Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“I’ll get it,” I say.
“I’ll come with you.”
I roll my eyes but offer her my arm just the same. She blows me a kiss and loops her arm around mine. Suzanne waves to Emersyn through the glass door when we turn the corner.
“Look at her gingham romper! She’s just the cutest.”
Again, I roll my eyes, even though I can’t help but grin at my wife’s excitement. I imagine she was a lot like Emersyn at twenty-three.
“Good morning. Have you had breakfast?” Suzanne asks the second I open the door for Emersyn.
“Um …” Emersyn narrows her eyes into tiny slits of blue. “Yeah, sort of. Why?” She steps inside and removes her sandals, curling her toes painted in flaking pink polish. Without hesitation, she heads straight to the bathroom to wash her hands like she’s diligently done for the past month, leaving behind a scent I can’t distinguish. Amaretto and maybe cherries, like a pastry.
“Zach is making eggs Benedict. Would you like some as well?” My wife follows Emersyn to the half bath.
“I should get started cleaning.” Emersyn dries her hands and turns toward the door and my eager wife, who has befriended our maid in a very unexpected way.
“You don’t need to vacuum the spare bedrooms.” Suzanne flicks her wrist as if the notion of our maid cleaning what we pay her to clean is absurd.
Emersyn’s gaze jumps to mine as I hover behind Suzanne. She curls her blond hair behind her ears, a few strands falling back into her face as she digs something from her pocket.
Lipstick. Maybe lip gloss. As soon as she uncaps it, I recognize the scent—cherry and amaretto.
I didn’t know I was making eggs Benedict this morning, but I will. I’ll make her anything.
Do anything.
Go anywhere.
Be anyone.
I love her beyond words. So I clear my throat and smile. “Emersyn, you should have eggs Benedict with us, and if you don’t have time to vacuum the bedrooms, so be it.”
I’ll do it later because it’s going to get done one way or another. I thought we hired a maid to clean and allow me more time to spend with Suzanne on my days off. Apparently not. If she wants to have breakfast with the girl in cute clothes … if that makes her smile, then that’s my purpose this morning.
“Sounds yummy. Thanks. I’ll start on the bathrooms.”
When breakfast is ready, I head to the jungle to get Suzanne, but her chair holds nothing but a half-folded quilt. I search the patio before heading back inside, lured by the sound of giggling. Suzanne’s perched on her padded vanity stool with Emersyn on the floor at her feet. She’s braiding Emersyn’s stick straight hair.
Has Emersyn cleaned anything yet? Lifted a finger to earn so much as a nickel of pay? I’m conflicted at the moment. This hiring-a-maid thing has taken a direction I didn’t see coming.
“Em has the best hair. Don’t you think, Zach? Of course, everyone has better hair than I have at the moment.”
I fear my wife looks at Emersyn and sees everything she used to be and will never be again.
The smile falls from Emersyn’s face when she sees me. Her lips curl inward like she can eat it before I see it. I’ll likely be cleaning our bathroom later too. Probably the whole house.
“Breakfast is ready.” The best I can do is offer Emersyn a toothy grin, the kind where my tongue bleeds from biting it so hard. But I’d rather die than say something that wipes that beautiful grin from my wife’s face. And Emersyn seems to be the reason for it, so … what’s a guy to do?
“Hold this, Zach.” Suzanne nods to the end of the braid in her hand. “I need to grab a hair tie from my drawer if I still have any. I might have given up on ever needing them.” She laughs softly like it’s no big deal, again making subtle references to her dance with death that inches closer each day.
I take the end of the braid as Emersyn continues to bite her lips together, her whole body stiff like she’s holding her breath. Caught by the boss … not working. Will she charge me for cleaning the whole house? I shouldn’t make her squirm, but I find it slightly satisfying. A reprieve from the heavy stuff.
“Thanks, sweets.” Suzanne takes the braid from me and wraps the tie around it. “Did you know that Em’s boyfriend manages the fitness club we used to belong to? I remember him. Brady? All the tattoos? Do you remember, Zach?”
I nod several times. “Yeah, I remember him, but no, I didn’t know he’s her boyfriend. Probably because I let her do her job instead of playing twenty questions with her.” My smile escalates to capacity, hiding my sarcasm. Or maybe it’s jealousy. Am I jealous that Emersyn is the one that’s brought Suzanne to life today? I might be on the verge of growing out my hair if Suzanne finds such joy in braiding.