Mercy's Angels: Elizabeth

by Barbi Barnard

  “You don’t think she deserves to know what you did for her? You don’t think she deserves to thank you for your courage to keep her safe?” His voice is back to calm and controlled. Honest curiosity is replaced in his features.

  “Do you think she needs that on her shoulders? The guilt of knowing what I did to save her virginity from Axel and anyone else who wanted her? Do you want her to hate her father the way I do? I shielded her the best I could. Not once has she ever asked a question or hinted that she knows anything. It needs to stay that way. I will not have her looking at me with pity. Please tell me you understand that. Please do this one thing for me.” My voice hitches and I see him notice and the last thing I want to do is lose it in front of him.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right and I have no business telling her anything. I won’t mention it and let me know if I need to move me and the guys out of here.” He stands and walks out before I can say anything. My legs give out and I slump to the floor. My head is reeling from everything. I have no secrets. Once one person knows, it’s all over. All it will take is to piss him off and he would have the ammunition to rock my safe world. He can destroy the relationship I have with my girls. I reach for the bottle and I drink from it straight. No glass needed.

  ***

  I don’t know how long It’s been since Greg walked out. My stomach growls and feels a bit queasy from the alcohol and I need food. I stand on unsteady feet and make my way to my room. After a quick stop to clean myself up I make my way to the kitchen. Maybe there is something left from dinner to help my stomach. I see lights on as I get close to the kitchen and I can hear someone humming softly while pans and pots are being moved around. I guess I wasn’t the only one hungry.

  I see Miss Rae washing up. “Good evening. You’re working late tonight. Is everything okay?”

  “Yes ma’am. Just making up some pies for tomorrow. Little Belinda is going to bed and I try to give her daddy some time alone with her for that father/ daughter bonding. I think all little girls need that to grow up healthy and happy.”

  “I agree with you. What kind of pies did you make? I need a snack.” My stomach growls again and I feel the blush.

  “Well I was aiming for banana, blackberry, and cream cheese pie. I can add the blackberries tomorrow. We’ll have it at lunch. I can help you find something else.”

  “Why can’t you add them now and I can have a bite? It sounds great. I know we have the blackberries in the pantry.” I turn to go get them when her voice stops me.

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll just wait till morning to get them on.” She seems a bit off. Do I make her nervous?

  “Don’t be silly. I’ll get them for you.” I hear her say something but I didn’t catch it. I walk to the pantry and jerk the door open. “Oh.” Oh shit. “Get your clothes on!” I can’t believe what I just saw. Gravel comes out of the pantry red faced and quiet. Mindy is right behind him. “Explain! We keep food in there. I eat the food in there!” I am trying to not yell. I am trying to remember their age. This is ridiculous.

  “We are so sorry….It won’t happen again. Are we fired?” I hear more voices coming closer. I don’t want to embarrass them more. Tiffi and Nick come into the room and I see she knows what happened by the look on her face. She starts laughing and causes the others to laugh. Even Miss Rae is laughing.

  “Am I the last to know that the pantry has become the new sex room?” I’m angry that they think it’s funny.

  Tiffany slides up to me. “I did tell you to knock on the door.”

  Oh she thinks she’s so funny. “You knew about this and let it go on?” She shrugs her shoulders and looks sheepish. “Fine. I won't ask, but I want that room bleached by morning.” I see Tiffi and Nick still smiling and I turn to the both of them. “You can help them and you can call in anyone else that knew what was going on. I want it done before breakfast.” I see the smiles disappear one by one. By now my tone and pitch has drawn others into the kitchen. I don’t look at any of them. Take-out is sounding better by the minute.

  Rounding the corner, I find Greg. I didn’t expect to see him so soon and I don’t think I'm ready. His body language is relaxed, but the lines around his mouth aren’t. He's tense and I know I did that to him. I seem to hurt everyone whether I mean to or not.

