Elaine opened the door and led them into the room, “Well it’s not much but, welcome home. I hope you enjoy your stay here.”
She smiled at Derek’s parents as they walked into the guest room, their temporary home away from home for the next… whenever they were going to leave. That part actually made Elaine hyperventilate, but she knew she could do it. She wouldn’t be living with strangers per say but her daughter’s grandparents.
Derek snickered coming in behind them. He stopped by the door and leaned against the jamb with his hip, Katya on his other one, “You sound like a hotel concierge.”
His mother turned around and though her back was to Elaine, she was sure Mrs. Silva had delivered one hell of a glare to make Derek stop smiling smugly and stand up straight. Then she turned around with a smile for Elaine that made her heart race a little faster.
She reached her hand up to cup Elaine’s cheek in her palm and said, “It will do fine my dear. I hope you moved Derek into the cold, drafty attic.”
Elaine chuckled. All that delivered with a smile it made her wonder if Mrs. Silva was an assassin, would she take out her targets with that deceptive sweet motherly smile and say ‘It’s time to die dear’. That would be creepy but so boss.
“Unfortunately no. He’s got the one next to Katya’s.”
“Why not just move me into yours? We already have a kid.”
Elaine stared at Derek, his one brow raised, his lips lifted in a seductive smile, and she wondered if he’d left his brain behind at his apartment.
“You know, you’re going to end up in that attic if you keep saying dumb things like that. The room is great Elaine. You’re sure we’re not imposing?” Mr. Silva asked dumping their bags on the four poster queen size bed.
She’d taken the longest time and spent quite an amount of money in this room, trying to make it perfect for them. Their bathtub doubled as a Jacuzzi and their shower had a four spray showerhead and the bathroom had a relaxing aquatic theme, according to the designer. She really wanted to impress them badly, so the compliment made her giddy.
“Oh no, you’re not imposing at all,” as if to prove her point, Katya wiggled sliding down Derek and ran across the room and held her hands up for her grandpa to pick her up. “Has anyone noticed she always goes for the tallest guy in the room?”
“That theory is flawed,” Derek said stepping into the bedroom, “I’m taller than dad.”
“Ha?” She shrugged, “Then the most handsome looking guy in the room.”
Mrs. Silva chuckled, “She’s got good taste.”
Mr. Silva just smiled lifting Katya high enough so that she could mess with his hair. That was the other thing, she loved her grandpa’s hair and who wouldn’t. It was very sexy and lacked even one gray hair. He probably dyed it, but it looked like it had a persona of its own.
“You want to show me my room now?”
With a quick nod to Derek, she asked Mr. Silva, “You want me to take her so you guys can get settled in?”
Mrs. Silva answered instead, “No, that’s okay dear. Besides I would have been the one settling in while he just sat in that chaise lounge by the window. He can take care of Katya while you give Derek the tour of the house.”
“Okay,” she said then walked out of the room, Derek following behind her.
“That room looked like something out of a hotel catalog,” he commented as they climbed up the steps.
Elaine glanced back at him, “I wanted them to feel comfortable. And as you’re about to notice all the rooms in this house look like they are from a catalog because they are. The kitchen is a mini version of a restaurant one.”
“You’re trying too hard.”
Elaine just clenched her jaw at that. It had taken her weeks to get her house looking just right. She wanted it to be a home, but with a more sophisticated touch to it. Something she would be proud to show off. Yes, she might be trying too hard to fit in, but as the days go by she was sure she would be able to do that more easily.
“Unlike some of us who had a normal upbringing with the complete family and American dream, I wasn’t so lucky. Am I trying too hard? Yes. And I’m willing to do anything to give my daughter the life she deserves.”
“This isn’t just about Katya. You want the life Ellie and Tasha have, don’t you?”
Elaine remained silent until they came to a stop at his bedroom door. She pushed it open then turned around to answer him, “I’m not ashamed to say that I do. I envied their lives. I desired to have one just like them, but as you well know, I failed at one.”
He walked past her into his room. He didn’t even look around, just approached the bed, dumped his bag and turned around to face her, his fingers pushed into his front jeans pockets.
“Let me guess. The loving husband part?”
“A temporary setback.”
“Oh yeah?” He approached her, every step a calculated one, “Do you intend on seducing me?”
She shook her head no, “Nope.”
He stopped moving, his face hardened and so did the rest of his body, “Over my dead body will my kid be calling Daniel daddy!”
Elaine held a smile back. Despite how she and Daniel had started they’d fallen into a sort of comradery. Since he was back, with each day Derek spent with his daughter acting like a parent—he’d even gotten her to call just him daddy—she fell for him even more. It made her realize it had always been more than lust between them. For a woman who’d never known love, it was one hell of a revelation. Daniel was going through his own love problems. He’d fallen in love with his client’s wife. The man was facing fraud charges and Daniel was tempted each day to tank the case and send him to jail. His client was a complete asshole, a smug one at that who treated his wife like shit. She wanted out of the marriage, but she was scared of him which tempted Daniel even more. Elaine had offered to help, but Daniel didn’t want him killed. He just prayed the prosecution had enough evidence to send the bastard to jail. That reminded her. They were getting the verdict that very day. She hoped he lost and then, despite what he said, she was going to arrange a friend of hers to pay him a visit and suggest he let his wife go. Daniel was a good guy, he deserved some happiness.
“You really shouldn’t be saying things like that to me, considering…”
Derek’s eyes narrowed at her, “What? I thought you weren’t Katarina anymore.”
“No, I’m not.” Otherwise, she would have disregarded Daniel’s request and gone ahead to take care of his little obstacle.
“You should really stop trying so hard to be someone you’re not Katarina. You are and always will be a killer no matter how hard you mimic being a homemaker and a loving mother!”
That was delivered with just the right amount of anger and honesty to hurt. Salt to an open wound. The guilty look on his face he was now spotting told her he noticed. Before she wouldn’t have cared enough to react but her eyes burned and her throat clogged up so fast that she hadn’t been prepared to pretend otherwise. I suppose it’s a good thing, a normal thing.
“Katarina—”
She cleared her throat, but she still felt like she had a goose’s egg in it, “Its Elaine. I hope you like the room, I have to go to the store with your mother, get stuff for the dinner tonight. Will you watch Katya or should I take her with me?”
He sighed heavily, “I’ll keep her. Do you want me to do anything?”
“Light the grill, the meat is in the fridge.” She answered then quickly walked away. His loud curse and the sound of him punching something followed her to her wing of the house. She picked up her purse and quickly headed downstairs before Derek noticed.