by Alex Bailey
“I’ve heard of them,” Ann said. “They came to our house and installed a network for my husband.”
Ele smiled, fidgeted with the strap of her overalls, and then continued, “Then he got some contracts from big companies to develop software applications. His business grew enormously and we moved to a huge estate in Silicon Valley. He was really loving life.”
“I was busy raising Hazel for a few years and Horace was busy with his business. He travelled a lot. But he called me every day. Sometimes twice. And when Hazel went to pre-school full time, I started thinking I should probably get a job. Not that we needed the money. Because we didn’t. But I was bored at home all day by myself. And while Horace wanted more kids, sometimes I think just to keep me at home longer, it didn’t happen for us.
“I found a job opening at Stanford University, doing child care. And I was very happy. It was something I could do and I would get out of the house for a few hours while everyone was away. When I told Horace about it, he got very quiet. He didn’t say anything the rest of that evening. The next morning after I put Hazel on the school bus, I got dressed up for my interview and couldn’t find my car keys. I panicked and called Horace. I thought maybe I’d left them in his car or something. But when I asked him, he said that’s what I got for trying to sneak out of the house. It made no sense what he was saying. I wasn’t sneaking anywhere. I was just going on a job interview. But he screamed into the phone some things I don’t want to repeat and told me the next time I tried to go looking for outside pleasure, I’d come home to a house that had the locks changed.
“Well, I didn’t want to upset Horace again, so I decided I’d try to find a mom’s group to join. We met a few times and they were really nice ladies. But one day, Horace called and I wasn’t home. Later, when he asked where I’d been that day, I told him I’d joined a mom’s group. He went ballistic again and put an end to my participation in the mom’s group. I started to get the feeling he really didn’t want me to have a life outside of our home and family. I tried talking to him about it. Then I told him I’d like to take some computer classes at the local community college. I wanted to understand his business better. I thought that would make him happy.
“But it didn’t. Spewing a string of profanities, he stormed out of the house. I was hurt and confused. I didn’t understand what the big deal was. He became agitated whenever I brought up anything other than our house and family. I was very lonely in that big house by myself all day. And Horace had brought in a staff to take care of everything—cooking, cleaning, ironing…even a butler to pluck the hairs out of his nose. There was nothing left for me to do, not that I ever plucked his nose hairs. I don’t know how he expected me to just sit around all day and do nothing. He was out there having a fabulous life and successful career. Honestly, I would rather be in the fields picking cantaloupes than sitting on that couch for hours.
“I decided to take some on-line classes. I wasn’t technically leaving the house, so I figured he wouldn’t have a problem with it. I took a bunch of courses and did well and liked them. I was very happy. I slipped up one day when we were having dinner and he was talking his techno speak, as he always did, and I was able to join in this time. It suddenly became very tense when he realized I knew what I was talking about. He slammed his fork down and it ricocheted off his plate and landed sticking straight up in the table. Hazel was stunned and I ran to her and threw my arms around her shoulders and whispered in her ear to go upstairs to her room.
“She’s a good kid and did as she was told. But I’m pretty sure she heard the storm. Horace screamed so loudly the cook came in and backed away slowly when she saw what was happening. I just sat there and tried to explain I hadn’t technically left the house, but I had taken some on-line classes. That I wanted to surprise him. I thought he’d be pleased I was taking an interest in his business. But he was not pleased. He said he was calling the bank and cutting off all my credit, so there was no way I could take anymore classes. I was devastated. I really liked taking the classes and computer stuff just clicked with me.
“After that, things got really strained between us. Horace would come home and go immediately into his study or the pool room, or wherever he went to be away from us. That didn’t help my loneliness any. I started playing pool during the day with the cook and the maid. I would beg them to stop what they were doing so I could just have a conversation with someone. They spoke Spanish and I enjoyed talking with them very much. When Hazel got off the school bus, I’d bombard her with questions about school. She’d get annoyed. Everyone did. But I didn’t know how to cope.
“Horace started checking my odometer when he got home at night and wanted me to account for every mile I put on the car. He also started calling during the day to check up on me too. He didn’t call me directly. He wanted the cook and the maid to spy on me and report to him what I was doing. They were so sweet. They always covered for me. Not that I was ever doing anything wrong, but if I just happened to be on a walk or talking to the mailman, or anything, they would tell him I was swimming. He seemed satisfied with their answers.
“Until one day, Horace came home and found me delivering mail to the neighbor that had been misdirected to us. He fired the cook and the maid. I was crushed. They were my only friends left. Two new hires appeared the next day. And they didn’t speak English. Spanish either. I have no idea what the cook spoke, I couldn’t understand her accent; it sounded like a mix between French and Chinese. The maid only spoke German. I can’t imagine how they were living in this country not speaking a word of English, or how my husband was able to find these two, but he did.
“Then things got worse. Horace made me ask for every single item I needed, including tampons! He gave me very little money and then demanded receipts and the change back.
