52

Ashely
When Leo left, I felt an odd feeling in my stomach. It was like, something had been removed and was unreplaceable. I shook my head, trying to get myself to work.
Why was he the only one who had family emergencies or was he lying?
I shook my head again, holding the sides of my face and telling myself to focus. My attention was supposed to be on Mason and only him alone.
I sighed as I watched Emily serve a group of men at a table. I reached out to pick up my phone from my bag and headed toward the restroom. I dialed Mason’s number but it never went through. A feeling of nervousness began to wash over me as the feeling of doubt began to sink inside me.
I raised my head, gripping my phone tightly in my arms and I began to think of the day I began to fall in love with him. Back in school, he was the hottest, the only person that a girl would want. I was the one who was always staring at him.
I sighed heavily, thinking of why I felt like this. Was Elena actually right?
Was I impulsive with my feelings for Mason?
When he told me he liked me, I was quick to gulp it all up, and to make it even worse, I asked him to kiss me. Now he wasn’t calling or giving me any attention that I thought I deserved.
Leo on the other hand, I felt like he was toying with my senses. He acted sweet and trapped me against the storage door and backed out of the kiss that I yearned for.
It hurt and embarrassed me so much when he said he would avoid me.
Why? Why would he?
I clenched a fist around the faucet, opening it slowly as the water drenched my hands. I used a towel to wipe it clean, stepping out of the restroom. My eyes landed on Nadia who had her hands in her apron, just outside the kitchen.
Her gaze on me was somewhat creepy but I shrugged and smiled at her.
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
I watched as Nadia lifted her cheeks, revealing a radiant smile.
“Yes,” She nodded, “I was just wondering if you had something going on, seeing how you were racing towards the restroom.”
I then let out a small chuckle of relief, “Nothing is going on. I’m alright.”
I turned around, walking slowly and feeling Nadia’s burning gaze around the back of my head. I knew she was watching me but I had no clue why.
She was quiet and she rarely spoke. She was quick on her feet and I loved that. I wanted to ask why she was absent the day before but I decided not to, hearing the bell on the door, ring.
I rushed towards the counter, thrusting my hands into my apron pockets and listening to every demand that the customer made. It was a bit tasking since the amount of flour we used was starting to decline but the price of the flour get higher and was more expensive, even the sugar. Sometimes, I got complaints from some customers, asking why the sugar was almost non-existent.
Alfred was the one who brought up the idea of saving up on the ingredients used. Mrs. Ping was frugal and would throw a fit if we told her that we needed more flour, and sugar than we normally used.
My eyes darted at the bakery itself and I realized that I hadn’t seen Katherine in a couple of weeks. She was my favorite customer and I missed her words of encouragement and appreciation.
The customer standing in front of me, asked about Leo and I told her about his absence. Her face clumped up into a frown that almost made me break out into a laugh.
Why would they drool over a man who constantly flirts with every female customer just to fill up the tip jar? Did they think that they had a chance with him?
I shot a glance towards the rear side of the door, staring at the umbrella. I let out an inaudible groan, wondering why Leo didn’t take it along with him. I found it comical when he asked for it when I was cleaning.
I knew he was dying for my attention and for me to open my mouth and dive into a conversation with him. He was pushy but cute and yet arrogant.
His good looks were one of the reasons he got the job and why more women kept flocking to the bakery.
I let out a sigh when I sighted a queue at the fried chicken restaurant just across the street. Was it so delicious?
There was never a reason for a queue in the bakery. Customers flocked in and at the same time, they left.
I sat, my eyes focused on the small vehicles that trolled the roads, unconscious of the vibration in my apron pockets.
***
“Shouldn’t you pick that up?” Emily told me while carrying trays filled with dirty bowls and glass plates.
“What?” I raised my frame while cleaning the tables.
I dipped my hands into my pockets and reached out for my phone, flipping it in front of my sight. I noticed that I had several missed calls and I clicked on them.
To my surprise, I was taken aback by the number of calls from Elena and one text message, I clicked a button and all the message read was;
“Help.”
I rubbed a hand across my forehead, wondering what would have occurred. I was about to call Joe but my mind kicked against it, remembering the pain he had put her through.
I sighted Emily walking back and I raced towards her.
“Elena needs me. I don’t know why. She has been calling me for hours and I need to go. Can you ensure that Alfred and Damien get the bakery locked up?” I asked.
“Of course. Is something wrong?” Emily asked.
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t. ” I blurted out.
“Would you promise to tell me if something’s wrong?” Emily took my hand in hers.
“Yes, I guess I will. ” I looked over Emily’s shoulder to see a figure of Nadia behind a wall. I knew she was there but I wondered why she was hiding and eavesdropping.
But that was the least of my concern.
I just wanted to know if Elena was alright.
***
I walked hastily, sweat bathing my armpits as I turned around an alley leading to her neighborhood. I watched a couple of kids riding a bicycle and I smiled, remembering my childhood memories with my father.
I stepped in front of her porch, wanting to knock but as my hands curled around the handle, the door wasn’t locked.
“How strange,” I mumbled to myself, wondering why Elena forgot to lock her door. I advanced further into the house, taking hasty steps. I recollected that we hadn’t had a healthy conversation in days because of my mother.
I took hasty steps towards the living room and as I walked, I noticed a trail of blood leading all the way to the wooden stairs.
Panic and trepidation set in, into my body like a burning flame as I walked up the stairs yelling my older sister’s name.
“Elena!” I screamed and busted into a room where the trail of blood kept leading, I flung the door in a haste, and when my eyes narrowed in on my sister lying by the door, her eyes almost closing in a pool of blood and her right hand touching her abdomen.
“You came. ” Her voice was low and behind it, I knew she was holding back from tearing up.
My hands wrapped around her shoulders, trying to make sure she was awake and alert.
“I should have come sooner. I am such an idiot.” The tears began to stream slowly and down to my cheeks as emotions began to wash over me. This was the reason why she kept calling.
“I lost my baby, again. I know it’s all gone. I should have been careful.” Elena murmured.
“It’s not your fault. I’ll get you to a clinic, right now. ” I told her.
“Call Joe. Call him.” I heard Elena say after a deep sigh.
“Joe? Why would I call your cheating husband? Did you call him?” I asked her. Elena nodded in affirmation as I let out an inaudible scoff, my hands still wrapped around her shoulders. I noticed that her blue skirt was soiled with blood and her legs too.
I was hurt that she had lost her baby and it was all my fault for being nonchalant and unaware of her calls. I heard her let out a groan and she said;
“I don’t think I can move. ”
“What?” I exclaimed in feat, “But you need to go to a hospital. ”
“I know -” Elena didn’t finish as she slumped against my shoulder and my hands instantly flew to her face.
“Elena,” I shouted out but she didn’t respond. She had passed out in my arms and I was beginning to get hysterical.
I looked around, tears streaming down my cheeks and a choking sob escaped from my lips. I took in shaky inhalations, my hands trembling as I reached out for my phone.
At that moment, I heard the door open with Joe bursting inside with shock written all over his face and as I looked over his shoulders, I sighted a woman whom I had no idea who she was.
Was she the woman whom he was cheating with?
How dare he!