I spent most of the day cleaning up and doing the laundry, then I made lunch, showered, and went to bring Finn home from school. Max hadn’t called or texted yet to show that he’d received my message, and I wondered if Margaret delivered it at all.
“Where’s Aunt Cora, Mummy?” Finn asked as we waved goodbye to Mr. Burns, his classroom tutor. I’d been dreading the question all day. Cora was his best friend and he’d be bored without her.
“Sweetie, Aunt Cora’s traveled back to Manhattan for an emergency. She sends her greetings and promises to be back next week. Don’t worry, you’ll have Ma to look after you.”
“Yippee!” he threw his hands up in glee, bubbling with excitement. “Will she bring Wren along too? And Chester?”
I gaped at him, puzzled for a minute. Then I remembered Ma’s grandchildren. “Oh, yes! They’ll be coming along as well. Do you like having them over?”
“Yes, Mommy.”
After I’d helped him with his homework, we both had a nap. By five, I went down to make dinner while Finn was still asleep. We both ate at exactly seven and I lazed on the sofa, scrolling through Facebook posts. Then Max’s message came in on my Messages app. Logging off Facebook, I was horrified to discover that I’d completely missed his earlier texts.
Crazy Hot Boss: What the fuck do you mean you’re not coming in today? Time: 9:08 AM.
Crazy Hot Boss: You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady. Time: 10:07 AM.
Crazy Hot Boss: Our fight made you decide to stay away today? It wasn’t even that serious. Time: 1:09 PM.
I snorted at that. Wasn’t serious? He called me a whore without batting an eye and all he has to say was it wasn’t serious?
The fucking nerve of this guy. Without missing a beat, I hastily typed a response.
Fuck you.
I sighed, deleting it. He was still my boss no matter what.
You know, for an intelligent man your thought process is shallow. I had an emergency today, which was why I didn’t come in. But rest assured, I’m resuming tomorrow.
I drummed my fingers anxiously on the armrest while waiting for him to reply.
Crazy Hot Boss: I want to see you tonight. We can meet at the club and go to my house after that.
I rolled my eyes.
Do you mean the same club you called me a whore because I went to meet up with someone? No thanks.
Crazy Hot Boss: You know I’m sorry for saying that. Come to the club tonight, and I’ll make it up to you. I promise.
I hissed, shaking my head. What does this man take me for?
I’m sorry but I can’t make it.
Crazy Hot Boss: Why? Don’t you even dare tell me you’re occupied? You had the whole damn day.
You have no right to speak to me like that. I’m pretty sure as your employee, I’m not expected to have any intimate relationship with you. It’s not professional.
There.
It took a few minutes…seconds in fact for him to reply. Guess I’d struck a nerve.
Crazy Hot Boss: It doesn’t matter. We could date in secret. Let’s date in secret.
Oh, God.
And what about Alsina? What does she say to this?
Crazy Hot Boss: She’s insignificant. I don’t need any opinion from her. She’s not my wife.
With a hand over my chest, I typed.
Who’s your wife then?
Crazy Hot Boss: I don’t have a wife. But I’ll soon take one.
I picked a pillow, pressing it softly to my face to stifle my laugh.
I feel like you don’t respect me enough. You don’t trust me. It hurts.
Crazy Hot Boss: I do respect and trust you. What we had was a misunderstanding. It wasn’t even a serious issue. You know I said that out of anger.
Not a serious issue? You called me a whore all because you happen to find me in a club with a man I initially thought, was you? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.
I sat back and imagined him reading my response, probably with a cup of coffee to his lips, his face crumpling in anger.
Crazy Hot Boss: You told me you were having friends over and needed to handle some manuscripts as well…and then I go out for some drinks and find you with a man in that same club. Your excuse that you thought he was me isn’t valid. You could have asked for his picture while chatting with him to verify. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!
I chuckled as I shook my head, enjoying every bit of the drama. Seeing him throw a tantrum made him even sexier.
Alright, so we’re both at fault. But still, why haven’t you called me? Why are you texting?
Crazy Hot Boss: Without you in today, work was hectic. I had to revise a lot of books that you’d already revised for final publication. I’m still not done yet, but I want us to see it tonight.
You could have used this time you used in texting to call me, you know? It’s not rocket science, Mr. Sturm.
Crazy Hot Boss: QUIT BEING SNARKY OR YOU’LL PAY DEARLY FOR IT TONIGHT!
I laughed harder, never expecting him to react that way.
Crazy Hot Boss: You’ve been messing with my head all day. It’s unfair for you to fuck it up even more, which is precisely what you’re doing right now.
My thumb hovered over the screen as I stared into space, thinking hard. I didn’t quite enjoy playing with his feelings or driving a wedge between us by being difficult. I still hoped that things to work out between us. Finn needed a father figure.
I’m sorry. I spent the day thinking about you. About us. What’s the future for us?
“Mommy?” I lifted my head up to see Finn drenched from head to toe. He was shivering.
“Oh my god,” I flew out from my seat, latching onto his wrist as I looked him over. He looked so dirty. “What did you do? Have you been playing in the bathtub again? I told you not to go there.”
