by C. L. Stone
“That’s a good place to start,” Mr. Buble said. “It’d be wise to alert the rest of the team of what is happening. Is there a meeting scheduled soon?”
Kota shook his head. “I’ve been holding off for Dr. Green and Mr. Blackbourne to be available.”
“If we’re too busy and scattered, you’ll have to make primary decisions with who is available and filter the information through to them. We may not be able to wait.” He went on to begin washing the dishes, scraping the leftover bits into the disposal.
The rest of us helped to tidy up the kitchen, but it was clear from everyone else’s expressions that we were all suddenly overwhelmed.
A new place to live.
This manager.
The job that they were on the verge of losing completely.
He was right though. We did need to live somewhere else. The way we lived now only enticed Volto to us. We were also at risk all the time just living here. Why didn’t we see it before? Were we really too close to the situation to see it?
How much more were we not able to see, that we could fix? He made it sound so simple.
Pietoso
(Pitiful, piteous)
Sang
It took a long time before I heard footsteps in the house. The baby had woken up, and so far without them, I managed to get the young boy’s diaper changed, feed him a bottle, burp as directed, and he gleefully watched his little sister’s movie, even if she restarted it twice.
He didn’t move much. Annie did often. But she entertained herself, and her baby brother, and did everything she wanted, leaving me to just ask, “Do you need my help?”
“No, I got it,” she’d say in a very cute way.
After some time of watching the same movie, Mrs. Ruiz and Mr. Buble appeared from the kitchen.
“Sorry we’re late,” Mrs. Ruiz said, moving instantly to Annie on the couch. She smiled at her daughter. “How are you, dear?”
Her kid perked up. “We’re out of cheese,” she said. There was a small pile of string cheese wrappers next to her on the couch. She’d gotten up to go to ‘her drawer’ in the fridge, where there were cheese and other snacks. She’d only eaten the cheese.
I blushed, waiting for Annie to mention the guys but she seemed only interested in her snacks. “I wasn’t sure if I should make her something else.”
Mrs. Ruiz smiled and waved her hand. “It’s fine. I’ll make some dinner in a minute.” She scanned the room and turned toward little Connor. “How’d the little guy do?” She moved to him, kneeling and looking at him.
I shrugged. “I think he’s okay.” He’d only modestly cried when he woken up. Annie caught him when he seemed to want to cry and entertained him really well.
“He’s so cute,” Annie said gleefully.
“You’re very excited to have a new little baby,” Mrs. Ruiz said. She picked up the boy and held him in her arms. “He is very cute.”
“His name is funny,” Annie said.
“Connor Coaltar is a funny name.”
Not her baby? Was Connor adopted? Wouldn’t they have changed the last name?
“I’ve got him from here,” she said.
My nerves buzzed with electricity. I was worried I should have done more or something was wrong, but with her saying it was okay, I calmed a little.
“Then we best get going,” Mr. Buble said gently. He motioned for me to follow him. “I believe you need to get to an event tonight.”
I did, although the whole experience left me feeling uneasy.
Was what I did wrong? Did it still count that two of the boys had been up the road nearly the entire time?
I followed Mr. Buble out, saying goodbye to Annie repeatedly as she insisted on following me to the front door. “Have a nice day!” she cried to us and closed the door.
I joined Mr. Buble in the car and when he started the engine, I said quickly, “I’m really sorry.”
“What do you mean? You did a fine job.”
“Yes, but... one of the guys from the team called and when I said I was babysitting, two of them came to check on me.”
He lifted a brow. “Really?”
I nodded. “I just... I’ve never babysat before and I didn’t know what to do. They came by and showed me a few things and then left... and I think they’re still in the neighborhood.” I gritted my teeth and looked down at my lap. “I’m sorry. I might not deserve a favor.”
He slowed the car to the side of the road. We hadn’t left the neighborhood yet and if Mrs. Ruiz had stepped out onto her porch, she could see us.
Mr. Buble turned to me, his face tranquil, no hint as to his thoughts. “Do you think you deserve the favor?” he asked.
I bit my lip a little, shrugging, still not looking at him. I felt a little guilty because the task was simple as well. I did absolutely nothing but sit on the couch for the most part. The girl got her own snacks. The boy needed maybe fifteen minutes of attention from me at most and then settled down in his play chair quickly. Maybe compared to other Academy jobs I’d been on, it felt too simple.
“Consider it,” he said. “You need to think very carefully. In your heart, do you feel you earned one favor for watching over those children while Mrs. Ruiz was away?”
I breathed in through my nose and looked up, out through the windshield but not at him still. “Was it okay that they came by to offer advice?”
“You didn’t ask them to do it for you. Advice, when you aren’t sure, is never at a price, never a cost.”
Still, it seemed so trivial task. “I felt I did her a favor, but it doesn’t feel like the same level of... importance for what Victor got.”
“Favors aren’t measured by importance,” he said. “It’s unfair to ask ten-year-old children to win a favor or two the same way you or even adults like myself should be able to. If you’re looking for what’s valued, Mrs. Ruiz’s children are valuable to her and the circumstances were irregular enough to warrant asking someone at the last minute and at an inconvenient time to come in.”
