Once Upon a Star

by Lorana Hoopes

  Audrey assumed she meant the house and nodded. “Cayden’s room is down the hall. This is the living room, dining room, and kitchen space.”

  “Good, easier to keep clean. I do only light housework. Here are my resume and references.”

  Two more white pieces of paper appeared under Audrey’s nose. Similar to the previous woman, the references on the resume were impeccable, but impersonal. Helga rattled off her rules, never bothering to sit down. Instead she paced like a predator stalking a prey. Her heavy footsteps sent shudders along Audrey’s spine. She could not imagine Cayden spending all day with this large, fear-invoking woman.

  He must have had the same idea because as Helga leaned over him, he let out a loud wail and flailed his tiny fists. Audrey picked him up, and as soon as she could, she ended the interview.

  “Okay little one, let’s change your diaper and lay you down for a nap.”

  After grabbing a diaper and some wipes from the nearby stash, Audrey laid Cayden on the carpet and unzipped his sleeper. Before she had gotten his legs out, another knock sounded.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she whispered to Cayden. “Come on in, the door’s unlocked.”

  “That’s a good way to get robbed,” Elliana, her older sister, said, poking her head in.

  “Ellie!”

  Elliana was three years older than Audrey, but the two had grown up close friends. After Elliana married and stopped coming around as often, Audrey was the only one for her mother to focus on. It was then Audrey became disillusioned with her parents’ money and wanted a way out.

  Audrey finished the changing and hugged her sister. “Sorry I didn’t open the door for you; I figured it was another nanny.”

  “Yes, mother told me she lined candidates up for you.”

  The snort escaped Audrey’s mouth before she could stop it. “Yeah, candidates I can’t afford. She refused to lend me money to help pay for one.”

  Elliana crossed to the kitchen and placed her bag on the bar. With her dark hair, she was the antithesis to Audrey. Growing up, people had often asked if they were related. Audrey had taken after their mother’s fair complexion, while Elliana had gotten their father’s darker hair and skin. “Hand me my nephew.”

  “Ugh, I don’t think I can handle more interviews,” Audrey said as she handed the baby over. “Want to stay and help?”

  Elliana pursed her lips, pretending to think before smiling and shaking her head. “Sure, why don’t you go get dressed, and I’ll get the next one.” She pointed to the pajama pants and grinned. “I’m surprised they haven’t gone running after getting a look at you.”

  “Ha Ha,” Audrey said, but the smile remained on her lips. Though she hadn’t missed her parents much, she had missed her sister.

  As she reached her room, she heard Elliana open the door and greet the next nanny hopeful. The blissful silence in the room comforted Audrey, and she took her time changing clothes, relishing the momentary break from nannies and Cayden’s crying. From her drawer, she pulled out a pair of jeans, tugging them up over hips still puffy with baby weight. An oversized grey t-shirt went next to cover the jeans. Then she brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair before exiting the sanctuary.

  “Thank you. We’ll be in touch,” Ellie’s voice carried down the hall.

  “But I was told to meet with Ms. Audrey McCallister,” a woman protested. Audrey pressed herself against the wall so as not to draw attention.

  “Well, Audrey was a little busy, but I assure you I will relay your information.” There was a forcefulness in Ellie’s voice that Audrey remembered from childhood. She had always envied that fortitude because Ellie had been better about standing up for herself, even against their mother. When the front door closed, she pushed herself off the wall and continued down the carpeted hallway.

  “That was fast,” she said as she rounded the corner.

  “Eh, she wasn’t the right one. Too stiff.”

  “They’ve all been too stiff so far. Mother put them together, remember?”

  “And who could deign to deny Evelyn McCallister, right?” Ellie’s chin tilted up in the air as she uttered the mocking statement.

  “What am I going to do, Ellie? I can’t afford any of these women.” Audrey picked up the mug of coffee, hoping to swallow a little of the comforting nectar, but the cold liquid crawled back up her throat. With a shake of her head, she popped the mug in the microwave to warm it again. Before it finished the minute reheat, another knock echoed through the room. A frustrated sigh escaped Audrey’s throat. Would she ever be able to finish this cup of coffee?

