Page 17 of Maid in Heaven

“And put in those pickled green beans I like.”

But Julio was already gone. Will fidgeted with his fake dog tags.

“Come, Will. Get your supplies. You can start turning down the guest rooms upstairs, and then once the ladies arrive, you can do the baseboards and scrub the grout around the guest baths. You know, something down low to really show off your…assets.” Stubborn wrinkles formed at the edges of her mischievous eyes.

Will forced a smile and a polite nod. “Will do.”

“My husband’s sister is coming into town next week and bringing all the kids, so I want it to look immaculate.”

“Understood.” Will nodded. “I’ll hop to it, then.” He pointed toward the kitchen, and she nodded. He waltzed in. White cabinets and state-of-the-art appliances glimmered. He smiled at Julio and grabbed some cleaning supplies from the pantry, as usual.

“Oh, and Will, dust the fan blades upstairs, too, would you?”

“No problem. Happy to be of service.”

Julio handed the bloody Mary over to Denise, and she snatched it greedily, swirling the stick of celery to clink the ice cubes. The chef held up the jar he was tightening. “I put extra pickled green beans in there for you.”

Denise moaned after downing a mouthful of the beverage. “Outstanding.”

Julio nodded and walked over to put the jar away in the refrigerator near Will. He eyed the man’s costume. “Military man today, huh? Nice. Army fatigues. Oh boy, those bring me back.”

“Wereyou… in the military?” Denise asked.

“Yes, ma’am, I was,” Julio murmured. “Army. During Desert Storm, ma’am. That uniform brings back some memories.”

“Thank you for your service,” Will uttered reverently.

“What about you?”

“Oh,” Will felt his face redden with slight embarrassment, “I... uh… it’s just a costume.” He pointed to his “Sgt. Sexy” name tag.

Julio chuckled. “Ever heard of stolen valor?”

“Yes, sir, I have. I—”

“I was just giving you the business.” Julio shook his head, laughed, and returned to peeling potatoes for the dinner he was preparing.

“I’ll meet you upstairs in a few. I’m going to change. In the meantime,get that cute little butt of yours to work!” Denise shouted like a drill sergeant, holding three fingers to her Botox-deadened forehead again.

Will and Julio both snickered at the sight.

“Mrs. Kronin, remind me later to teach you a proper salute.” Julio shook his head.

6

“I’m stiff as aboard every morning when I wake up,” the elderly receptionist croaked, readjusting her cat-eye glasses. “Without my yoga, I can’t limber up enough to leave the gosh-darned house. ThankGodmy granddaughter suggested it to me when I was doing physical therapy for my hip. It’s been a life changer. You remind me a lot of her, actually.”

Ava listened intently, perched on the black leather chair beside the open office door. “I’m glad you can find anything to give you relief, Marge. I remember when you left us over there at Burton. There was this huge void that couldn’t be filled.”

“Oh, Ava, the stress over there was too much for me to handle, and that guy, Gary, was driving me insane. So uptight and type-A. Stress and chronic pain are a recipe for misery. I had to do what was best for me.”

“Arthritis sounds horrible.”

“Oh, you learn to live with it. You’d be amazed what your body can learn to tolerate over time, unfortunately.” Marge pushed herself backfrom her walnut desk and pivoted her swivel chair towards Ava. “It’s all about the mindset. The brain is a resilient thing. Where the mind goes, the spirit follows.”

“I love that you have found a way to cope with the pain. Do you think the mind leads the spirit, though? Or do you think it follows your heart?”

“Following your heart is overrated, dear.”

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