Sleep had been elusive, and Matt could see it on his face when he got up the next morning and looked in the mirror.
"Urgh, thank god it's a day off tomorrow," Matt uttered, splashing some cold water on his face and changing into the jeans and button up shirt he'd brought quietly from his wardrobe. Gwen was out for the count, and figuring it'd be at least another hour or so before he should get her up seeing as she'd had a late night, he'd turned off the torch and taken his phone - the daylight peaking around the curtains was enough to keep the room visible - and snuck out with his clothes.
First item on the agenda was coffee, then some serious short term planning.
One thing he'd decided the night before was that he was going to have to take this one step at a time. It'd be no use trying to make long term plans for Gwen only to have her mother show up in a week. He'd do what he could for Gwen whilst she was with him, then go from there.
Making himself instant coffee, he sipped at it, looking at breakfast options. Cornflakes it was. He still had half a box left, which would have lasted him another few days normally, but with Gwen here it wasn't a guarantee.
He chopped up an apple and banana to go on top and poured some milk in with it, taking it over to his computer as he loaded it up.
He rarely used it for much more than gaming and emails these days, but having a full document and spreadsheet for something like this was necessary. His current budget was haphazard at best and suited him along just fine. With the amount he needed to buy for Gwen just so she could have a somewhat normal daily life would make a large dent in that.
"Alright..." he muttered to himself, "Needs now, needs soon, can wait."
He titled three columns in a table and started typing things in the list. He figured at least four outfits for now would be sufficient, along with sleepwear. Definitely underwear. A backpack to carry her things in. A hat - summer would be due in a few weeks and it was already starting to get warmer. A couple of toys or games - something to keep her occupied.
"Has Theresa ever had her in school?" he thought softly, shoveling a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. He doubted it. She spoke well, but he had no idea if she could read. Given the lack of money Theresa had, it was doubtful she'd ever put her in childcare.
Maybe a couple of books so that he could help her there as well. Better a late start than not at all.
He needed a hairdryer, a hairbrush. Maybe a few hair ties as well. He had no idea how to do hair, but with summer she'd likely want her hair up and off her neck if it wasn't too hot.
Sunscreen, he needed sunscreen. She was only three, should he get some basic child medications too? She didn't appear sick now, but he wouldn't be shocked if she got sick.
She was malnourished. Should he take her to the doctor?
Urgh. The stress was making his chest seize.
He opened google, found a community clinic that was open today and phoned in to make an appointment for later in the morning. That was going to set him back at least $40, and that was without taking into account any medications the doctor recommended.
He wasn't a health specialist though, and had no idea if just feeding her more regularly would help.
He opened his banking app. He'd paid rent last week, so it'd be another three weeks before that was due. He needed $800 set aside for that.
His monthly bills cost around $350 combined for water, electricity, internet and his phone. He also had health insurance, that was another $100.
Groceries were an average of about $100 a week.
Public transport to and from work per day was about $8 in total. Six times a week was $48, but he rounded it to $70 for other trips out. - Gwen would need a child's card.
Given other purchases, Matt rounded his expenditures to roughly $2000 a month.
His job paid $18.00 an hour, and he worked 6 shifts a week. 2 four hour shifts, 3 six hour shifts and an eight hour shift. So if he didn't take time off he earned $2,448 a month plus tips, though they weren't always generous.
His savings amounted to a bit over $3,000.
He had to assume that groceries would go up to at least an average of $150 per week, if not more. And, he remembered that because Gwen was under 5, she could ride public transport for free.
Bills might not double, but it was safe to say they'd increase, so Matt did a conservative estimate of $600 a month. Matt sighed as he looked at the calculations.
With Gwen, he'd barely be breaking even.
Seeing as he had no idea how long this would last, he decided he'd ask his boss about picking up some more hours, especially his 4-hour shifts. Even turning one of his 6-hours to an 8-hour. He was technically part time after all, not full-time.
Kelly, his boss, had a stone-cold expression most of the time which made her not so approachable, but he'd learned that she wasn't unreasonable by any means.
He was supposed to get paid tonight. He got paid every fortnight, so he'd have another thousand headed his way.
Releasing a breath, Matt leaned forward. $500. He'd make the budget for today $500 and get everything he could for Gwen. Not including the doctor's appointment.
It'd eat into his savings, but some of the purchases weren't ones he'd have to make again.
"Matt?"
Matt turned to find Gwen standing in the hall that led to the bathroom and shower, rubbing her eyes as she stood in his oversized shirt, pulling the collar up.
"Morning, Gwen," said Matt, "You okay?"
Gwen yawned, "Yep."
"Okay, do you need to go to the bathroom first or do you want to eat first?" asked Matt.
"Bathroom," said Gwen.
"Okay," said Matt. He carried his bowl with him and placed it in the sink, taking his coffee cup with him to the bathroom with Gwen. He helped her brush her hair out again, then gave her a minute to dress with her clothes before she came out, "Dirty clothes in the basket."
Matt pointed at the basket tucked in the corner.
Gwen put the shirt inside then followed him out to the kitchen. He made her a bowl of cornflakes, then asked if she wanted fruit with it.
"I don't like apples," she said.
"Banana?" he asked.
She nodded, "That's okay."
Matt chopped half of it up over her bowl, eating the rest when she said she didn't want it.
"Gwen, did your mum ever take you to school? Or daycare?" asked Matt.
Gwen shook her head, "She said it cost too much. And people looked at her weird."
Matt nodded, skimming over the extra Theresa information for now, "Okay."
Op Shops. It wasn't ideal, but that was where they'd try first to get what Gwen needed. He'd buy the underwear new, of course. Maybe some new shoes too.
"We're going shopping today," said Matt, "We're going to go see a doctor first though."
"What's a doctor?" asked Gwen.
Matt bit his lip in an effort to withhold the urge to strangle Theresa next time he saw her.
"Someone who makes sure you're healthy," said Matt, "Are you okay seeing one?"
Gwen frowned, "Will you be with me?"
"Of course," said Matt, "We can stop anything if you don't like it."
Gwen thought and did that wide eyed, single nod she'd kept doing the night before, "Okay."
Matt went and noted down the list he made, then grabbed his wallet and keys. Washing up with Gwen passing him things to wash before they both brushed their teeth again.
They both put shoes on and headed out, Matt pausing outside Mrs. Papadopolous's door.
"Gwen?" he asked.
"Yes?" she asked, turning to look up at him from where she stood beside him.
"Tonight, after dinner, I have to go to work, okay? Do you know what work is?"
Gwen nodded, her expression dropping, "Are you going to leave me alone?"
Matt nodded, "No, of course not. Mrs. Papadopolous lives here, in this apartment. She's really nice. She's said she'll watch you while I'm at work. If you're okay with that. I'll pick you up afterwards."
Gwen seemed to think about this.
"You promise?"
"I promise," said Matt.
Gwen looked at the door for another long moment, and Matt prompted her, "How about we meet her when we come back from shopping? She might not be awake yet."
Gwen nodded, "Okay."
Matt took offered her a hand again, which Gwen took naturally, and they headed down the stairs, through the foyer, and out to the busy morning street.