  “Um. I heard raised voices on the feeds. Is everything okay?” I don’t know if he knows what is going on in the kitchen, but I want to scream at him. He just gave me a reason to get him away from me and my place, without using my past. I can lay the blame of all of this at his feet without any guilt.

  “No, everything is not okay. You go walk into my kitchen. The kitchen where I keep the food I eat, the food we all eat, and see what your guys think is acceptable behavior. Then after you see what's going on, you tell me if everything is fine.” I childishly stomp away.

  Maybe a walk outside will cool me off. I almost make it to the side patio when I see Kenneth standing there under the spot lights. He's on the phone and I don’t want to disturb him. I really hope he doesn’t condone the kid’s behavior. Please let a few of them have adult ideas about how people should behave. I turn and have no clear idea of where to go.

  The roar of a bike taking off catches me by surprise. I look out the windows and see Kenneth flying out of the parking lot… well it looks like the patio is free. I make my way to the benches and try to enjoy the quiet. I sit watching the fireflies dancing over the grass and it does calm me down. When did my life become a circus? Once nice and orderly, quiet and calm, it's now a three ring circus and I've lost control of the whip to keep them all in line. Do I want this? Do I have the right to take away Jenni and Tiffi’s family because of my discomfort? I really don’t know and I can’t think when I’m hungry. I need some food, preferably food delivered from a kitchen that isn’t a sex parlor.

  Ten minutes of searching and I still haven’t found the phonebook to order some food. I know I have one since I'd used it not that long ago. I get interrupted by a knock on the door and stop my search, but not really wanting company, I contemplate not answering the knock.

  “Elizabeth, it’s Kenneth open the door.” Dear Lord what now? If it is more drama I might just scream. I open the door and see him holding up a bag of take-out.

  “I was in the hall when I heard the commotion and I figured if you were in there, it was because you were hungry. I went and picked up a bite for you to eat. By tomorrow you will have the cleanest kitchen in the state and can eat whatever you want.” I step back and invite him in. This is a first for me. I have never had a man in my rooms. It’s just a sitting room, but it is still my private area.

  “Did you know what was going on in the pantry?” I keep my eyes down and my hands busy getting the food out of the bag.

  “No, I didn’t and if I did I would have stopped it the first time I knew.”

  I nod my head since my mouth is full and swallow quickly and take a drink from the soda I wipe my mouth. “Thank you. Do you think I went a bit over board? Was I wrong to get upset?” I somehow feel guilty for the way I acted. They are kids; hormonal kids at that.

  “Elizabeth, you have every right to be mad that they had sex next to the flour bin and vegetables. Gravel has a room so there's no excuse for that. No one is going to blame you if you fire him and send him out of the Play Pen.” My head snaps up because that thought hasn’t entered my mind. Where would he go? Would he have a place to sleep? I finish eating not knowing what to say. Yes, I’m pissed. But, am I pissed enough to send him away over this? I don’t think so.

  A knock on the door pulls me out of my head and I stand to open the door. Kenneth grabs my hand and gives me a slight squeeze as I walk past. I open the door and once again I am put before Greg.

  “May I speak with you?” I step back and to the side to let him enter. I see his steps falter as he sees Kenneth sitting there. “I didn’t know you had company, I won’t keep you.”

  Kenneth stands and my gaze swivels to him. “I’ll leave you to talk in private.�
�� Before I can say anything Greg does.

  “No man, it’s fine. I interrupted you. I’ll be quick and get out of your way.” Have they forgotten I am here? The conversation taking place leaves me out.

  "It’s not a problem. I’m just keeping Elizabeth company while she eats and calms down from the shenanigans in the kitchen.” I can hear the amusement in his voice and give him a dirty look that earns me a wink.

  Greg walks farther into the room and behind the sofa. “I came here to apologize for the kids. I'm the one that told them to make themselves at home. I never thought that they would get quite so comfortable, but I did say it. I'll take responsibility for any actions you wish to take against Gravel or all of us. Your kitchen has been scrubbed and bleached as you asked and when I left there, things were being put back into the panty. How do you want to handle the punishment?”