“I want to be fair,” I said.
“Will it make you feel better that she was able to complete her task to success? She couldn’t have done it without someone watching her children.”
“It helps to know a little, I think.”
He nodded and started the car again, rolling forward. “I can’t make the decision for you, but I can give you time to make a decision.”
I was grateful for the chance to think about it. I wanted a chance to talk with the others about this, and what was fair or wasn’t regarding this. Perhaps their experience would lend me more confidence.
What happened if I didn’t feel it’s good enough of a favor in the end?
For several moments, there was a silence that settled into the car, and I thought that was the end of the conversation.
Until in a very calm, very soothing voice, he said, “Will we walk a simple road of peace, or will we run to the assist... and adventure?”
His words confused me. He made it seem like accepting a favor for watching the kids was acceptable and that I should. And that also if I were to suggest I needed to do more, I could, if I wanted.
The question left me reconsidering.
I wondered if it was a test.
My heart was telling me accepting the favor didn’t feel right.
But what about Victor? Would his point be retracted because I’d failed?
♥♥♥
We arrived shortly onto the street where the Morgan estate was, but traffic was backed up around the block. Kota and Gabriel were behind us somewhere, I was sure. I’d have to explain to them at the party what happened.
I inspected the outfit Gabriel had picked out for me. The simple sweater and skirt combination wasn’t as formal as what some of the others would wear, but Gabriel said it’d serve until it started. I think he had something in Victor’s closet waiting for me, but running late...
“Tonight isn’t the night to stand out,” he’d said.
Maybe
it was better to wear what I was wearing now. He was right. The attention would be on Victor. Downplaying an outfit was a good idea.
Going in alone to this party was a nerve-racking feeling, but knowing the others were behind me and more should be inside, I tried to soothe my nerves.
Mr. Buble waited behind a row of cars. Gentle, late afternoon glows came over the top of large homes and live oak trees lined either side, casting a darkness along the lane so that it seemed already twilight and dark. Our faces were cast in red tones of brake lights as we waited.
“Neighbors should have been rerouted,” Mr. Buble said absently. “Two blocks away there should have been an attendant to direct people passing through. This blockage is completely unnecessary.”
“Are we late?” I asked.
“Technically, yes,” he said. “And I do apologize for that. I did promise to be back in time for you to be here. It isn’t terribly late.” The car ahead of us rolled forward, but stopped shortly after, waiting on other vehicles ahead. Mr. Buble’s glasses glinted with red at the rear brake lights. I couldn’t see his eyes through it. The effect was almost comical, giving him the appearance of red glasses. He frowned as the cars ahead of us continued to pause. “I hate to suggest this, but you should go ahead. Walking would be faster.”
“What about you?”
He pulled his phone out, holding it with one hand. Without looking at it, he pressed his thumb a couple of times to the surface.
My phone rang in my lap. An unknown number.
“Pick it up,” he said.
I did, instinctively putting it to my ear.
He put his phone on speaker and put it down in the cup holder. “Just keep me on the line. Let me know when you get into the party. Don’t hang up unless you are inside the wall and also near people that can see you clearly. I can trust that your team will be there in full?”
I nodded. “They should all be there, except for the two behind us, and they’ll catch up soon.”
“Then I can leave you with them. I can see the house from here and will be able to monitor until you’re in. Even after you’re in and hang up, call me without hesitation for any reason.”
It was weird to hear his voice and hear the echo on the phone. “Okay.”
“I’ll check in tomorrow morning. We have a lot to go over.” With that, he urged me with a hand gesture to go on.
We weren’t but a block from the house. Still, I was nervous arriving alone.
Victor was probably waiting.
Once I got closer, it was clear there were people questioning and arguing with attendants as to why they were blocking the front of the house. The arguments probably caused the backup in traffic far more than the redirection of traffic.
From the street, the yellow three-story house that stood behind iron gates near the front seemed to glow. The lights were on. The trees near the front of the property had been decorated with some small white lights around their bases, not quite Christmas style. It was too late into January for that. It was more of a decorative accent.
The gates were open, with two guards near the front, dressed in black, keeping an eye on the street. I approached the house cautiously, under the gaze of two lions that sat on pillars near the double stairwell toward the front and the guards. The two men said nothing to me, although their eyes followed.
I wasn’t sure if I should go around the house or up to the door, but just to be sure, I climbed the steps. The front door was opened before I could knock.
A woman stood by the door, clipboard in hand. “Hello,” she said with a smile. “You’re...” She paused and then blinked. “I’m sorry, you’re here for...”
“Victor’s party,” I said. “I’m Sang Sorenson.” What else was there to say? Was this normal for guests? I supposed they would try to stop just anyone from entering. Security blocked the driveway just for this party, but they’d let me past the gate. They knew who I was. This woman wasn’t security so likely just checking the guest list.
The woman blinked repeatedly and then checked with a phone in her other hand. “I thought I knew everyone on the guest list...”
