Life Unexpected

by J A Stone

  “Did they tell you about my daughter?” Millie asked hesitantly.

  “No . . .” Corey was suddenly afraid of what Millie was going to say. She remembered that the service had mentioned something about Millie probably not being good for the long term.

  “Deborah was born . . . uh . . . you know . . . slow. Now she’s growing up.” Millie paused and gave Corey a shy smile. “She’s sixteen. I heard about this school here in Atlanta that could teach girls like her to do a job and to take care of herself. So we moved here from Cairo so that Deborah could go to that school. The school bus picks her up at seven thirty in the mornings and brings her home around six at night. I looked at the MARTA bus schedule on my way here, and I won’t be able to get here any earlier than eight in the mornings, and I have to be on the five-thirty bus in the afternoons to get back to our apartment before she gets home. She wouldn’t know what to do if she got off her school bus and I wasn’t there.” Millie looked worriedly for Corey’s reaction.

  “Um . . . ,” Corey said, finally understanding what the service had meant when they mentioned that Millie had a fixed schedule. Since Corey’s schedule was anything but fixed, she realized Millie wasn’t going to work, after all. Corey felt devastated. “I’m a lawyer who works a lot of hours,” Corey began. “I’m rarely home by five thirty, and even if I tried to be home by then, in all honesty, I couldn’t guarantee you that I would be able to do so.”

  Millie’s face fell. “It seems like no one can. You’re about the tenth person I’ve interviewed with.”

  Corey felt touched by the look of despair on the woman’s face. Suddenly Corey had an idea. Maybe Millie could help Corey while she was on maternity leave until she found someone else more suitable.

  “I’ve got six more weeks of maternity leave, and I’d really love to hire you to work during that time. You see, I’m an inexperienced single mother who is desperate for some help. Of course, I’ll have to find someone who can be more flexible when I go back to work. But for now, I’d really love it if you could help me out.”

  Millie appeared frozen for a few minutes, and then finally she said cautiously, “If the service finds me another job, I’ll have to interview for it.”

  “Of course,” Corey said.

  “Well, when do you want me to start?” Millie asked.

  “Can you start right now? Like I said, I’m desperate!”

  Millie nodded her head yes and gave Corey another shy smile, and that was that.

  CHAPTER 15

  By the end of that week, Corey realized she was falling in love with Millie. Like most love affairs, it started a bit awkwardly. Millie was hesitant and quiet, not sure how to act around Corey.

  She was always asking permission before doing anything; she even asked permission before going to the bathroom. So Corey had spent much of that first day trying to make Millie relax and feel comfortable around her. Millie had no trouble feeling comfortable around Stella.

  By midweek, Millie had begun to unwind a bit. When she volunteered that she loved to cook almost as much as she loved babies, Corey declared, “I hate to cook. Well . . . actually, I don’t really know how to cook. While my mother was teaching my sister to cook, my dad was teaching me how to bait hooks and clean fish.”

  “Cooking’s not hard,” Millie said. “It just takes a little practice. I’ll be glad to teach you if you like. Actually, I’d love to cook for you and Stella if you’ll just tell me what you like.”

  “Really? You’d cook for us?” Corey asked incredulously, and it was official: Corey was in love with Millie.

  “Sure, I would. When you feel like it, why don’t we go to the grocery store and do some shopping?”

  “Maybe you could go by yourself. I’ve never taken Stella out anywhere, except to the pediatrician’s office.”

  Millie shook her head as though she didn’t understand. “Stella won’t break. You can take her to the grocery store.”

  “I worry about her crying. You’ve heard her when she gets wound up.”

  “So what? Everybody’s heard a baby crying in a grocery store. Come on, Ms. Corey, I think it’s time we went grocery shopping.”

  Corey was sure they presented quite a picture going through the grocery store. Millie placed Stella in her carrier in a grocery cart, and then proceeded to push the cart and lecture Corey as they went along on the finer points of cooking. At first Corey could hardly listen to anything Millie said because she was too busy looking at Stella, waiting for her to explode into one of her crying jags. But Millie kept asking Corey questions, forcing her to look at this or that, until Corey began to focus more on the grocery shopping than on Stella. They started in the deli, where the smells of the rotisserie chicken made Corey want to buy one.