  Once again before I can answer, I hear my name called and a knock on the door. It would be easier to just install a revolving door at this point. I open the door to find the culprits and a few others standing there. Oh geesh.

  Gravel steps forward and Mindy is half a step behind him. “I am here to apologize and to take responsibility for my actions. I disrespected you and your home and I have no excuses as I was raised better and would never have done this if I was in my Mother’s home. I will abide by any punishment you deem fit for me. The rest of these guys," he says, pointing to the others behind him "are here to try and take some blame. They have no blame. This is all on me.” I see sincerity in his eyes and hear it in his voice, I commend the others for not leaving him when he came here. It shows they have his back.

  I look him in the eyes so he will understand me clearly. “This is my home. Where I live and work. I opened my doors and allowed you and the rest to come in and to live here with me. I have some blame here also, as I never laid any ground rules except to respect my private areas of the Play pen. Is this going to happen again?”

  He stands straight and his eyes never waver from me. ”No ma’am. I will never disrespect you or your home again.”

  “Is my pantry cleaned?” I try my best to keep a straight face, but I know I‘m failing miserably.

  His smile covers his entire face and snickers from the others can be heard, but neither of us look away. “Yes ma’am. Never cleaner. It's restocked to Candi’s specifications with Mooki’s approval.”

  I take a second and breathe deep. “You’re forgiven. Don’t make the same mistake again.”

  “Yes ma’am. Never again.” He steps forward and places a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for your mercy.” While I’m left speechless, he makes his way out of the hall and most of the others follow him leaving Tiffi and Nick behind. I watch as Nick gently shoves Tiffi forward. This ought to be good since she knew. She knew and allowed it to continue.

  “May I have a word with you? I have an apology to make also.” I step back and allow her entry into the room. She notices Greg and Kenneth for the first time and I see the blush cover her cheeks and see she is like me… no DNA required. She takes a stand next to Greg and whether it’s for support or not, I think it’s cute that she went to him.

  “I disrespected you also. I did know what was going on and have known for a little while, but did nothing to put a stop to it. I have no excuse and feel like I should be punished also. I apologize to you for the disrespect shown by me. I’m so sorry momma. I love you and I should never treat you that way.”

  I see the start of tears in her eyes. My poor tender hearted girl. I hold my arms open and she runs to me and I grab her tight to calm her. “I love you too, baby. You’re forgiven also.” I feel her body relax and hear her breath hitch. She hides her face till she gets herself under control.

  As she stands I try to cover a yawn and she sees it. I see her twinkle back in her eyes. “Guys Momma is too polite to say it, but she is tired. I think it’s time we left her alone. The excitement of today seems to have worn off.” She kisses my cheek and walks out the door dragging Nick with her.

  Both Kenneth and Greg stand and make their way to the door. Kenneth reaches for my hand and pulls me into a hug and I see the eyebrows raise on Greg, but he stays quiet. “Sleep well Elizabeth.” He tilts my head up and places a gentle kiss on my lips. Without another word or glance to Greg he walks out.

  I have no words, so I stay quiet as Greg glances from me to the door and I can see the questions he has written all over his face. “Is this new or am I just blind to what goes on here?”

  “What? I don’t understand the question.” He knows I’m trying to play dumb. I can see it plain as day. I guess I’m not good at it.

  “Are you and Kenneth an item? Do you have an agreement?” His tone is neutral. He sounds curious but not bothered.

  “I think he is a good friend and I find his company relaxing. Is that what you’re asking?”

  “I’m not sure what I’m asking. I think I need to think before I speak.” With those words he walks out the door, but as I go to close it a hand stops me. I look up to see Greg still standing there.

  “I may regret this but, I’ll take my chances.” With that said, he pulls me to him and kisses me. Not a peck on the cheek or a little soft kiss. He kisses me like I am the air he needs to breath and the water to a thirsty man. He kisses me with everything he has and my head is spinning with the lack of air. I have never been kissed with passion before. Oh my god. He pulls away and looks into my eyes. With a small grin he leaves and pulls the door closed. What the hell just happened?

