Embracing Ellie: K&S Securities Series

by A. J. Andersen

  Especially by men.

  I’m not entirely sure what is dirty about offering a hungry man a piece of warm pie, but I get the feeling I’m missing something I should know. Something sexual. I wish Ana was here so I could ask her about it. I hate feeling like everyone gets a joke but me.

  I set the plate and mug in front of him with a quiet clank of ceramic against the wooden bar and smile shyly. I know that he has been sitting here for a while, long enough that I know that he heard every nasty word Lawrence said to me. I hope he doesn’t believe the things that I was accused of, though I couldn’t tell you why it matters. Lawrence is such a jerk, I know he said that hateful stuff for one reason. To humiliate me. I should have expected it. He’s nice to every girl who catches his eye… unless they refuse to date him. Then he does his best to ruin their reputation. Most girls just quit, though I know of more than one who took the other way out and dated him… or something. They still end up quitting.

  So far, Tina and Heather the only exceptions that I’m aware of. Heather has a girlfriend and they are serious. I don’t think he’s brave enough to ask Tina out at all. I think he’s scared of her, and come to think of it, he probably should be. She could eat a loser like him for lunch. I wish I could be as strong as her. If I was, none of this would have happened today.

  “Thank you, Ellie.” The stranger says, capturing my attention when his hand gently brushes the back of mine. Fiery tingles race up my arm from the brief contact. I pull my hand back, stunned by the intense feeling and cradle it against my chest blinking wordlessly as the vibrant green of his gaze crashes into mine. He’s rubbing his fingertips against his palm but hasn’t taken his eyes off of me.

  Did he feel that too?

  What the heck was that, anyway?

  “You’re welcome,” I whisper, confused by the perplexing feeling, and turn back to the kitchen with another small smile. He’s the first guest to be nice to me today. Maybe things are turning around. Feeling hopeful, I return to the kitchen to pick up my next round of meals to deliver, the smile still on my face.

  The smile doesn’t last long. I was wrong. Surprise, surprise. The only thing that went well during the remainder of my shift was that it ended on time. I had hoped to get another glimpse of the handsome stranger, but by the time I got back to the lounge after covering breaks for the cocktail waitresses on the casino floor, he was gone. He did leave a nice tip with Tina. Fifty bucks! That coupled with the generous tip I got from the last couple I delivered dinner to means that I get to go home with something to show for my day. It doesn’t take the sting out of knowing that Lawrence is going to have my paycheck docked for something that wasn’t my fault, but it still felt good when I tucked the cash into the zipper pocket inside my purse to keep it safe.

  A small part of me wishes that I could use the money to buy myself something. Makeup or clothes. Maybe a new book, but I know that I shouldn’t. The wise thing to do is to save as much of it as possible, because it’s a given that I will need it at some point. I don’t need those things. I just want them. I have everything I need. A home, a job, plenty to eat. I know that I’m more fortunate than a lot of people. The most important thing is that because of the money I earn, Mom and I can keep Lizzy and Auggie at home with us and still pay all the bills.

  It’s been almost two years since the accident that killed my twin sister’s husband Dan and almost took her life as well. She’s been home from the rehab facility for almost a year now, but she still doesn’t remember anything about the accident, or a couple of years leading up to it. The doctors don’t know if or when she will get her recollections back. She doesn’t remember Dan, or that she was married or pregnant. When we tried to explain it to her she got so upset that Mom and I agreed that we wouldn’t bring it up again. At least not unless she starts to show signs of recovery.

  In many ways she is like a child again. She can’t be left alone for too long because she struggles with impulsiveness, yet at the same time, she knows she is an adult, that she was in an accident, and she wants to be treated accordingly. We walk a fine line with her daily, and the brain injury makes her emotions somewhat unpredictable if she is having a bad day or feels that we aren’t considering her opinions about things. In short, it can be difficult, but we love her. I love her. And even though it’s hard I’m happy to do what I can to help provide for her and her son.

