She did wake up very early that morning, just in time to meet her father and step mother as they prepared for work. Claire said her greetings and walked over to the kitchen area. She had brought down the extra ingredients that were to be thrown out. That night she had suddenly remembered and came down to put them in the refrigerator. The house had been really quiet at the time and Claire could not have said a bigger thank you as she looked around the house. She had eventually gone upstairs to her room and found peace with sleep.
“What are you doing?,” her step mother asked her as she saw Claire setting out items on the work island
“Making breakfast.” Claire said
“You cook?,” the woman asked
“I try to.” Claire said and flashed her a smile.
“Humph.” was all the reply she got from Lucille as she walked away from the kitchen area with her bottle water.
Martha was not there yet and Claire had the kitchen to herself. She still found it hard to believe that this was the woman that had been all nice and easy with her the previous night. However, she knew she should not expect anything much from the woman. Claire sighed and began going through the ingredients, should do for a healthy breakfast. She got busy.
By the time the rest of the family came down, she was already rounding off.
“Claire’s cooking?,” Andrew asked
“Seems so to me.” their mother said.
“I hope we don’t get poisoned. Where’s Martha?,” Deanna asked distastefully.
Claire ignored the girl as she had already come to understand her nature. Just then as if on cue, Martha entered apologizing for being a couple of minutes late. Lucille scolded her stating she would not be paying her if she repeats the act. The woman apologized and walked into the kitchen. She was amazed to see Claire heading out with a tray of food.
“You’re up early… And you cooked,” the woman noted
“I left you some in the microwave.” Claire said.
Martha smiled as she assisted her to go drop off the trays and set out the table. Everyone came over to eat including her father who had been focused in the paper he was reading. He folded it up and dropped it aside before coming to the dining table.
“So I heard Claire is cooking,” he said.
Claire did not say anything but sat down to her meal when they were done cooking. She began eating quickly as she knew very well who she had to go face. Everyone of course commended her food except Deanna who simply made a face. Claire bore the girl no ill will and simply took her things after making certain Miller was okay and left the house. Her father was asking her why she was out so early but Claire simply ignored him. She was not about to embrace his lovey dovey behaviour.
“Curse that man.” Claire said as she started heading to the bus stop.
She had gone to say hello to Jake and his mother and had discovered Jake was not prepared to leave. She had been really hopeful that they would leave together but then it seemed, it was rather too early for him to start going to work. Who could she blame but her overbearing boss.
She sat down on the bench at the bus stop as she waited for a bus. A few persons were there too. Fellow early birds. Claire sighed and wondered if their bosses were anything close to the one she worked for. The bus arrived already almost full and Claire tried to enter. She had just set foot when someone called her name. It was Danielle waving and calling her. The girl was running.
“Are you going miss?,” the bus driver asked her
“Hold on a little, my friend is joining us.” she said politely.
Soon enough, Danielle had gotten there sweating. The two girls got into the bus only to discover that there was no more empty seats. The rungs were what they held on too alongside a few others.
“Good to see you’re alive, did he yell again?,” Danielle asked her
“Well beautiful morning Danielle, are you always this early?,” Claire said trying to push away the impeding conversation.
Danielle was a romantic fanatic. She might begin reading meaning into the harmless lift. She did not want to have to tell her about all that had happened.
“Stop trying to change the subject Claire. And good morning too.” Danielle said
” Alright… alright. Well he did not yell and I got off work whole as you can see.”Claire said.
The girls giggled drawing attention to them and managed to hold on to the rungs. Claire never been more glad to get off a bus. She really had stretched her hand a great deal and she could tell Danielle felt same. They got to work just about time to meet their head already inside. He pointed out to them a new rule give by Tristan Jenkins. Every employee upon arrival was to write down exactly at what time they arrived which was a way to help him ascertain the bad eggs that would get sacked. Also, those upon evaluation with the latest time of arrival whether they made it a minute late would be relieved of their duties.
The girls could not believe their ears as they wrote down their time of arrival.
“That man is really harsh,” Danielle said
“Why would he sack people. Everyone is doing their best at the restaurant,” Claire said
“He’s such an old man,” Danielle said
“More like Vlad the impaler,” Claire said and they started laughing
“Ahem.” their head suddenly cleared his throat.
The two ladies turned to look at him questioningly as to know what his problem was but following his gaze, they discovered they were in serious trouble. Tristan Jenkins stood at the entrance glaring at them. Was the man a ghost or something, they had not heard him entered. The two of them managed to mutter their greetings.
“Humph. Vlad the impaler you say Miss Willows?,” he said and began walking in with Alfredo closely behind him carrying his box.
“I’m sorry sir… I was only..,” Claire had to keep quiet. Nothing she said was going to cut this one.
He stopped at the entrance to his door.
“I wonder why I didn’t think of impaling you when I dropped you home yesterday. Anyways, noted Miss Willows.” he said and was gone into his office.
As soon as his aide had closed the door behind him, Danielle roughly hit her on the shoulder with her eyes really wide.
“He took you home yesterday? What else are you keeping from me?,” she asked Claire whose heart had been beating really fast assuming a strange tempo.
She was in trouble again.