  “Want me to send them all away?”

  “I’d love that, but then what do I do?”

  “Leave that to me.” A playful smile curled Ellie’s lips up at the corner and she crossed to the door. “Sorry, the nanny position is filled. You can all go home.”

  “What are you doing?” Audrey asked. “I told you I need someone to watch Cayden.”

  “Yes, but you have another option you haven’t explored.” Ellie’s brown eyes twinkled with whatever secret she was toying with.

  Audrey was too tired to play this game. “What other option, Ellie?”

  The playful smile spread into a wide grin. “You have me.” She held her hand up as Audrey’s mouth opened. “Now, wait, hear me out. Phillip and I have no children yet. I live right outside town, and I want to get to know my nephew.”

  Though Audrey liked the idea, she worried about infringing on her sister. “I can’t pay you much, at least not at first. I need to purchase a car, so I can return the rental, and it will be a bit before I get paid.”

  “That’s fine. Phillip makes plenty of money, and I still have my trust fund. I don’t need the money, and I want to help you out. I’m so tired of staying in the house, but a rich debutante with no skills isn’t exactly in high demand these days.”

  Audrey opened her mouth to agree, but Ellie cut her off.

  “Please, you know I’m good with kids. Let me try for a week, and if you hate me after that, you can call one of these cardboard cutouts.” She flicked her hand at the stack of white papers.

  “Of course I’ll let you watch him,” Audrey replied. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have. I’m just worried about Mother finding out.”

  “You leave Mother to me if she finds out.” Ellie flashed a conspiratorial wink, and Audrey smiled. Just like old times.

  Chapter 5

  Butterflies raced around Blake’s stomach as he dressed for the day. The thought of seeing Audrey again had kept him awake all night, and he splashed water on his face to diminish the visible rings under his eyes.

  The McAllisters had moved to Star Lake when Blake was a Sophomore, and his attraction to Audrey’s beauty had been immediate. With her long blond hair and bright blue eyes, she was the epitome of cheerleader stereotypes, but even though she was wealthy and hung out with the richer kids, she was never mean to anyone, at least not that Blake witnessed. However, she’d also never tried to get to know those outside her social class, and so Blake had pined for her from afar.

  Blake had known he'd had no chance with her back then–the skinny, geeky kid with coke bottle glasses and checkered alligator shirts, but when he’d gone to college, he’d packed on some weight. When he’d found weightlifting, that weight had changed into muscles. His first girlfriend in college also set his fashion straight, throwing out his pocketed shirts and Levi jeans for the more popular variety and cutting his curls to make a manageable hair style. The dramatic effect had started a chain reaction. While the two of them hadn’t lasted, he was forever grateful to her.

  With a final glance in the mirror, Blake flicked off the light, grabbed his keys and lunch, and loaded up in his red Chevy truck.

  Twenty minutes later, Blake pulled into the parking lot of McAllister development and parked in his usual spot. After locking the truck, he gathered his courage, pulled back his shoulders, and sauntered in the front entrance.

&n
bsp; Audrey sat at the front desk, her lips pinched into a tight line. Her jaw clenched as the phone rang and she brought it to her ear. Though he could tell she was frustrated, she looked like an angel to him with her blond hair skimming her shoulders like spun gold. He wanted to say hello, to bring a smile to her face, but she was on the phone, and he had no real reason to stay in the lobby. His shoulders dropped as he drug his feet across the floor, hoping the caller on the phone would be quicker than his slow pace.

  No such luck. The phone was still against her ear as he entered the door to the employee lounge where the check-in resided, but then inspiration hit, and a smile lit his face. A small coffee bar had been installed next to the cafeteria the previous month. Blake had never frequented it because he liked his coffee black and coffee from home was cheaper, but Audrey didn’t appear a black coffee type of person. He didn’t even know if she drank coffee, but he thought she would appreciate the gesture.