“One day, the nurse at Hazel’s school called and said she’d fallen on the playground and they were sending her to the emergency room. I jumped into the car and raced to the hospital as fast as I could. When I got there, Hazel burst into tears. She wasn’t really hurt, but just wanted to be comforted. In the chaos of it all, I had forgotten to tell Horace and when he got home and checked my odometer, he went through the roof, accusing me of all sorts of philandering and prostitution and who knows what else.
“When I tried to explain what had happened to Hazel, he ran by her side and asked if she was okay and when she insisted it was nothing, just a scrape, he accused me of lying about going to the hospital. I told him to call the hospital and ask them or call the school and find out if they had called the ambulance. He said he would. Tomorrow. But that night, he threw me out of the house and locked the doors. Said if I wanted to leave home so badly, then I could.
“I slept on a patio lounge chair and got eaten up by bugs all night. When I woke up, Horace had taken off for work. I couldn’t get into the house, because he’d instructed the maid and the cook not to let me in. And apparently, he’d driven Hazel to school, so she wasn’t there to let me in either. I broke a window in the basement and climbed in that way. When I came upstairs, the cook saw me. She called Horace and said something into the phone very rapidly, which I’m sure he could not have understood, but must have gotten the gist of it. Because he came home a short while later.
“When he burst through the door, he found me in the parlor. His eyes were all crazy. I was terrified of him at that moment and didn’t know what he was capable of doing. I ran to the top floor of our house which was several stories high. I then ran into our bedroom and tore through the French doors onto the deck. Horace caught up to me and we struggled on the deck and the next thing I knew, he was on the pavement below, not moving.
“He was dead by the time the paramedics came. They said he’d broken his neck in the fall. When the police investigated and saw the missing railing slat, they could piece the accident together.
“I fired both the cook and the maid that day and packed up and moved out here. I wanted to flee as far away as I could get from the memories. Haz
el doesn’t remember much of that house anymore. She’s in middle school now and doing fine and so am I. During softball season I keep pretty busy with the high school girls’ team and I have my own computer company, inherited from Horace.”
“Okay,” Freda announced as she stood, “that’s a wrap. See you all next week.”
Chapter 17
On Saturday morning, Ann arrived earlier than Daniel to the Vinci Tavern because she was eager to get started baking cookies but wasn’t sure how many she should make. Even though he wasn’t there, Daniel had left the door open for her to begin.
When he finally arrived just before opening, he apologized, “Sorry, Ann. Had to make a run for some produce.” When he noticed the work she’d done, he said, “You’ve been busy, lady!” he grabbed his apron and began flinging around food, pots and pans, and cutlery in a whirlwind.
Ann was glad she was done; she wanted to get out of his hair as quickly as possible. “I wasn’t sure how many to make, but I figured I’d try doubling it to see if that would be enough.”
“Good idea. We never know in this business.” He whizzed by her.
“I didn’t want to have to throw them out in case they didn’t sell.” She untied her apron and hung it on the hook. “I think it would hurt my feelings to have to throw away my creations.”
“Well, first of all, you wouldn’t be the one throwing them away. I would.” Daniel chopped an onion so fast the onion didn’t have a chance to make him cry before he was on to the next one. “And second of all, don’t think you have to worry about that. I think you’ll be outgrowing this place in no time.”
She frowned. “What do you mean? Outgrowing this place?”
“Come on Ann, you’ve got a real winner in that recipe of yours. You didn’t think you could just sell it as a dessert in my little hole-in-the-wall forever, did you?” He didn’t glance up to see her reaction.
She hadn’t thought of expanding beyond the Vinci Tavern. She liked working with Daniel and didn’t want to leave the tiny restaurant.
The chef stopped long enough to dig into his pocket for a piece of paper and handed it to Ann. “Last week’s profit.”
She took the check and when she opened it, she almost fell over. “How in the world?”
“When I saw how they were selling; I was worried I’d run out before the end of the day. So, I upped the price. Man, it didn’t matter. They sold like hotcakes. And my hotcakes aint bad sellers either. But I increased it again. And again. Until they were double the price and still I sold out in one day. I thought Gloria woulda told you.” He glanced up looking for a reaction.
“Sure.” Her head was spinning. “She mentioned that you wanted me to make more for this week.”
“Well, if these sell as well, you can expect double that next week. We’ll see.”
“But Daniel, what about the money I owe you?”
“I took my half of the profit.”
“For the ingredients, for the electricity and water and use of the kitchen, all the supplies?”
“I told you, Ann. This is your half of the profit. I took the cost of doing business off the top.” He stopped, wiped his hands on his apron, and looked quizzically at her. “What’s the matter?”
“Then this is the profit?” she asked again.
“No. It’s half,” Daniel grinned widely. “You’re starting to make a lot of money, ma’am. That’s why I said that you’ll be outgrowing this place before long if this keeps up. And I have every reason to believe it’ll keep up.”
* * * * *
When Ann finally arrived home, she plopped into her living room chair and held a pillow to her chest. She was exhausted and couldn’t believe she’d made that much money selling cookies. Pretty soon, she’d be making more from her cookie sales than her day job. She wondered how much longer she would be working at Jallopenson and Son if Daniel was right about needing to expand. Working at the car dealership was great, but she’d only taken the job to have something to do.
