Alicia's Misfortune

by S. Silver

  “I don’t even have the money to buy new supplies right now, Leila. I need something where I can get paid on the spot, and I need something soon. It’s not just me, you know. Many of the girls from our company are out here now looking for employment and none of them are finding anything.” Amber tried to look hopeful, but she couldn’t even muster up a smile.

  “If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know. Emily and I are in the same boat.” Leila nodded her head, hoping that amber realized she wasn’t alone in her troubles. She gave Amber’s son a pat on the head and then they parted ways. Leila entered the post office, bought her envelope and her stamp, and then made her way back to Griffin’s Café where Emily awaited her return.

  “Here you go. Let’s get busy.” Leila placed the stamped envelope on the table and then sat down. Emily had already written her letter, and she handed it over to Leila. “Wow. You already finished it. Why don’t you read it out loud?” Leila looked enthusiastically at Emily and then leaned forward in her seat. Emily smiled and then cleared her throat.

  “Okay. Here you go.” Emily took a quick sip of her coffee and then read the letter. “Dear Mister McBride, my name is Emily Fawn and I live in a small town in England called Lancashire. I am writing in response to the ad you placed in the Lancashire Times a few days ago, and I wanted to tell you that I think I’d be the perfect fit for your needs. I’m great with children, and I have lots of experience as a care-taker. My cousin, Leila, is also interested in the position, and she has equal experience. We hope to hear back from you soon.” Emily paused and then took a deep breath. Leila looked on with admiration.

  “Well, you sure can write a clear, concise letter, and I think it’s off to a good start. But…” Leila paused and furrowed her brow. “You know, it kind of sounds like I’m not really included in the offer as much as you.” She didn’t want Emily to take offense, but she didn’t think that this man in Texas was going to be interested in meeting two women, and then having to decide which to marry. She thought for a few seconds and then tilted her head in contemplation.

  “That’s really what you think?” Emily looked hurt and confused.

  “Well, kind of. I mean, think about it, Em. What man wants to have to decide between two women that respond to the same ad? I think you should do it. Even though I’m the one that found the ad, I think you’re a stronger person and I honestly think you’d do a better job. You send it yourself.” Leila sat back with a satisfied look on her face. She really meant what she had just said, and Emily knew it.

  “Okay. I’ll send it as the sole requester. But I’m going to ask him to consider having you come along with me. And if he won’t agree to that, then I’m going to find out what kind of work there might be near his ranch so that you can come out later.” Emily nodded her head, already visualizing a life on a ranch out in Texas.

  “You know, there could be a lot of other women sending letters to this man.” Leila leaned forward and scrunched her nose. She didn’t want Emily to get her hopes up. “But, I guess you have as much a chance as any of the others.” She shrugged and then got up to reach for her coat.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Emily wondered why Leila was leaving so abruptly.

  “I’m off to look for work.” She smiled and then buttoned up her coat, waved to Martha, and walked outside. Emily sat alone at the table, feeling somewhat confused by Leila’s behavior, but also a little bit optimistic that the man in Texas would choose her as his bride. What did she have to lose? She reviewed the letter once more, then added a few sentences and made a few edits. When she was pleased with the final result, she folded it neatly in half and then slid it inside the envelope.

  Back at home Leila was busy scouring the other local papers for any leads. She didn’t turn up with much, and by the time Emily came home, she was ready to make dinner and resume her search until the next day. “Get the letter mailed?” Leila called out to Emily from the kitchen. Emily nodded with satisfaction.

  “I dropped it in the mailbox so it should be there in about a week.” Emily shrugged and then looked at Leila. “You know, I made sure to include you in the letter, Ley.” Emily didn’t think it would be fair to take the position if it were offered unless she knew that Leila would somehow benefit, as well.

  “I appreciate it, Emily. But seriously- I’ll find work, eventually. I wouldn’t want to travel out to Texas as a third wheel. I’m not mad, so don’t worry.” Leila smiled and then went about chopping vegetables for a soup that she had decided to prepare. “I’m sure that whatever happens, it will all be for the best.” Leila meant what she said. She set her carrots and her peppers into a large pot, and then started to make the broth. Emily sat down at the kitchen table.

