Chapter Twenty-One
Finding the grocery store had been a little difficult simply because it didn’t look like what I imagined. It was a storefront and the food selection was nothing like the Piggly Wiggly we had back home. But eventually I found it and stocked the kitchen with food I wanted along with the food on Felicity’s list.
After putting things away and finding there was nothing for me to clean as of yet, I poured myself a glass of sweet tea and went out on the balcony to watch the city and relax. Believing this to be real was hard. I wanted to share it with someone, though that was the drawback here. I was alone and personally sharing, would be with myself for now.
Sleep came easy and deep. My lack of rest from the night before caught up with me and I fell asleep quickly. Sunlight streaming in the window the next morning woke me. That, and the sound of the city. So different than the silence of the country life I had grown accustomed to hearing. Or rather, not hearing at all.
I wondered if I would be able to sleep as easily with the noise tonight. When I wasn’t exhausted from travel. Stretching, I got up, made my bed and went to the kitchen, to make myself some breakfast.
Then, what would I do? I had nothing to clean and no further instructions from Felicity on the matter. I was in this big city with no one. With the chance I’d been hoping for. I didn’t need someone else to explore. I could do that on my own. Besides, I had money. I could visit museums, take a cab to Central Park and then go and see Times Square.
Excited about seeing things I’d only seen on television, I quickly ate the cereal I bought yesterday, then went to get dressed for my outing. Eventually I would have real work to do. When Hale came into town and had guests to entertain. For now I could enjoy the life I’d been offered. Tonight I’d call momma, my sisters and Henry and tell them all about my day. Everything I saw and the people I met. I knew momma would want to hear from me, to make sure that I arrived safely. She didn’t seem crushed when I left her, but I knew the reason for that. I think my mother wants more for me. More than the hand she’d been dealt.
I was almost dressed to leave when the phone began to ring. I turned and searched for the sound and eventually found it in the foyer. It wasn’t a regular phone. It was a fancy touch screen device. Thanks to Jamie I knew how this worked and quickly answered the call. The name “Felicity” was on the screen so I knew who was going to speak.
“Hello,” I said quickly, somewhat afraid that it rang too many times.
“Good, you’ve found the phone. I forgot to leave instructions about it, seeing as it was a hurried addition and Mr. Jude forgot to mention it. The phone has my number, Mr. Jude’s number, your home number and a few numbers for food delivery available in that area that are highly recommended. Feel free to add whomever else you want. Mr. Jude will arrive tomorrow at noon. Be sure to have the foods from his list and freshen up and prepare his room as described on the notes I left you. He will be alone this time so there is no need to become invisible. Do you have any questions?”
“Uh, no, I understand.”
“Good, call if you need anything. Goodbye Samantha,” she said, then abruptly ended the call.
Samantha? Did she think that was what Sam was short for? Frowning, I set the phone down and quickly picked it back up and slipped it into the pocket of my jean shorts. In case she called back.
Sightseeing wasn’t happening today. I headed to the kitchen to go over the instructions for Hale’s arrival. I hadn’t expected him so soon. I was happy he was coming and that I wouldn’t be alone. There would be someone in this city that I knew.
The idea of having drinks and watching the city sky with Hale made me smile. I shouldn’t think about him other than as my boss. But the man was fascinating. And I had so many questions I wanted to ask him. About the city and the world in general.
I could call momma later. On my new cellular phone. A job perk I hadn’t expected. This meant I had a camera now. When I did get to take that sightseeing outing I could snap photos like a lunatic.
A musical sound startled me and I stood there looking around the room. It took a moment for me to figure out it was a doorbell. We didn’t have a doorbell at home. Much less one that played a classical tune. I couldn’t imagine who could be here. But I went to the door anyway.
The man standing on the other side was what one might call sexy. Or alluring, things like that. There were no other words for him. He wasn’t polished and expensive like Hale. He was, ahh, an anti-Hale. Gorgeous with dark hair and big blue eyes, his torn jeans worn at the bends. The boots he had on were for actual labor and that body of his had worked.
“Is Hale in?” he asked, studying me as closely as I was studying him.
“No,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat and redden from looking at him. I really liked his boots. And the tight black tee shirt he was wearing. “He arrives tomorrow.”
The man seemed annoyed by this answer. “And you are?”
“Sammy Jo Knox, the new housekeeper,” I replied. I felt the need to defend my presence. This wasn’t Moulton, Alabama.
He began to twist his mouth, a smirk then touching his lips. “Sure you are. The bastard,” he muttered under his breath.
I didn’t know what that meant exactly. I was deciding that Mr. Cowboy Texas, straight out of a romance novel, was someone I didn’t like.
“Can I help you?” I asked in the coolest business tone I could muster. I wasn’t real big on sounding professional.
“Probably not sugar. Probably not.”
Well, fine then. “Hale will be here tomorrow at noon if you’d like to return then.” I had the urge to slam the door in his face but seeing as this could be a friend or business relation of Hale’s I didn’t do it that instant.
“Tell him Ezra stopped by. We need to talk.”
Ezra. What an odd name for a cowboy. Unless he jumped out of birthday cakes, dancing around naked and whatnot.
“Okay.”