  After clocking out, I hurry to the staff changing room to get out of my skimpy uniform and outside to catch my bus, but since my day has already been awful, you guessed it. I run around the corner of the building just in time to see it pulling away from the curb. I’ve been here for more than seventeen hours, and I just want to go home. Lowering myself onto the bench I lean my head back to rest against the glass shelter and I reach for my phone to let Mama know that I’m going to be late.

  An hour later I enter through the front door of the adobe house I grew up in, kicking off my battered sneakers and dropping my bag on the floor by the door. A full shift in those stupid heels after all night on my feet in the laundry has them screaming for relief. All I want to do is soak in the bathtub before climbing into bed to read for a while. I shuffle through the empty living room and down the hall toward the bedrooms.

  Music is playing loudly in Lizzy’s room, drowning out the sound of Auggie crying in the room I share with him. I sigh, frustrated and bone tired. I know it’s not her fault, and nothing can make things go back to the way they were supposed to be, but sometimes I wish my sister could be the mother that Auggie deserves. She loves playing with him when he’s happy, but the minute there’s something wrong with him she disappears and hides out in her room.

  Pushing the door open I find Mama in the rocking chair in the corner. A red faced, wailing Auggie on her lap with his back arched as he struggles to get down. His little face is streaked with tears and boogers. Poor Mom. Poor Auggie.

  Poor me...

  “When did this start?” I ask, rubbing the spot where a headache is already forming between my eyes. So much for the bath, book and bed. There’s no way that is happening now.

  “He woke up sniffling this morning and he’s been like this since lunch.” Mom’s voice sounds as frazzled as I feel. After we lost Dad things were hard enough on her, then Lizzie. She’s strong in a way I dream of being, but she has her limit too, and the look on her face says she is at it. Plus, I know that she needs to be up super early to put in her hours of work as a telemarketer, and with Lizzie unable, or unwilling, to help it’s going to be me who has to deal with this.

  “Go to bed, Mama,” I tell her, lifting my nephew off her lap and into my arms. He stops fighting and lays his head on my shoulder, coughing and sniffling. “I will take Auggie with me to the pharmacy and get what he needs.” Thank goodness for the money in my purse. I won’t get to save it like I had planned, but I have it for handling this crisis and I’m beyond grateful. I know that we don’t have any cold medicine, and without the cash I’d have to risk overdrawing my bank account to get some or wait until morning and try to request an advance against my paycheck.

  Mom nods, “Okay, mija. Gracias.”

  “De nada, Mama.” I reply. She knows it’s something, knows that I’m tired too, but I would never take my resentment out on her. She’s doing the best she can, just like I am. I secure him in his car seat and drive the short way to the nearest drugstore. We don’t use the car often, but we do keep it for emergencies like this one. The cool night air helps to ease some of Auggie’s congestion, so he’s not as fussy as I carry him on my hip into the store.

  Wandering down the aisles I’m able to get cold medicine (for Auggie and for adults, since I’m sure at least one of us will get one too) , menthol rub for his little chest, a new coloring book and a big box of those thick crayons made for chubby fingers, and a few cans of his favorite chicken and stars noodle soup. There is enough cash left over that I will be able to get a coffee tomorrow morning when I get to work and save the rest. I do a little mental fist pump as I lo
ad him back into the car and give him a dose of the medication in the handy little spoon before driving back home.

  The car ride and medicine work, and by the time I carry him back into the now dark and silent house, he’s getting drowsy. He lets me wash his face before I tuck him into his little bed in the corner of my room and he’s out cold before I gather up my towel and pajamas to finally get ready for bed myself. It’s late when I slip between the sheets and cuddle into my bed. I didn’t get the bath I wanted, but my soft pillow and warm blankets are divine. It’s times like this that the drudgery of my life hits me. All I do is work and take care of my family.