  “No, let’s buy some chicken and I’ll roast it for you,” Millie argued. “It will taste better and be cheaper.”

  “But I want to eat it now,” Corey objected. “It smells heavenly.”

  Millie gave in. “Let’s still buy some chicken, though, and I’ll fix it for another day. Do you like chicken and dumplings?”

  Corey hadn’t thought about chicken and dumplings since she was a child. Ethel had made wonderful chicken and dumplings. “Love them,” she said, remembering how good they tasted.

  “Okay, what about some hamburger? I can do a lot with that. I can make meat loaf, lasagna, or spaghetti?”

  “No, meat loaf, ever!” Corey exclaimed.

  On and on they went down every aisle in the grocery store, Millie learning about the things that Corey liked and didn’t like to eat, and Corey learning what ingredients you needed to cook lasagna. When they got to the fruits and vegetables, Millie happened to mention that Deborah loved bananas, and Corey insisted they get some for Millie to take home to her daughter. Then Corey learned how to pick out a ripe cantaloupe, and how to tell which tomatoes were the best. Corey realized later that it had actually been fun grocery shopping, which was a first for her. Or perhaps she’d just been delighted that Stella hadn’t whimpered one time during the entire shopping event.

  By the end of the second week, Corey had learned how to cook a few basics like lasagna, a chicken casserole, and green beans. Millie was in the process of teaching Corey how to frost the seven-layer cake they’d just baked when the doorbell rang. Corey ran to the door before it could ring again, as Stella was sleeping. Romeo, who’d already changed from his work clothes, was standing at the door.

  “Good news. We have a new postman,” Romeo stated, totally oblivious to Corey’s distress over the doorbell.

  “You’ve got to remember to knock rather than ring the bell,” Corey fussed at him. “If you wake up Stella, and Millie has to leave before I finish icing this cake, I’m going to put you in charge of Stella.”

  “Oh my gosh, is that yellow cake with chocolate icing?” Romeo ignored Corey and walked straight back to where the one iced layer sat on a platter on the island that separated the great room from the kitchen.

  “If you promise not to ring the bell anymore, I’ll let you lick the spoon,” Corey offered.

  “I’ll promise you anything for a piece of that layer cake—it’s my favorite kind.”

  “Ms. Corey, I didn’t realize it was already after five. I better get myself together so’s I can head on to the bus. Besides, you know what you’re doing now. You can ice this cake just fine.”

  Corey nodded worriedly. “What if I break one of the layers? They look awfully thin.”

  “Put the pieces on, put the icing on the pieces, and believe me, it will still taste just as good.” Millie washed her hands, grabbed her purse, and within five minutes she was out the door.

  “Okay, Romeo, we’ve got to get this finished before Stella wakes up and wants her bottle. Come on, you can help.” Together they managed to stack and ice the remaining six layers. The cake slanted a bit on one side, but overall it didn’t look too bad. “I’ll cut the slanted part out for you to take home; then it will look perfect.”

  “That Mi
llie is a gem. You sure are lucky you found her,” Romeo said, taking one final lick from the spoon in his hand.

  “I know . . . I just wish I could keep her.” Corey sighed as she washed the icing bowl. The thought of losing Millie was almost more than she could stand.

  “What do you mean?” Romeo asked curiously.

  “Didn’t I tell you? I’m only using her until I can find someone else. She has to catch the five-thirty bus to get home in time for her daughter. And you know I’m hardly ever home from work before then.”

  “That’s terrible!” Romeo exclaimed. “She’s so perfect.”

  “I know . . . I love her, and Stella loves her. I just wish she could be a bit more flexible.” Corey got out a knife and plate and started cutting the cake. When she placed the large piece of cake on the plate for Romeo to take home, she had to admit it looked pretty darn good.

