Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Artio
I am beyond thrilled to have found this magician for the home. He’s not only talented, but hilarious as well. The residents are laughing non-stop at his antics.
My boss, Davida, walks up to me during the middle of the performance.
“It’s become a weekly thing that you remind me about how smart I was to give you this promotion,” she says in her usual irreverent fashion.
“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“Good.” she says, turning on her heel and walking over to interact with the residents.
I watch her move around to different seniors, quietly talking to them, and watch their faces light up.
Seeing the joy around the room reminds me why I stay in Corvid Valley and why I put so much of myself into this job.
I notice Mr. Johnson cracking up near the back of the room and a tear forms in my eye.
He was on death’s door just a couple of months ago and now here he is, soaking in life.
Wiping the tear away, two men stepping into the doorway capture my attention.
One wears a “Sounds Gay, I’m in” shirt that makes me swallow a snort.
I let my eyes leave his brightly colored shirt to look at the man standing next to him, which causes me to take a sharp breath in, waking my pussy up from its deep slumber.
The other man stands maybe 6’ 3”, has shaggy gray hair with a hint of blond, and light-colored eyes.
Stubble covers his face in that sexy way I love, and he’s smiling at the magician.
Grabbing a look at my watch, I indicate to Brynn that our event needs to wrap up for dinner.
Then I take it upon myself to greet the two strangers at the door.
“Hi, can I help you?” I ask when I walk over.
“Sorry, we’re just waiting for our grandma. We’re her dinner date tonight,” the younger looking man says.
“Oh wonderful. I’m not usually here at dinnertime. It’s nice seeing family come in to visit the residents. Who is your grandma?”
When I say this, I sense eyes upon me. Looking over at the drop dead gorgeous older man, I see he is staring at me. With his green eyes. Gah. I love green eyes. He smiles at me, sending jellied shivers down my body to my toes.
“Ms. Peters. Mae Peters.” he responds.
“Ms. Mae? Oh wow, I know your grandmother well. She’s a trip.”
The men laugh, nodding their heads.
“Yes, she sure is.”
Right then, the audience breaks into applause before standing up to head to the dining room. I watch Mae notice her grandsons and her face lights up. My stomach does a happy flip to witness her joy. It’s moments like this that give me my energy pennies at work.
Mae walks up to us, a broad smile across her face.
“Boys! Is this the first time you’ve met Artio Baer here? She is one of my absolute favorites in the home.”
Both men react with familiarity and the older one says, “Oh, wow, yes. Our grandma talks about you all the time. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Ray and this is my brother Trevor.”
We exchange formalities when Mae interrupts, saying, “Artio, are you here for dinner? I insist you join us.”
Brynn walks by, tapping my arm, “Go for it, Artio. I got things covered.”
“Oh, OK, thanks,” I say, half absolutely thrilled to break bread with this handsome Ray fellow and half dying because I am going to be breaking bread with this insanely hot Ray fellow.
I turn to see him smiling at me and his brother, fully focused on their grandmother.
“Wait, you met a man at your job? And he’s not like 80, right?” Artina asks, when I call her on my drive home.
“No, you dork. He’s like my age.”
“Girl! You are already manifesting hot-men for yourself!”
“Ha. Well, I don't know if he’s for me. First of all, he’s related to a resident.”
“So? It’s not like you’re her doctor or something.”
“True,” my cousin has me there, “seriously, cuz, he was so fine. Oh! And has green eyes.”
Artina bursts into laughter.
“Your kryptonite!”
“Always and forever. And his grandma wasn’t helping, either.”
“How so?”
“I sat next to Ray, and she kept commenting on what a good-looking couple we made.”
“Oh, I like that. Grandma has style. How did Ray react?”
“Honestly? I may have caught him blushing.”
Artina, once again, bursts into laughter.
“I have a good feeling about this, cuz,” and she adds, after I make an unsure grunt, “I’m serious. This isn’t like you, at least not for the last several years.”
“Bite your tongue. I may be a decade older than you, but I’m not dead yet.”
Artina snorts, and I hear her phone cut out for a second.
“Speaking of old, Torben is calling. I have to take this, but I want to hear about the next time you see him. Got me?”
“Fine, fine.”
She hangs up to talk to her brother as I pull into my driveway. Before opening my door, I steel myself for the icy wind we are being walloped with today, and think about if I would date a resident’s relative.
I mean, one who is tall and broad like Ray? With those green eyes?
Um, yeah, I would.