  Before Lizzy and Dan’s accident I was a normal twenty-three-year-old. I had friends. I even casually dated sometimes. I was taking night classes at the community college. I still worked a lot—I had to. After dad died it was just Mom and me, since Liz was already married by then, but working normal hours was enough to pay the bills and a scholarship was paying for school.

  After the accident, everything changed. We had Auggie to provide for, then the medical bills used up Dan’s life insurance money. Lizzie came home from the rehab center when we realized that she wasn’t improving anymore. What was I supposed to do other than volunteer to work more?

  So, I did. I quit school to work more, and this is where it got me, lying in my bed too tired to move and thinking about a gorgeous stranger with the prettiest eyes. Grateful to my core that he and one other couple were kind enough to tip so generously that I was able to get everything Auggie needed tonight. It could have been so much worse, and despite my fatigue, I’m happy that things worked out for once.

  I finally drift off to the sweet sound of Auggie’s congested baby snores from across the room, still thinking about those eyes...

  Before daylight, a still-congested Auggie wakes me up. He’s feeling much better. I’m glad the worst of it was short-lived, but a couple extra hours of sleep would have been nice. Encouraging him to try to sleep some more, I help him climb up in bed with me and cuddle his small body close to mine.

  “Mama, play wif me?” he asks, patting my face and grinning with his tiny baby teeth. He’s not going back to sleep. Rolling over I tickle his belly until he laughs, making me smile, and together, we get out of bed to wash up. I need coffee if I’m going to make it through today and he needs the goobers washed off his face. Fortunately, Mom is as much of a caffeine addict as I am, so I know that there will be some waiting for me in the kitchen.

  Following Auggie through the mostly dark house, I find Mom right where I knew she would be. At her desk in the corner of the living room with her headset on and her computer open in front of her. She gave up her office when Liz came home. Auggie knows to be quiet when Nana is working so he just waves happily at her with a toothy smile on our way through to the kitchen.

  After a big cup of coffee for me and a bowl of chocolate chip cookie cereal for Auggie (I know, not exactly the breakfast of champions but it keeps him happy), he is settled in front of our small TV watching a DVD of his favorite cartoon while I get ready for work. My shift isn’t until ten this morning, which would have been great… if I had been able to sleep in. Usually I’m there at seven, but since I pulled a double Ms. Smith, the head housekeeper, told me to come in a little later than usual. She is very stern, but has always treated me fairly, especially since I’ve started working extra shifts. As long as I’m there when she tells me to be, anyway. She does not appreciate tardiness.

  Picking up a cardigan off the back of the couch where I tossed it a couple of days ago, I inspect it to be sure it’s still clean before I pull it on over my housekeeping uniform. I’d rather wear this than the server’s outfit any day. It’s a simple button-up grey dress that I can wear with a pair of sneakers. Other than the cheap, slightly scratchy fabric it’s not too bad as far as uniforms go.

  “I’m going to head to work now, Mama. See if there is anything I can do to pick up some hours since I’ll be early. Auggie should be fine till Liz gets up.” She waves, signaling that she heard me, still talking to her customer on the phone.

  I kiss my little man and blow raspberries on his cheek, making him squeal and squirm to get away. Scooping up my purse and a waiting travel mug of coffee, I head out into the pale light of the rising sun, ready to catch the bus and start another day.

  Today is already shaping up better than yesterday. Lawrence isn’t working until this evening, thank goodness, but as soon as I walked through the doors, Ms. Smith said that the other food service manager was asking if I was available to help for a little while. They need someone to do a room service delivery to the penthouse. I have to admit that I’m a little curious. To be honest, more than a little. I never got a chance to go up there to visit my friend Ana, even though she invited me. She married the owner of the casino, Mr. Cerelli, and less than a month later she disappeared without saying a word. I miss her, she’s the only friend I’ve made since I started working here. She didn’t even get judgy about me never being able to do more than occasionally meet for coffee. She just understood, and we hung out and talked about books and movies whenever our work schedules allowed.

