Page 66 of Empowered
“But Angel, you love swallowing…”
Men, I swear…“Don’t get so excited. Put some lean meat, healthy grains, and for God’s sake, some fresh vegetables to cook us later, and I’ll think about it. By the way…” she pushed her cart past him, “there’s a sale on broccoli. Yes. Broccoli.”
“I think he likes broccoli?”
Sarah blew him a covert kiss. “Seven?”
He caught her kiss before tucking it into his pocket. “I can send a car for you, or…”
“I know where you live.”
“Right. See you, Angel.”
Sarah hid her smile from the world, choosing to keep it locked up deep in her heart and safe from prying eyes that would chastise her for being happy.How dare I?As she lined up to check out and texted the driver to come to the front of the store to load up the groceries into the trunk, she bit her lip and wondered what it would be like meeting her boyfriend’s son.
Five years old… my goodness.
There wasn’t enough room in the backseat for both her and the groceries, so she rode shotgun on the way back to the office. He wished her a pleasant day before going to the Monroes’ residential building, where he would team up with their live-in maid to bring in the groceries for her to sort and start dinner with. With any luck, the fat and famished Alice Monroe would have a huge supper waiting for her when she got home at six, and Sarah would once again be a successful cog in the world of running errands for the ridiculously rich.
She tucked one cloth bag full of goodies beneath her arm when she entered the office. Alisha wanted a moment of her time, but Sarah showed her the bag and was told that their boss was in her office doing paperwork.
“You got the stuff?”
Alice’s expectant visage welcomed Sarah before anything else.
She held up the fabric bag. Alice looked around for her husband before hitting a button that would fog up her windows looking out into the main office. Operationavoid himwas a go.
“You’re saving my life, Ms. Clayborn.” She tore into those Twinkies as if the baby inside of her demanded a sponge cake sacrifice. “How could I ever repay you?”
Sarah deposited the bag beneath her employer’s desk. She had never heard a woman so noisily eat Hostess products – nor had she ever seen a pregnant woman inhale food at such intense rates – but she wouldn’t hold it against her. “Don’t suppose I could go home half an hour early today?”
“Oh?” Damn, were they stuffing more cream filling in their snacks those days? “Got something going on tonight?”
“You could say that.”
“Girl, you’re glowing more than I am. What’s going on with you?”
Sarah allowed one small smile to cross her face. “Nice things, for once. Thank you for asking.” That was her hint that she was already done talking about it.
“All right.” Sarah stuffed the already empty wrapper deep into the bottom of her trashcan. “You can leave at 4:30, with one condition.”
“Yes?”
“You have a damn good time with whatever you’re doing tonight, because I will be crying in my new nursery wondering what the fuck I was thinking when I agreed to pea soup green walls instead of the royal purple like I wanted.”
Funny, Sarah could’ve sworn she recalled ordering lavender paint on her boss’s behalf. “I certainly hope to have a good time tonight, ma’am. If I may?”
“Yeah, sure. If you see my husband, distract him for a few more minutes, would you? Me and these Ho-Hos gotta have a moment together.”
Sarah left the office, careful to close the door behind her on her way out. Good thing, too. She ran into Mr. Monroe coming out ofhisoffice and making a beeline for his wife’s. All Sarah had to do was remind him that he had a three-thirty call to make to Hong Kong, and he was back in his office before he had the chance to catch his wife going against doctor’s diet orders.
When Sarah finally sat down at her desk, it was to find an inter-office envelope.
“Roses are red / Violets are blue / Hope you’re thinking of me / Because I’m thinking of you.”
To think, someone had been paid to pick that up from Lucas’s outbox and place it on Sarah’s desk. To think, someone had been paid to put that smile on her face before she hustled to finish up her work before 4:30 rolled around.