  “I guess it doesn’t help for me to get my hopes up, anyway.” She knew that it was always like her to think the best and to assume that she’d get whatever she set her hopes on. She really hadn’t suffered too many big let-downs yet in life, so it made sense for her to think that life would always tilt in her favor.

  “I think that you have a good chance.” Leila didn’t look up from making her soup, but Emily could tell that she was sincere. “Who knows, Emily. Maybe you’ll be the first one in the family to finally see another part of the world.” Leila smiled and then scraped some onions into her pot. Emily sat quietly in thought. Then she nodded her head. She hoped that Leila was right.

  Chapter 4

  About a week after Emily had sent her letter there was an ad that ran in the paper for a baker. Leila responded immediately, and was called in for an interview. She was hired on the spot. Emily was thrilled for her cousin, but at the same time she also felt an uneasiness in her bones. What would happen to her if she didn’t hear from Dylan McBride? What if he already decided on marrying somebody else? Emily worried, but told herself not to get too worked up just yet.

  On the morning of Leila’s first day at the bakery, a letter came in the mail for Emily. It was postmarked from the United States, and the return address was 3532 Running River Road in Lubbock, Texas. Leila was so excited for Emily that she almost made herself late for work. “Hurry! Open it and see what it says.” Leila ran her hands through her hair and watched as Emily carefully tore open the edge of the envelope.

  In what felt like an eternity of silence, Emily carefully unfolded the letter and held it in front of her face. Leila leaned in next to her to try and see what it said. Emily giggled with excitement and then read the letter out loud. “Dear Emily, I wanted you to know that after reading through more than fifty letters, I’ve decided to choose you for my marriage. I will tell you more about how I came to my decision after you have made the trip out to Texas. I look forward to meeting you. Please let your cousin know that I will likely have some work for her in the spring when the weather gets warmer. I will arrange for your flight and would like you to come out as soon as possible. Thank you. Dylan McBride.”

  Emily dropped the letter and it drifted across the floor. Even with her optimistic attitude, she was still surprised that he had actually selected her. What would she do now? How could she just pack up and leave Leila? What if the spring work he mentioned didn’t actually pan out? Her mind whirled with questions and anxieties. Before she could even process a reaction, Leila threw her arms around her cousin and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  “See?” She jumped up and down. “I knew that he would pick you! I’m telling you, Emily. I just had a feeling that this was meant to be. And look at the timing. I just found work, and I think I’m going to like this job. We’re both going to make it, after all.” Leila beamed with happiness. To her, this was the best sequence of events that could have occurred since the fire.

  “Texas, here I come.” Emily threw her arms around Leila and the two embraced until Emily backed away with a questionable expression on her face. “Leila, I sure hope this works out. I mean, I’ve never left Lancashire, and now I’m going to be traveling to another part of the world, to a ranch…” Her voice trailed off and she started to worry
. “I don’t want to leave you. What if the bakery work doesn’t suit you? Then you’ll be here all alone, with no job.”

  The thought of Leila being alone, with no work, and very little family made Emily’s stomach churn. She couldn’t let it happen. She wouldn’t. She would make sure that Dylan McBride knew where she stood with her cousin’s wellbeing, and she would insist that she come out to Texas if her work at the bakery didn’t last.

  “Emily.

  There is no sense in worrying about the unknown. You have to just go out there and give it a try. Who knows? You might even end up liking the guy.” Leila shrugged and then walked toward the hallway. “Come on. Let’s get you packed up while that soup simmers.” With that, she headed into their bedroom and started to rifle through the closet. “You might as well pack all of your nice clothes. What if wants to take you out to dinner? He’s a successful business man. He’ll probably want you to wear fancy dresses and wear expensive jewelry.” Leila smiled, trying to imagine how her cousin’s life might abruptly change. Emily frowned.

