arriving at the diner with a baby in tow got her fired. Peggy would never forget the look on the woman’s face when she walked in with Hakte on her hip. She was fired on the spot.

Great, one day with a kid, and she’d been fired.

After applying for three jobs with Hakte close to her, Peggy knew there was no hope of her getting work.

Going to the end of the street, she was caught by the sign for “help wanted” as she passed. The sun was still up, and she wasn’t looking at where she was going. Opening the door, she went in and was overcome by a cloud of smoke. Covering Hakte’s eyes, she gasped as a woman danced naked on the stage semi-naked.

“Can I help you?”

She turned to see a large man with his hair pulled back in a ponytail staring down at her.

“No, I, erm, no, I’m in the wrong place.” She made to leave, but he gripped her arm.

“Are you looking for a job?”

Hakte was in her arms and noticed the man didn’t pull too hard on her arm.

“Yes, I was hoping for some waitressing work.”

“Anyone look after the kid?” he asked.

She shook her head. “There’s only me. I’m all he has.”

“Follow me.”

With no other choice, she followed the large man to the back of his office. Peggy couldn’t believe she’d walked into a strip club. She hadn’t been looking, and desperation was clawing at her for something good to happen.

“I’m Van Dyne. I own this club.”

“I was looking to waitress or bartend or something,” she said, holding onto Hakte tightly.

Salt, when we see each other, I’m going to fucking kill you.

His gaze wandered down her body. She knew there wasn’t much to look at. Peggy wasn’t a beautiful woman. Her tits were too large with too wide hips. Her mother loved to tell Peggy how inadequate she was at being a woman. No man wanted a fuller woman in their bed. She didn’t possess striking blonde hair but a dull brown that failed to stand out.

!"I’ve lost one of my girls. She was stupid and got herself knocked up. None of my customers want a pregnant woman dancing. Otherwise, they’d stay home and look at their wives.” Biting her lip, Peggy tried not to take offense.

“You’re looking good for just giving birth.”

“He’s not mine. My sister has left him with me while she sorts out her problems.” Peggy thought of the thousands of dollars her sister had left her. She knew that money wasn’t Salt’s. The last thing she wanted was to use money she didn’t trust.

“That explains it. Do you dance well?”

“I can’t be a stClaude,” she said.

He glared. “Why not? You too good or something?”

“No, look at me. I can’t get my clothes off. I’m not exactly stClaude material.” She poked at her rounded stomach.

“Give me the boy.”

“What?” she asked, tightening her arms once again.

“I’m willing to hire you. Pass me the boy. I won’t hurt him. I own a strip club. I ain’t no child killer.”

Licking her lips, heart pounding, she passed Hakte into the man’s arms. She was surprised when he settled.

“I’ve got kids of my own, honey. I know how to hold a kid.” Van Dyne made sure Hakte was settled before turning his attention back to her. “Take your shirt off.”

She hesitated, staring at him.

“I’m not going to hurt you, but I must ensure I’m right.”

I need the money. You’re doing this for Hakte.

Lifting her shirt, she closed her eyes, waiting for him to say something.

“Take your jeans off. I need to see what I’m working with.”

With her eyes still closed, she removed her jeans, standing before him in only her bra and panties.

“Turn around.”

Peggy turned around, knowing his gaze was sliding up and down her body, assessing her for work.

“Good, I’ve got some nice girls who’ll happily show you how to work the pole. They’re not feeding an addiction either.”

She stared down at Van Dyne, who was cooing at Hakte. “What?” she asked.

“I would be bad for business.”

“You’re not a skinny bitch with your ribs showing, but you’re what I’m looking for. Men love to see a variety of women, and with those tits and ass, you’d earn some decent tips from the men. Get the right song, and you’ll be one great dancer.”

“I’m fat.”

Van Dyne laughed. “You women today. I don’t know who declares someone fat or not, but for me, you’re just right. Get dressed, and you can start on Friday. Until then, you can come by and train.”

Like that, Peggy got dressed and was hired as a dancer. She’d never been so shocked in all of her life.