  “Hey, good morning Blake,” Wes, a fellow contractor, waved to him as he punched his card.

  “Morning, Wes.”

  “Where are you hurrying off to?”

  “I was going to try the new coffee bar. Is it any good?”

  Wes’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Yeah, but don’t you bring coffee?”

  “I figured I’d get a coffee for Audrey. She looks a little frazzled out there.”

  Wes' lips curled into an understanding smile, and he nodded, one eyebrow raised. “You hoping to impress the boss, huh?”

  Impressing Audrey’s father had never crossed his mind, but he preferred others thinking that rather than knowing his true reason of trying to win Audrey’s favor. “It’s not like that. I just want to welcome the new girl.”

  “Sure, whatever you say, man.” Wes’ laugh followed him out of the room as he made his way to the cafeteria. The lunch area was not a large room as many of the workers took their lunch elsewhere, but the open room housed several tables and a buffet line right near the kitchen. The coffee shop sat on the far end, closest to the outdoor entrance.

  A mousy brunette glanced up at him from behind large glasses as he approached, reminding him of himself in high school. “What can I get you?” Her voice was so soft that he leaned in over the counter to hear her.

  “What’s the best drink for someone who may not like a strong coffee flavor?” he asked as his eyes scanned the menu. Mocha, frappe, latte–the words were all Greek to him.

  “Um,” the girl’s face scrunched in confusion. “Well, I like my coffee sweeter, so I prefer either a mocha or a macchiato, but everyone’s different.”

  “Which has fewer calories?” He wasn’t sure if Audrey was watching them or not, but if she was, he wanted to be prepared.

  “A caramel macchiato is lower in calories.”

  “Great, I’ll take that one please in a medium size.”

  “You mean a Grande?”

  “Is that medium?” he asked, confused.

  “Yeah,” the woman nodded, a ‘what rock have you been living under’ expression on her face.

  “Then, that one.”

  A few moments later, she placed a cup on the counter. “It’s four dollars,” she said.

  Ah, yes, this was why he brought his coffee from home. How did people afford specialty coffee?

  “Aren’t you going to taste it?” she asked as he picked up the cup after forking over his money.

  “It’s not for me. It’s for a friend.” He flashed her a small smile and strolled back to the front entrance.

  Audrey was off the phone, but her gaze was focused on the computer screen in front of her.

  “I thought you could use a little pick me up,” Blake said, tapping the top of her desk.

  She glanced up at him, dark shadows circling her eyes. “Thank you. I told my father I did not know how to be a secretary, but he and my mother insisted I learn a skill. They don’t consider acting a skill.”

  “Well, that’s because they never watched you on stage.” Blake flashed a smile, wishing he could bring one to her face. The memory of her playing Juliet their senior year still popped into his mind occasionally. He had never been a fan of Shakespeare but watching her on stage had made it tolerable.

  A sad smile played across her lips. “Yeah maybe. Well thank you anyway. I gotta get back to this.”

  “Of course, I hope it gets better.” He had hoped to ask her out, but now did not seem the right time. He would just keep praying for an opening to become clear.

  Chapter 6

  “How was the first day?” Ellie asked as Audrey dropped her purse on the floor and collapsed into the couch.

  Audrey exhaled a giant sigh. “I don't think I'm cut out for secretarial work. Everything went wrong. The only positive part of the entire day was lunch and the coffee Blake brought me this morning.”

  Ellie’s eyebrow lifted, and she crossed her arms. “Who’s Blake?”

  Audrey shook her head. “A peer from high school. He said I looked as if I could use a pick me up, and he brought me a coffee.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure he’s just a guy from high school,” her sister stated sarcastically. “Sounds like he has a soft spot for you.”

  “Stop it. I’m a single mom still struggling to lose baby weight. I’m not what one might call a hot commodity.” Self-esteem had never been Audrey’s strongest suit. It was probably why she had fallen for Cayden’s father in the first place. She had known Tony hadn’t been the marrying kind, but she had let herself believe she could change him.