  “I don’t own any fancy dresses or expensive jewelry, so I hope he plans on buying whatever he needs.” She frowned and then looked at the clothes as Leila pulled them out of the closet. She was already nervous about not fitting in with his Texas lifestyle, but there was nothing she could do now except get on the plane and go.

  Emily’s flight was on the following Saturday. With a mind filled with trepidation, she made her way to the ticket counter and checked in. Leila stood by and waited for them to call her flight, then watched as she got in line to board. “I love you, Emily!” Leila called out as Emily got in line to board. Emily didn’t turn around because she didn’t want her cousin to see her crying.

  She found her way to her seat, then stowed her carry-on bag. She sat down and buckled her seat belt, then closed her eyes as the pilot announced their take-off. In a matter of minutes she was up in the air, flying over the clouds and away from England. When her flight landed safely in Texas, she sat in her seat and then took a deep breath. She had arrived, and now she had to meet Dylan.

  He was waiting in the airport when she got off the plane. Emily didn’t know what he looked like. All he told her in his letter was that he was tall and had dark hair. It could have been any of the men that she saw when she got off. She swallowed hard and then walked toward the bag carousel. When she had her suitcase, she carried it to the side and waited for him to find her. “Emily?” Someone called her name and she looked up to see a tall man, with dark hair and blue eyes, standing before her.

  “I’m Dylan.” He smiled and took her suitcase. Emily sized him up and decided that he was an attractive man, probably around thirty, and with a solid, yet lean sort of build. He reminded her of a man she had once seen in a cigarette commercial, and she wondered if he was going to be someone that she enjoyed being with, or someone that she couldn’t stand.

  “It’s nice meeting you.” Emily was nervous. She pulled her hair away from her face and tried to straighten her posture. She knew that it probably didn’t matter much what she looked like- after all, he was looking for someone out of “convenience.” Yet she still had the urge to make herself appear as attractive as possible.

  She had worn one of her long, denim skirts with a cream colored sweater. Dylan walked forward, turning around on occasion to make sure that Emily was still right behind him. He had a long stride, and Emily noticed that he wore brown leather cowboy boots. “Sorry if I seem to be in a rush. I just don’t like crowds too much.” Dylan gave Emily a half-hearted smile and then continued forging ahead.

  When they reached the parking lot, Dylan hoisted Emily’s suitcase into a large, red pick-up truck. So far, he seemed to match the description pretty accurately. He looked professional, clean, and confident. Getting to his home would be the real test, Emily assumed. To her, it was both exciting and anxiety- producing. She didn’t know what to expect, and she had no real gauge with which to measure her expectations, either.

  “I live about a half hour away, over in Lubbock.” Dylan smiled and then turned on the radio. Emily was already aware of many differences between her home town and Texas. For one, the highways were larger and wider. The people were definitely more fashion conscious, and there seemed to be an aura of country-living that emanated from those she saw in the street.

  When they pulled into Dylan’s driveway, Emily’s jaw dropped. She did a double-take and then looked at Dylan. She didn’t know what to say, but she was floored by what she saw. “Well, this is my humble abode. I’ll help you with the suitcase and then show you to the front door.” Dylan hopped out of the truck and then opened up the trunk. Emily sat in the passenger seat, not sure if he was joking or not.

  His home was a dilapidated single wide trailer, surrounded on either side with a faded picket fence that was busted in several places. Two dogs on long, rusty chains barked and growled from their doghouses and a single rooster strutted alongside the driveway. Emily tried to imagine what the inside would look like. “You ready to come in?” Dylan stood in front of her with a smile on his face. Emily gulped and then stepped out of the truck.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” She whispered under her breath and then followed him up the crumbling porch steps. When they reached the front door, Dylan took a deep breath and then turned the knob. The door flung open, and Emily’s eyes widened. Two young girls were cutting each other’s hair in the middle of the room, and a woman with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth was watching television. Emily froze in her tracks and then looked at Dylan. What had she gotten herself into?