  “Um . . . you know, having a government job like I do, I’m home every day by four or four thirty.” Romeo arched his eyebrows toward Corey. “Are we talking like . . . fifteen or twenty minutes between handoffs, or are we talking about an hour or two while you work until who knows what ungodly hour?”

  Corey looked at Romeo in surprise. “You know, I was doing better about not working late at the office before Stella was born. And I’m determined not to work late now. Oh Romeo, if you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, I promise you, I will do my best to get home most days before Millie has to leave. Oh, and I’ll make you a yellow layer cake with chocolate icing whenever you want one.”

  Romeo contemplated her words in silence for a few moments. “Let me talk this over with Gary and sleep on it. I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

  Corey walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Pleeeeasse . . .”

  In mock anger, Romeo said, “You stop that right now. You know I’d never fool around on Gary.”

  The next night, Romeo and Gary came over just as Stella was getting ready to have a bottle. Corey thought Stella looked particularly adorable in a brown-and-white polka-dot sleeper that Corey had chosen for her to wear after the guys had called to see if it was a good time for them to visit.

  Gary began, “That seven-layer cake is incredible—so moist and rich. Baking is one area of cooking that I’ve never done a lot of, so I’m envious of someone who can do it well.”

  “Not too bad for my first cake ever,” Corey bragged.

  “I’ll hold my verdict on your baking until after you fly solo,” Gary retorted.

  Corey couldn’t beat around the bush any longer; she had to find out Romeo’s answer. “What are your thoughts about keeping Stella?” Corey looked at them hopefully.

  “We’re thinking you can’t let a cook like Millie get away,” Romeo said with a grin.

  “Do you mean it?” Corey asked excitedly.

  “Besides, we are Stella’s uncles. What kind of uncles would we be if we didn’t help out when needed?” Gary added.

  Corey felt as if her heart might burst with happiness as tears filled her eyes. Gary shifted uncomfortably, looking at her. “No waterworks,” he commanded.

  “Yeah, otherwise, I’ll start thinking I’ve gotten myself involved in something I don’t want to be involved in,” Romeo added.

  “I’d kiss you both, if I could get to you,” Corey laughed, wiping her tears away with her left hand while holding the bottle with her right. “Stella, you have the best uncles in the whole world.”

  Corey was waiting for Millie at the front door when she arrived the next day. “You can stop worrying about interviewing for another job. Romeo has volunteered to keep Stella if I’m running late. And it was your seven-layer cake that did it!”

  Millie exclaimed, “My prayers have been answered!”

  “Mine too,” Corey added with a grin, feeling amazingly lighthearted. She hadn’t realized how anxious she’d felt about losing Millie.

  CHAPTER 16

  After another week, Corey felt so much more in control of her life that she decided she ought to go in to her office for a few hours to check on some things. When she called her assistant to tell her to gather some papers for her, Erica begged her to bring Stella in with her. Corey considered her request for just a moment. She really wanted to show Stella off to Erica and Larry and a handful of other people at the firm. However, the thought of running into Tom Crane in the hallway with Stella, particularly if Stella was having one of her crying fits, was enough to squelch that idea. What a scene that would be!

  Erica was on the phone when Corey arrived, so she just waved to her as she went into her office. She flipped on the light. No great transformation had taken place during her absence. It was still tiny and overwhelmingly beige. As soon as Corey sat down, Erica—looking fresh and perky, as most twenty-five-year-olds look—entered her office.

  “You look great, Ms. Bennett. No one would imagine that you’d just had a baby. I wish you had brought her in.”

  “Thanks,” Corey replied. “I didn’t want to make this a big production, and I wouldn’t have gotten much accomplished if I had brought Stella. As a matter of fact, since my time is limited, I guess I better get started. Can you bring me the Morris files?”

  “Sure thing. Be right back.”

  Thirty minutes later, Corey’s head was bent over the Morris files when Larry stuck his head in her office. “Why did I have to hear through the office grapevine that you’re here?”

  Corey looked up, embarrassed. “I was going to stop by your office before I left.”