Was she supposed to know all of the names and faces on the guest list? “If you call Victor and tell him my name...”
She smiled and nodded slowly. “I was given a list and you’re not on it. I have to check with...” She paused and tilted her head. She seemed to be wearing an earpiece. I couldn’t see it with her hair covering her ears, I was just familiar with that particular tilt and the dazzled look like she was listening. “Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, security said to let you in.”
I passed her into the main hallway of the house, breathing out slowly through my lips. Security. I’d been here enough and Victor had told them to let me in without question every time.
However, the party was planned by his mother. And Mrs. Morgan didn’t really like me. Would she be mean enough to not put me on the list for Victor’s own party?
I feared that might have been the case. Yet I’d been here earlier. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be upset I was here.
Tempo Giusto
(In strict time)
Sang
After breakfast, those who weren’t dressed changed clothes. Victor put on a pair of what I thought might be Luke’s jeans and a plain white T-shirt. The jeans were a little long for him, given he was a few inches shorter, but the overall ensemble seemed to put him in a slightly better mood. It wasn’t often that Victor wore such casual clothes. Despite the situation with Mr. Buble, he smiled a bit more.
Did just changing clothes make him feel better? I hoped so.
“When should we expect to move?” Kota asked Mr. Buble as we followed him and Victor out to the town car he had parked in the driveway.
Mr. Buble smoothed down the black tie he wore and adjusted the pin that kept it together with his shirt. The transformation was from the casual Mr. Buble making breakfast for us, to the astute and meticulous Mr. Buble. Only slight differences really, but it made an impact. “Are we not ready to be on the move when needed? In this case, there is plenty of time to get everything and not have to return. We should be ready to move when housing is secured.” He turned to me. “That includes anything you find valuable to you at your old home.”
My parents’ house? I didn’t think I needed anything over there. Or did he just want me to be sure because I wouldn’t be back? I wasn’t sure what was left to take with me.
“Now,” he said, motioning to Victor. “I’d like for you to join me. We need to get acquainted and we can talk about housing options.”
“Just me?” Victor asked.
“For now,” he said. He turned to Kota. “If you’ll get started taking that inventory and making lists of items we’ll need to bring along. And let the others know that we’ll need a family meeting.”
Kota nodded slowly. “I’ll do that.”
We returned to the garage and Kota, Nathan, and I watched together as Victor and Mr. Buble got into the dark town car. We stayed together as Mr. Buble started his car and backed up into the road, to drive off through the neighborhood and out of view.
Quietly, Kota reached over, holding my hand.
Nathan had done the same, a stronger grip, on the opposite side.
I said nothing, only looking out into the neighborhood. My parents’ house was within view of the garage. It was a reminder of how much we’d been through, how far we’d come.
It was that moment that I realized our relationship, the special one I shared with Kota, Nathan, and the others on our team, was starting the transition. It was like we’d been warned about by others. Mr. Blackbourne had said we’d have to believe this can work and show we can stay together. Others would come. They would question us. The Academy... if Mr. Buble found out about us, what would happen?
Were we ready to talk to them about this?
“What should we do?” Nathan whispered, as if he could still hear us.
“We can’t let him know,” Kota said. “At this point, I’m not su
re they’d graduate any of us if they found out.”
“They don’t judge us like that,” Nathan said. “It’s not what they do. I thought maybe we should tell him.”
“The Academy doesn’t judge people,” Kota said. “But it made it harder for Lily and Liam and their team to graduate. I’ve been talking to her. They delayed graduation until they are absolutely sure they could work together and not have problems as a team. I’d like for them to graduate us before letting them know. They can’t take it back after. We’re close... if we can just find that money...”
I breathed in deeply, letting the air fill my lungs and only releasing when they felt so expanded they’d burst. The school. The job. If they finished, how many favors did that earn them? Enough to graduate, it seemed. In one big job, they’d have recovered money and restored the school to normality, allowing those that came after to take our place to start from a clean slate and with funds to improve the school.
Had they lost too many favors to be able to graduate though? Circumstances had changed from the start of the year.
“Maybe things have changed since Lily and their team graduated,” Nathan said. “It’s been years.”
Kota shook his head. “I don’t know...”
“Maybe we should go talk to her.”
This seemed to shake Kota up. He nodded firmly before turning back toward the house, letting me go. “That’s exactly what we’re doing today.”
Nathan caught up to him, tugging at his elbow. “We need some people to stay here. Whatever he might find out, and whatever Lily says... maybe Mr. Buble is right. We need to go.”
It wasn’t like Kota to get so excited he forgot something as important as family safety. He paused just inside the door of the house, considering. “We’ve been putting off moving everyone, but he is right on that point. Your dad could come back, and they couldn’t really keep him away forever. Not from his own house. It’ll be harder to move you out if he gets back before it’s done.” He looked at me, the glint in his green eyes shifting. “Your parents... they could see you here at some point, call the cops when they wish to have you brought back. We’re still working with the lawyer about their divorce. They might have agreed to this for now, but let’s not take any chances. Out of sight, out of mind possibly...”