  Chapter 5

  There was nothing she could do right now except watch the two girls as they both held scissors at each other’s heads. “I’m cutting yours just like the girl in the superhero’s movie!” One of them yelled out loud. Emily didn’t know what to say, but she wanted to know why Dylan wasn’t having much of a reaction to the entire scenario. Instead, he looked at the woman who was sitting on the couch and then stepped over a pile of laundry that was piled on the floor. Emily still waited in the doorway.

  “They ate some pita pockets around seven and then watched a movie.” The woman flicked ashes from her cigarette into an ashtray. “Hey, you two, put them scissors down.” She got up slowly and Emily saw that she was wearing a tank top and skin tight jeans. “I guess kids will be kids.” She laughed and then snatched the scissors out of the two girls’ hands. Dylan shrugged and then wandered into the dining room.

  “Come with me, Emily.” He gestured for her to come inside and she walked slowly toward the children who were now jumping off the chairs and onto the couch.

  “Hello, there.” Emily knelt down and smiled at the young girl with the brown hair, and the girl stuck out her tongue. Emily backed away as Dylan waited patiently for her to follow him into the kitchen. A foul stench emanated from the sink and when he flicked on the flights she saw that there was a mountain high pile of dishes leaning off to the side. Emily didn’t think it could get much worse, but when he opened up the back door, the screen fell off the window.

  “As you might be able to tell, it’s not the most organized house in Texas.” Dylan let out a chuckle and then peeked around the corner, just in time to catch one of the girls throwing a pile of crayons at the woman in the tank top. Emily was floored. How could he just let these children run wild? She still didn’t know how to react, and she was truly baffled by the woman’s lack of disciplining.

  “Well, gimme a call next time you need me, okay, Dylan?” The woman called out from the front door and then stood with her hands on her hips, apparently waiting for him to pay her. She chewed on a piece of gum and then watched as the girl with the red hair threw a pillow across the room. It hit the lamp and knocked the shade over. Emily gasped as the shade then hit a glass of water which broke and fell all over the floor.

  “Dylan.” Emily couldn’t restrain herself any longer. “One of these children is going to hurt, and possibly badly, if you don’t do something about their b
ehavior.” Emily couldn’t believe that the words came out of her mouth, but they did and there was no taking them back. He looked at her with an expression of relief.

  “I know, Emily. That’s why you’re here.” He walked toward her and then patted her on the shoulder. It was the first gesture that he’d made toward her that really caught her attention. His hand was large and strong, but she felt a certain comfort from it, as well. The woman in the tank top remained by the door. She cracked her gum and then Dylan snapped out of his daze. “Yes. Of course!” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty dollar bill and handed it to the woman. She stuffed it down her bra and then winked at Dylan and left.

  “Well I’m not sure I can…” Emily’s voice trailed off as she tried to speak. Just then the girl with the brown hair took a pile of books and started ripping the pages out of one of them. Emily’s eyes widened.

  “Stop!” She grabbed the book from the girl and then held it tightly against her chest. Growing up she had always been taught to respect books and her parents had always showed her an appreciation toward them with their elaborate library. Emily was appalled at the children’s behavior, and watching one them attempt to destroy a book put her over the edge. “Go upstairs to your room!” Emily snapped again and then shooed the young girl away.

  “You know, I realize that I didn’t even introduce you to Anna and Eisley.” Dylan shook his head and then attempted to pull one of the dishes out from the pile in the sink. The entire tower toppled over and a loud crashing sound ensued. Emily covered her ears and then tried to think of what she should do. There were so many levels of dysfunction to what she saw around her that she didn’t know where to start.

  “It’s fine. I think I just a few minutes to…” Emily’s voice tapered off just as a loud boom came from upstairs. “I just need to adjust.” She looked at Dylan and then rushed out of the kitchen to see what had happened upstairs. “Is everything okay?” She yelled from the foot of the stairs and then craned her neck to see if she could see anything. The girls let out a roar of laughter.