  “Okay, as long as you weren’t trying to avoid me. Sherri and I have a present for you and were wondering if we could bring it by your house next Saturday.”

  Corey was touched that they wanted to stop by for a visit with her. “Sure. Why don’t y’all come for a light lunch, like maybe chicken salad?”

  “Are you sure you’re up for that?” Larry asked, amazed. “We were just going to do a quick drop-by.”

  “I wouldn’t have invited you otherwise. Really, I’d love for you and Sherri to come for lunch.”

  “Okay. Around twelve?

  “That’d be perfect.” Immediately, Corey started wondering, What in the world have I done?

  On Saturday, Stella woke up unexpectedly early. Corey had started Stella’s morning routine before it crossed her mind that it was Tripp’s wedding day. Diane and Jack were going to the wedding, and Corey knew she would eventually hear all the details, whether she wanted to or not. How did she feel about Tripp getting married? She wasn’t sure. She felt oddly out of sorts. Was she sad? Was she disturbed? She’d slept with Tripp. She’d had his baby. Of course she had feelings for him. But he seemed somehow disconnected from her current life. Besides, after today he’d be a married man, so perhaps it was best if she just didn’t think about him at all.

  Although Tripp’s wedding hadn’t crossed her mind at the time she invited Larry and Sherri to lunch, Corey realized now how fortunate she was to have something to keep her mind occupied. Millie had basically prepared the lunch—chicken salad, an assortment of fruits, strawberry shortcake, and iced tea. All Corey had to do was straighten the house, take a shower, and set the table. A challenging list, for sure, but Corey felt that with Stella’s more regular routine, it was certainly doable. When Stella went down for her midmorning nap, Corey jumped to work and felt almost like her old self when she stood dressed in pre-pregnancy clothes, with makeup on, surveying the table decorated with fresh flowers. The house looked warm and welcoming, and Corey felt that for the first time in a long while, she had everything under control.

  The doorbell rang, and Corey remembered too late how she’d intended to put a sign outside asking people not to ring the doorbell when Stella was sleeping. She listened intently while she walked to the door. Maybe it won’t wake Stella this time.

  “Welcome,” Corey said as she opened the door, trying to look calm, as if she had her boss and his wife over for lunch every day. Larry and Sherri were standing on her step awkwardly, with a bright-red stroller
wedged between them. The stroller was sleek and streamlined, and Corey realized immediately that they’d bought her a running stroller. “Oh . . . how did you know I’ve been coveting one of those?”

  With a warm smile, Larry said, “Well, I know how much you enjoy running, and I thought it might be difficult now that you have Stella. This way you can get back to running sooner rather than later.”

  Corey was truly touched. “What a great gift for both me and Stella.” She noticed Sherri shifting uncomfortably between the stroller and a holly bush located beside the step. “I’m so sorry.” Corey hurriedly opened the door. “I don’t know where my manners went.” Corey took the stroller, pulled it inside, and ushered the two of them into the foyer. Sherri looked every bit the Dunwoody housewife—sleek and toned in tightly creased slacks and a casual silk blouse. She was in that nebulous age range: somewhere between forty and who knew what. Corey always felt nervous around Sherri and her type of woman. At their office Christmas parties, Corey always gravitated toward the men rather than the stay-at-home moms, who were talking about car pools and orthodontists and things she knew nothing about. As a result, she really didn’t know Sherri that well.

  On the baby monitor, she could hear Stella moving around, which wasn’t a good sign. Corey supposed Stella had heard the doorbell ring, after all. “Can I get you a glass of iced tea, a soft drink, or a glass of wine?” Corey offered.

  “Just some water for me,” Sherri said.

  “Tea would be great,” Larry added.

  Corey walked to the kitchen, and they followed her. “Your house is just lovely,” Sherri said. “Sometimes I wish we still lived in town.”

  “Yeah, right,” Larry laughed. “Like you would ever move from Dunwoody? You look great, by the way, Corey. Motherhood agrees with you.”