  “You are incredible, little sis. Don’t sell yourself short.” Ellie patted Audrey on the shoulder before grabbing her bag. “Cayden was perfect today. He laid down for nap an hour ago. I’d stay and chat, but I promised Philip I’d make dinner tonight.”

  “Thanks, Sis. See you tomorrow.” Audrey pushed herself off the couch to give Ellie a hug before shutting the door behind her.

  As the silence descended, her mind rehashed Eliana’s remarks. Could Blake be attracted to her? Or was he being nice because she was the boss’s daughter? Before she could reach a conclusion, Cayden’s cry pierced the air.

  With a sigh, she pushed the prospect of romance from her mind and headed to Cayden’s room.

  Audrey arrived at work the next morning eager to try out her new idea. After taking care of Cayden the night before, her mind had wandered back to the possibility of Blake's attraction, and while she wasn’t sure she was ready to date yet, she could use companionship. So, she had decided to ask him to dinner. If he declined, then he had brought the coffee to be nice. If he said yes, either he liked her or at least wanted to become better friends. It wasn't a foolproof system, but it was better than waiting and wondering.

  After straightening the desk from the disarray she left it in yesterday, Audrey sat in the chair and began the task of reviewing documents for the day while keeping one eye peeled for Blake. He entered a moment later, smiling her direction.

  “Morning, better day today?”

  “Well, we’ll see,” she answered with a slight laugh. “Thank you for the coffee yesterday. It was the highlight of the day.”

  “You’re welcome. Any time.”

  “Um, so I was wondering.” A bout of shyness descended on Audrey, tying her tongue and forcing her eyes to the desk. “I wanted to invite you to dinner.” She glanced up from lowered lids. “As a thank you.”

  The dimple appeared in his cheek as he returned the smile. “While no further thanks is needed, I’d love to have dinner with you. In fact, I wanted to ask you out, but you beat me to the punch.”

  Audrey’s cheeks heated. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to steal your thunder.”

  “I don’t care who asks,” Blake said, his eyes twinkling. "I’m looking forward to dinner with you.”

  An odd stirring sensation fluttered through Audrey’s heart. “Here is the address,” she said, holding out the paper she had written her address on moments earlier. “I’ll make spaghetti tonight if you want to come by around seven?”

&nb
sp; “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  The ringing phone halted any further conversation, and he flashed a wave as she picked up the handset. Though her attention should have been on the caller, she couldn’t help but watch Blake exit the room.

  When work ended, Audrey hurried out of the office and to the general store. Not sure if she had everything she'd need at home, she decided to just purchase all the needed ingredients. The dinner had to be perfect.

  The sky outside was darkening as she parked the car. Was it possible it might snow tonight? Audrey hoped it would hold off at least long enough for her to get home. As the chill permeated her coat, she ducked into the store and grabbed a basket. Pasta, sauce, meat, and bread found their way into her basket, and then onto the checkout conveyor belt. With the bill paid, and the groceries tucked in the front seat, she sped home.

  “Can you stay a little longer tonight?” she asked Ellie as she muscled the bags into the house.

  “Why? What is all this?” Ellie asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion.

  “I’m fixing dinner for Blake.”

  A sly smile crossed Ellie’s face, and her left brow arched. “Just friends, huh?”

  “It’s a reciprocal gesture for yesterday,” Audrey said. And a test to see if my feelings are more than surface attraction.

  “Unh huh, a simple thank you wouldn’t suffice? You had to cook the man dinner?”

  Audrey set the bags on the counter and turned to her sister. “Okay, he’s cute, and I'm not sure I’m ready to date yet, but it couldn’t hurt to see if something's there, right?”

  “Of course not, and I don’t think it’s too early to date either. You said Tony left when he found out you were pregnant right?”

  Audrey nodded, not wanting to correct her sister and share that Tony stayed until she gained weight and started wearing stretchy pants.

  “Then I think it’s time you forgot him and looked forward to the future, and this Blake sounds like a nice change. Now, go shower and clean up. I’ll start the spaghetti.”