  Anyway, this will be an opportunity for me to see how Mr. Cerelli is doing. Every time I’ve seen him in passing over the past several months, it’s like he’s had a black cloud hanging over him. I think it’s because he’s pining for Ana. The rest of the staff gossips about him, so usually only Ms. Smith is allowed up to his home. I don’t put much stock in gossip—look at what they say about me... and I’m a virgin.

  What do they know anyway? Absolutely nothing, that’s what. I may not know why Ana left the way she did, but I do know that she really liked Mr. Cerelli. She used to watch for him every chance she had and brought him up in almost every conversation, so whatever happened between them… I’m sure that she must have had a very good reason to leave.

  When I get to the kitchen, I’m shocked. The room service cart is enormous! Mr. Cerelli must have company, I think to myself as I glide up the elevator and shove it into the hall and up to the door where I press the button and wait for someone to let me in. When the door swings open, I’m thrilled to see Ana standing there, dressed in a man’s dress shirt and a pair of leggings, and boy howdy is she pregnant!

  Abandoning the cart of breakfast trays, I throw my arms around her squealing, “Oh. My. Gosh. Girl! Where the heck have you been?” We hug again and I continue chattering, so excited to see my friend. “And pregnant!” I state the obvious, “Is it a boy or a girl? Oh my-Lanta! Auggie will have a playmate!” Finally, the need to catch my breath halts my babbling and Ana laughs happily.

  “Yes! I’m back! X and I are working things out. I AM pregnant!” She answers all of my questions and laughs again, “Obviously! We find out today if it’s a boy or a girl! And why are you delivering room service before seven in the morning? Did you change jobs?"

  I roll my eyes a little, as if! “I got hired as a waitress too, and since I’m early they asked me to make a room service delivery.”

  We chit-chat for a while before I excuse myself. I have to get downstairs. I push the now empty cart into the hall. As I step into the service elevator, I see Travis and Faye, the nice couple who I met yesterday before going home. Other than the man in the bar, they were the only guests who I delivered to who weren’t rude or just plain hateful. They were also the only other ones to give me a tip bigger than a dollar or two. I smile and give them a little wave, before pressing the button that will take me downstairs so I can start another day of work.

  Gliding back toward the ground floor I can’t help but think about how happy I am that Ana is back so we can hang out again… not that I have any free time. Since Ana and Faye seem to be acquainted, I can’t help but think that it would be nice if all three of us could spend some time together. Faye seemed like someone I could be friends with, and I really could use another friend.

  Chapter Five

  Blake

  I’m hardly ever late for anything, but I am this m
orning. I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Thoughts of Ellie dominated my mind while I tossed and turned. She looked so tired, so defeated, the last time I saw her. I hung around the bar a lot later than I had originally planned, hoping to get another opportunity to talk to her and to give her the tip in person. Of course, after she brought me my coffee and pie, I didn’t see her again other than a couple quick glances as she trundled that damned cart in and out of the service elevator and carried trays out to the casino floor.

  Tina did open up to me a little bit more once she realized that I was there as a guest of Xavier. She filled me in on how Ellie usually works in housekeeping but has been picking up shifts waitressing and making room service deliveries to make extra money to help support her family. She didn’t say anything about the child Lawrence said she has, so I’m still wondering about that, and where is the father? The idea of her working extra shifts to support her child while some deadbeat skates by pisses me off.

  I left her tip with Tina once I realized that she was going to stay too busy for me to get a chance to talk to her again. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and other than her proclivity for propositioning customers, and looking like a bit of a weirdo, I could tell that she is solid and that I could trust her to pass along the cash. Ellie’s understandable sadness over the threat of her pay being garnished to pay for something that wasn’t her fault made me want to do something nice for her. I am going to talk to Xavier about it and see if he can prevent her wages being docked, but that didn’t feel like enough. If I’d had more cash in my pocket, I would have left it all. I just hope she does something enjoyable for herself with it.