Unfortunately for her, after this stunt, I have to cut her loose.
This doesn’t bother me. I’ll send her a text when Tina leaves. It was fun but it is what it is.
I look at Tina and say, “I’m sorry, Tina. If I knew she was causing you trouble I would have cut her loose sooner.”
Tina looks up at me with wide eyes and responds, “I don’t want you to break up with your girlfriend because of me!”
I roll my eyes and mutter, “She wasn’t my girlfriend, just a casual acquaintance. She was becoming a huge pain in my ass anyways. Time for her to go.”
“So,” Tina frowns and purses her lips, “what do I do if she turns up at the store? I don’t want her making a scene again. Its puts customers off from coming back.” She looks uneasy.
I get up, walk over to the fridge and take out two sodas. I sit back down and place one in front of her.
Without even a thank you she opens it and sips like she’s been playing Uno with us for years. I respond, “Leave that to me. She comes back to the store, you call me. Straight away.”
Nodding, she plays with the ring of her soda can and turns to check the time on the clock on the wall.
She jumps up and yells, “Crudsickles! I’ve been here for an hour; I’ve got to get back.” She looks around the table, smiles and says, “Nice to meet you all. Hope I see you again soon.”
Crudsickles?
She turns to me, puts her small hand on my shoulder and speaks again, “Thanks Nik. I appreciate it.”
The guys watch her leave. Well, they watch her ass sway as she leaves.
Knuckleheads.
Trick smiles big, still looking to the door. He declares, “I like her!”
Yeah…Me too.
Chapter Four
I was just in the neighborhood
I wake up with a start.
Sweat pours down my face, my stomach knots, and my chest expands with every heavy breath.
Sitting up, I place my back against the headboard of my awesome sleigh bed.
I haven’t woken like this in at least three months. I used to wake like this every night, sometimes multiple times.
It’s still dark out. I squint over at the digital alarm clock on my bedside table. 4:57 am.
Fan-freakin-tastic.
I don’t have to start getting ready for work for an hour and a half but I’m up now.
After losing my daughter and Mom, I had trouble sleeping for a long time. I kept hearing Mia cry in the middle of the night and would find myself in her very empty bedroom sobbing.
I really need you right now, Mom.
The thing I miss most about my Mom is her hugs. Coming from a Croatian background, I was raised very affectionate. I would never leave the house without giving both my parents a kiss on the cheek.
I could be having the worst day ever, but a warm, comforting hug from Mom would make everything seem okay. Every time I was in a bad mood she would ask, “What’s the matter, Dušo?” and always made sure I would vent to her about whatever was bothering me. And vent I did.
Baking is my release. I love to bake; my specialty is cupcakes.
I know my cupcakes are good. Actually, good is an understatement. My cupcakes are the bomb.
You’re up now. Get your butt out of bed. Let’s get baking.
I reach over and fling my covers back.
Bang Bump Meow
Oops.
I apologize to my sweetheart. “Sorry Bear. Come here, honey.” He stretches and walks over me. I pick him up and scratch him all over. When I reach under his chin he purrs loudly and drools. I chastise him softly, “Ewww Bear, control yourself.”
When Mia was a year old she spoke her first word which was cat. As a reward for my super smart daughter, I got her Bear. I got him from a shelter, he was really fat, but after months of diet cat food he was back in shape.
Bear is a super sweet and very affectionate (my kind of cat). He has a white body with three big black blotches on his back, a completely black tail and looks like he’s wearing a black Zorro mask.
I look down at my feline friend and say, “C’mon honey, let’s get you some breakfast.”
Bear walks beside me as I exit my room and make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.
I reach the kitchen, cover my mouth, and yawn.
Bear is already on the kitchen counter doing something which can only be described as the Give Me Food dance. He struts back and forth, purring loudly, bumping his head on random things. Every now and then he looks back at me in a way that says the dance is working, right?
I reach under the counter for one of his many bowls, put some wet food in it, and place it on the counter.
He purrs while he eats. I scratch his head and say in a cutesy voice, “A fancy feast for my fancy beast.” I love Bear, he is the ideal cat. I tell him, “You have five minutes to eat, buddy. I’ve got to get baking.”
Bear finishes his meal and jumps off the counter. I wipe down the counter with disinfectant spray and go about getting my ingredients organized.
I place them all on the counter, whip up a chocolate mud batter, and divide it evenly between the patty pans.
I pop them into the oven to bake and make my way to the bathroom to shower.
I sing ‘Working 9 to 5’ in the shower, loudly. When I’m done, I step into the hall and the delicious smell of chocolate mud cake attacks my nostrils. My mouth waters and I know one of those babies has my name on it for breakfast.
As I walk into the kitchen, the oven bell dings.
Perfect timing.
I take them out of the oven, cover them with a tea towel and put them on the counter to cool.
After, I heat cream on the stove top, not too hot. I pour the warm cream over some semi-sweet chocolate and slowly stir. I put it aside and wait for it to cool.
Yum!
My stomach rumbles and I pat it.
Soon, my pretty.
I go back into my room to change for work. I decide on a linen pants and blouse combo. Add some heeled sandals and voila!
I scan my bathroom counter for my small bounty of makeup. I don’t really wear a lot of makeup. On the rare occasion I go out with the girls, I’ll apply it a bit darker. I never wear lipstick, only clear or lightly colored gloss. I like the natural color of my lips.
Looking at my limited selection, I decide on mascara and pale pink lip gloss.
A glance at my watch tells me I can start icing the cupcakes so I make my way over to the kitchen counter.
There is something about icing cakes that is almost therapeutic. Using a piping bag, I carefully ice all 12 of them in a swirly snail pattern.
I’m so hungry at this point I take the wrapper off one of the cakes and shove the whole thing in my mouth.
Chewing loudly, I hear the doorbell ring.
What on earth?
I’m still chewing when I answer the door. There stand two men in blue overalls.
Oh, Crudsickles! I forgot about the moving truck!
One of the men speaks, “Good morning, ma’am. I believe you’re expecting a truck of furniture.”
I nod but am still chewing. I hold up my hand with my index finger pointed up. The universal signal for one minute, please.
When I’m finally able to speak I smile big at them both, “Yes! I’m so sorry.” Checking my watch I say, “I actually forgot and have to be at work soon.”
The other man looks at my mouth, clears his throat and speaks up, “I’m sorry ma’am but someone needs to be here for us to unload.”
Darn it!
My brain goes Ping!
I get an idea. I walk past the movers to the apartment next door and knock quietly.
The door opens and I’m greeted with a large smile, “My, oh, my, is that you Tina?”