Starting her own business was a huge step, and Ann didn’t know the first thing about running a business. But so far, things seemed pretty easy. Bake cookies, create a logo, package them nicely and they sell themselves. What more was there to it?
After she made lunch for Honey, Ann felt more than exhausted and lay on the couch. She soon fell asleep. She normally dreamed vivid dreams but today they were even brighter. She dreamed of a Hansel and Gretel house made out of gingerbread cookies. Icing in every color dripped from the ceiling. Kids ran around the house with their mouths open trying to catch their favorite icing flavors on their tongues.
The doorbell of the gingerbread house rang and Ann, dressed in a pink apron and matching ribbon in her hair, opened the door. The Big Bad Wolf snapped at her. She was terrified and quickly slammed the door shut. But it kept ringing and ringing, until…
Ann woke with a start. The room was dark and she wondered how long she’d slept. She barely heard the doorbell ringing through a fog that was her head at that moment. Honey was wagging her tail at the front door.
She made her way to the door, hanging on to the furniture. She was sure she would fall over if she let go. When she opened the door, Ben said, “I was wondering if you were ever going to answer the door.”
“Sorry, I was taking a…” She decided it was none of his business what she was doing or why she hadn’t opened her door. She didn’t work for Ben on the weekends.
“What time is it anyway?” she grabbed a hair band lying on the coffee table and twisted her hair into a ponytail.
“Your hair looks nice like that.”
“Thank.,” She barely noticed the compliment as she searched for her phone and turned on lights. Her head was pounding.
“What are you looking for?” Ben asked.
“Did you come here to interrogate me?” She stopped searching and confronted him.
“No, actually, I came here to take you to dinner.”
“What?” Ann was still dazed. She didn’t remember having scheduled a dinner with Ben.
“I heard the good news. I thought we’d go out and celebrate.”
“What good news?” She found her cell phone, which had slid into the seat cushion in the sofa where she’d been lying. She checked the time. Seven o’clock. She slid it into her pocket. Indeed, she had slept all afternoon. How could this happen? I’d gotten up early for sure, but I’m not ninety, my body doesn’t need a nap all afternoon.
“Danny Boy told me your cookies are doing quite well. Isn’t that cause for celebration?” Ben had been following Ann around the living room.
“What?” She looked up at Ben, who was right on her heels. Why is he following my every move? She quickly moved away from him. But when she did, she felt dizzy and had to hold onto the end of the sofa again.
“Whoa, little lady. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just feel dizzy, that’s all.”
Ben gently grabbed Ann’s waist and eased her onto the sofa, where she sat for a moment wondering what was happening.
“So, I take it you’ve been sleeping,” he said, sitting next to her.
“What makes you think that?”
“Uh, the lights are out. Your hair was disheveled, though I must admit, it’s kinda cute.”
How can he be flirting when I feel so miserable? Her head throbbed.
“Are you saying I’m wrong?”
She suddenly felt extremely fatigued, even though she’d just slept for hours. “No. Please just leave me alone.” She wondered how long she’d have to wait for him to leave so she could get back to sleep.
“Someone’s in a foul mood.”
“Ben, seriously, I’m not feeling well. I think you should just go.” She made her way to the front door and held it open.
“Okay, sure. I hope you feel better soon.” Ben rose, but before he could take a step, Honey darted through the open door.
“Honey!” Ann called after her. “Get in here!”
The louder Ann yelled, the farther
Honey ran. Ann was too weak to go after her dog. She bent over and held onto the door handle. She grabbed her head in her hands and moaned. “Honey doesn’t know this town. She’ll be lost forever.”
Ben bolted past her and called over his shoulder, “Go lie down. I’ll get her.”
Ann didn’t trust Ben to get her dog and ran out the front door after Honey herself.
He turned just as Ann fell. He stopped in his tracks, returned to her, and scooped her up in his arms. “I told you to go lie down. Now look, you’ve scraped your elbow.”
Ann was mortified to be taken back into the house by her boss, but what could she do; she knew she was too weak to protest.
He laid her down on the sofa and scolded her, “Now stay here.” He dashed into the kitchen, ran some water over a paper towel and dabbed her elbow. “I promise I’ll get your dog. I won’t come back until I find her. But you’ve gotta get some rest. May be some sort of virus or something.”
Ann knew he was right. She lay back down on the pillow and immediately fell asleep. She continued her dream of the gingerbread house. This time, she was selling sweets behind a counter. Customers were coming in ordering boxes and boxes of candy. She wore roller skates and skated all over the house to fill their orders. She was so hot she wore a bikini. Even in her dream, she thought it was an amusing scene.
She was exhausted in her dream and when she woke up sweating in the middle of the night, she wondered if Ben had ever brought Honey home. If he had, she surely was unconscious when he came in and was not aware of it. “Honey!” she called. Nothing. No bounding down the stairs, no nails click-clacking on the hardwood floors. No licking of the face.
