30. Grace
Grace
“Oh shit.” I gasped, grabbing the dish towel from the counter. The fire alarm continued to beep regardless of how hard I tried to waft the smoke with the rag.
“You’re going to break your neck,” Caleb said, sleep still in his voice, as he watched me hop up on the counter.
Making his way closer to me, he assisted me off the counter and took the rag from my hand, effortlessly wafting the smoke. The noise stopped but the smell of char lingered in the house.
“What’s all this?” he asked, lifting the pan up. Caleb took the spatula and moved the contents around suspiciously. Now a crisp, black tar covered the once silver pan.
“It was supposed to be pancakes. ‘Easy Pancakes’ is what the website said. Apparently, they lied,” I huffed, feeling embarrassed. Domestic goddess I was not.
I woke up before Caleb and Noelle, hoping I could make them breakfast before we headed to the shelter. Instead, I made a mess.
“Oh, babe. You didn’t have to do that.” Caleb smiled kindly as he opened a window, waving the fumes away.
I leaned against the counter, shaking my head as I admired my handiwork. There was flour everywhere, multiple pans were dirty from failed attempts at flipping the pancake, and milk puddled on the counter and dripped onto the floor.
“Oops.” I bit my lip and looked at him sheepishly.
He made his way over to me, engulfing me in a hug. “Thank you for trying, but let’s leave the cooking to me.” Caleb laughed, his belly shaking. “Seriously though, I appreciate you. Have I told you how amazing you are?” he asked.
“I love you.” I leaned in for my good morning kiss. His lips nipped at my own, and just as I leaned in to deepen the kiss, I heard footsteps.
“Minor entering the room,” Noelle announced, and we broke apart.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Caleb said loudly, his smile wide, taking in the scowl on Noelle’s face.
“Shh, it’s too early.” Noelle pulled up the hood of her sweatshirt so her head was covered, and then she hunched over, her eyes narrowing as she got closer to the light coming in the windows.
“I’ll grab bagels,” Caleb said, scooping up his keys and heading out the door.
“Remind me why we are going to the shelter today, instead of yesterday?” I asked Caleb as he gathered the bags of food he had prepared.
“Thanksgiving Day is the day shelters get the most volunteers. I prefer to go when I know they are shorthanded. Christmas is another busy day, but then afterward most people resume their lives. I like to help fill those gaps,” Caleb explained.
I glanced back at Noelle, who had her headphones on. Caleb tugged on one side. “Leave it in the car please,” he said, gesturing to her iPad before he got out and walked toward the loading dock area.
Ms. Kenzie was already waiting for us, holding the door open.
I locked the car door once Noelle hopped onto the sidewalk.
“Happy belated Thanksgiving!” Ms. Kenzie greeted us cheerily and turned to start unloading the bags.
Once all the food was situated in the kitchen, Ms. Kenzie walked past me, and I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped my lips.
Hidden beneath her wide-framed eyeglasses was a bruise covering her right eye.
It appeared purple and angry, and her glasses had a small piece of tape in the middle, holding them in place.
“What the hell happened?” Caleb demanded, his nostrils flaring. His eyes went to Noelle, who had a somber look on her face.
“Those new guys. You know the ones you were worried about …” She trailed off, looking at the tile floor. “Well, they brought friends, and I had to turn them away due to overcrowding. This is what happened after.” She gestured to her face.
Caleb squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, and they began strategizing a plan for better security.
“The budget doesn’t allocate for it,” Ms. Kenzie said simply. “Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.” She grabbed a tray of food and walked toward the main dining area.
Caleb gave her a look like they were not finished with the conversation. He dropped the subject for the moment, grabbed another tray, and went to his assigned station.
I spotted Lucy and made my way over to her table. “Hi.” I waved at her with my fingertips. “Any new interviews?” I asked, trying to ease the tension, but I was also genuinely interested. I could see Lucy and me being good friends.
“I have a second one on Monday. Fingers crossed for me, okay?” Lucy crossed her index and middle finger, as she bit her lip.
“Of course. I’m sure you’ll get it. What is the job for?” I asked, probably prying.
“Janitor for one of those new buildings on the highway. I like your coat, by the way,” Lucy remarked timidly, swaying a little.
She was such a naturally beautiful woman.
All she needed was some confidence. She shouldn’t be interviewing for a janitor job when she had model potential.
I would know because I worked with many.
The difference between most of the models I knew and Lucy was she was a natural beauty.
No fillers or outside adjustments needed.
“Janitor? You should be walking the runway, or singing before a huge crowd,” I blurted out, my eyebrows furrowed as I gave Lucy a once-over and saw her tattered sweater.
It was a plain gray sweater with holes at the bottom and collar.
I didn’t let my gaze linger too long since I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
“You’re crazy,” Lucy said sheepishly, smiling a little at my compliment.
I peered down at the wool coat I had on. Pursing my lips, I solidified my next move.
I unbuttoned the one button I left clasped because I was still a little cold from the outside chill and shrugged myself out of the coat. “Here.” I held out the coat for Lucy to take.
Her eyebrows pinched together, eyeing me like I’d lost it. “I can’t take that.” Lucy shook her head, muttering something too low for me to hear.
“You can and you will,” I said, with a little more conviction.
“It will look great on you for your job interview. At the very least you can borrow it, but I do really want you to have it. I have a whole closet filled with clothes I don’t wear anymore.
You’re welcome to them,” I rambled and quickly stopped, realizing I was probably overwhelming the girl.
Lucy narrowed her doe eyes at me as tears welled in them. “Thank you,” she whispered and then proceeded to hug me.
I wrapped my arms around her, righting the coat to hang on her shoulders. “See, it looks better on you then it ever did on me.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked. “You’re gorgeous.”
I waved her off. “There’s lipstick in the pocket. I think it’s your shade.” I brushed her hair out of her face and tucked the loose strands behind her ears. “You’re going to get the job.”
I bit my lip, and before returning to my station, I asked, “Do you have a phone?”
She nodded and pulled out what seemed like a prepaid phone.
“Take my number. You can call or text me anytime. I want to hear how the interview goes.”
“Grace, I can’t repay you. For any of this. It’s just a simple job, barely paying minimum wage,” she said, obviously concerned.
“We’re friends. You don’t have to repay me.” I smiled at her reassuringly.
“Friends,” Lucy said, almost testing the word on her plump lips.
As I went back to work, I peered back to see her smiling and looking at the coat like it was a prized possession.