  Chapter Nine

  These past two days have been a bit strange. I have no clue why Greg kissed me and I have done everything I can to avoid being alone with him. When I do see him, he winks or if I walk close, he touches my arm or hand. Kenneth on the other hand does corner me. He always seems to find me. In the halls, on the patio and even once at my pond. He is always respectful, but he holds my hand, caresses my arms and even gives a soft gentle kiss every time he leaves. I am in way over my head and I don’t know how to act. I don’t know how to flirt and I don’t even know why I feel uncomfortable. I need a friend to gossip with to figure this out. I am enjoying it, but also scared out of my mind.

  Oh well, I figured everything else out on my own, it won’t be a hardship. Now if I could just figure out what bands to book for the bash. We need a big turnout to raise the money for the school fund. A few of them have played here and others need to come in and do an audition while some I just don’t like the look of. Tiffi scheduled quite a few to come in today so I need to hurry and get out there. A quick call to the kitchen for a snack to be delivered has me rushing to the bar.

  Twenty minutes and I think my head may explode. This band thinks if they are loud no one will notice how awful they are. Give me strength. Gravel brings me my snack tray and even he is cringing. I am going to need some help here. “Gravel can you send a message for Tiffi? She booked these groups so she should suffer along with the rest of us.”

  I see the grin he is trying to hide. “Yes, I’ll send her in. Good luck.”

  I hear Beast howling before I see him. He doesn’t like this band either. Tiffi walks in and I feel instant relief I know she can speak her mind without guilt, unlike me. She makes faces at me as she walks to my table. I laugh and catch the attention of many, then Beast runs and jumps for his scratches. He is getting huge.

  “Momma, why haven’t you stopped them?” I cringe and feel silly telling her the truth.

  “Never mind, Momma. I got this.” I watch as she goes to the stage. I watch as she pulls the plug from the amplifier and the guys start to complain. With her hand in the air they listen to whatever she is saying. Within a few minutes they are packing up and she is going to the seating area where others are waiting. She talks to them and I see a few shrug their shoulders and pick up the cases and make for the door, while others are smiling. Then I see a new group get setup on the stage.

  Joining me at the table she helps herself to my cheese and fruit plate. I wait for her to speak, but s
he doesn’t. She can be so secretive. “Tell me what you did. Am I going to be seeing a doctor for bleeding ears later?”

  Her laugh is like a spring song and I love to hear it. “Well, after I told the bloody ears to leave, I told the other bands that if they make Beast howl they are out. Some decided not to take the chance on him and his sensitive ears. The others have decided that the level of sound could be reduced since they are inside and the building is empty. It was pretty easy. You should of thought of it yourself.” The words should have sounded snotty and condescending, but the glint in her eyes show her teasing personality. All I can do is laugh. My day is smoother with letting Tiffi run the auditions, so I just sit and listen.

  Five and a half hours later, we have ten bands booked and five more on standby. We need to set the hours and see how many we can fit in. The more diverse the music is; the more people will enjoy it. I think we need three stages, that way we can have one setting up, one playing and one breaking down. This will keep the music on all day without the thirty minute breaks between. This leads me to make a note to call a contractor and an electrician; I'll need to see about security also. I know there is something I have overlooked, but my brain is tired and it seems I come up with more to do as I cross another thing off the list.

  Making my way to the office, I notice the time. I have been going full out all day and I need food. Fruit and cheese isn’t going to cut it and I want something filling. I drop my papers at the office and make a quick stop in my room to freshen up. When I think about things, I’ve realized I dress better and take a bit more care with my looks now. I haven’t thrown my hair up into a messy bun in weeks and I wear a little makeup then I often catch myself checking to see if I need a touch-up throughout the day. This is new to me; I guess subconsciously I am trying to get attention. Question is, who from?