He started to cry, burying his face in his palms. I sighed as I patted his back, leading him up the stairs to his room to get him changed. He kept on crying as I helped him slip on new shorts and a blue t-shirt. “I’m so sorry, Mommy. Aunt Cora normally plays Scrabble with me after school. I was bored so I wanted to sail my paper boats in the bathtub to see if they could float.”
I pushed the bathroom door open by a crack, scanning the wet papers and dirt stains all over the ceramic. I turned to him again. “You could have told me you wanted to play Scrabble instead of doing this. I’ll be more than happy to play with you.”
He lowered his eyes timidly. “Sorry, Mommy.”
I squatted so we were eye-levelled, and I pulled him in for a hug. “Don’t do that again. Come on now, let’s go downstairs and play.”
“Yay! Thank you, Mummy.”
—–
Between game time with Finn, I managed to take a peek at Max’s message.
Crazy Hot Boss: You’ll get an answer about our future only when you agree to spend a night with me, Elaine. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
My face heated up, steam pouring out of my ears as I furiously typed back.
If you need someone to spend the night with, you know your way to a motel. Or better still, go pick up some girl on the highway. I’m not into that kind of stuff.
Crazy Hot Boss: I understand you perfectly, but you seem to forget that Alsina has destroyed the chances of us ever being seen in public together. I don’t know who took the shots, but the photos of our altercation made their way over to the Internet. It just wasn’t serious and our faces weren’t really clear.
Oh, my goodness.
Crazy Hot Boss: The club is our only safe space now. I can organize a room, just for us. What do you say?
I contemplated his offer for a minute. Cora had already sent me the money she promised and I could have Ma over while I went to see him. I could explain that I had something important to get to at home and escape once it was ten. It could work out.
Taking a deep breath, I rang Ma. She picked up immediately.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Ma. It’s me, Elaine.”
“Elaine?” she asked uncertainly as though trying to recall where she’d heard that name before. When the silence dragged on for way too long, I spoke up again.
“You helped look after my little boy last night?”
“Oh. It’s you. So sorry. Forgive my poor memory.”
“It’s fine. Actually, I’m calling to say that I need your services tonight. I have an urgent meeting I can’t afford to miss and I would like you to help look after my little boy. At least until I get back by ten. Can you do that? I’ll pay you five bucks an hour.”
There was a terse silence before she cleared her throat. “If you could make it seven bucks an hour, then we have a deal.”
Shit. The sly old hag! She was my only option.
“Fine.” I replied grudgingly.
“Great. What time do I come over?”
—–
What do you wear on a hot date with the man of your dreams? I sighed in disappointment as I stepped over the huge pile of clothing I’d thrown out of the closet. There was not a single gown or skirt that looked phenomenal. This was a goddamn special night for me.
My phone trilled from the bed and I almost fell flat on my face as I reached for it.
“Hey, pumpkin,” Cora chirped. I brightened.
“You’re home already? Oh my God! How’s everyone?”
“They’re all doing well. Father’s gonna be discharged on Friday so I’ll head by to New York on Sunday. Where’s Finn? Can I speak with him, please?”
“Uh…” I bit my bottom lip. “He’s downstairs playing with Ma’s grandkids. But I swear to God, I’ll give you a call to speak with him once I get back.”
“You’re not home?” she sounded incredulous.
“No, no, no. I haven’t left yet.”
“Where are you going?”
I hesitated for a bit.
“Elaine?”
“Okay, fine. I’m on a date”
“Oh my goodness. With who? Max?”
I giggled, my nerves fluttering in excitement. “What do you think?”
“You sly bitch!”
“It’s nothing incredible. Just a little dinner date. I’ll be back by ten.”
“Girl, I’m so happy for you. But won’t Finn be asleep by the time you get home? If I can talk to him before you leave, that’ll be awesome.”
I held a hand over the screen. “Finn!”
“Yes, Mommy?” his footsteps grew louder as he ran up the stairs, Wren hot on his heels. I handed over the phone.
“Aunt Cora wants to speak with you.”
While they talked, I decided to browse through Cora’s dresses for something striking. Since she had no one to look after or sponsor, she could afford all the dresses and jewelry I could only dream about. Surfing through her closet, I picked out a gown that was red spaghetti strapped, fitted with white pearls embedded around the neckline and waist.
Nice.
“Here’s your phone, Mommy.” I barely spared him a glance as I moved to stand in front of the mirror, pressing the dress to my bosom softly. It was the right fit.
I slipped it on in a hurry, then sat down in front of the vanity to do my make-up. I wasn’t going for something outrageous, but modestly simple because I was running out of time. Dreams had to be banging hot by now, and Max was probably waiting.
At eight PM, I padded down the stairs with my head held up high, feeling proud of myself. Ma gasped as she looked me over. “You look stunning, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” I beamed generously. “Now Finn, Wren, Chester…behave yourselves. No running around the house so you three wouldn’t break something. I’ll be back by ten.”
I gave them all a kiss on their foreheads. “Be good children.”
“Bye, Mommy.” They chorused.