Page 5 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
“Thenlet me show you around.” He certainly needs someone to clean.
Expensiveantique furniture fills most of the rooms, but it’s thick with dust, andcobwebs crawl up most of the walls. The library is a jumbled mess of books,piled on the shelves and spilling onto the floor. His kitchen is a littlebetter, but still needs a good scrubbing.
Ashe takes me through the house, he explains, “My uncle lived here alone until hedied a few months ago, leaving the house and its contents to me. I need someoneto help get it in order and then to do general housework in the evenings. Doyou have any issue with working late? Kids at home?”
“No,no issues.” My personal life is none of his business. “I can work late.”
“Good.”He grins. “I like to sleep late, so I don’t want anyone banging around in themornings.”
“I’ma night owl. I have afternoon classes so evenings work well for me.” Am Ireally trying to talk him into giving me this job? After the dirty stuff hesaid, and kissing him, it’s probably a terrible idea. But twelve bucks an hour.I’d have no problem fixing my car, paying my rent and bills, and even have a bitleft over. Maybe I could afford to add Ethan to my car insurance, so he couldget his license.
Heleads me into a room obviously decorated by a man. “This is my office. Youwon’t clean in here.”
“Office?”I snort, and he smiles. There’s a desk and computer against one wall, but therest of the room screams man cave. A huge flat screen hangs on the wallopposite a long black sectional couch. Video games and DVD’s are piled high onshelves lining a third wall. A mini fridge boasts rows of soft drinks when heopens it to offer me one.
“Dr.Pepper, please.” I accept the cold drink and thank him.
“Myfavorite,” he replies, throwing me a charming smile. “So, when can you start?”
Shit.Decision time. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, after the bar?”
“Look,why don’t we just start over? I promise I’ll treat you like an employee, notsomeone I kissed and propositioned.” Amusement flashes through his blue-greeneyes and he extends his hand. “Hi, I’m Landon Clark.”
“ZoePage,” I reply with a giggle.
“So,when can you start, Ms. Page?”
“Howis tomorrow?”
“Fourp.m. to midnight?”
“I’llbe here.”
Iargue with myself the rest of the day over whether I’m making a huge mistake byworking for Landon. Ethan is thrilled with my job change since it means we’llhave more money. He works a few evenings a week stocking shelves at the grocerystore across the street for spending money, but I don’t let him contribute tothe bills. He has the rest of his life to pay bills and stress over money. Iwant him to have fun and go out with his friends.
WhenI wake the next day, I call a local car repair service and arrange to have my sedantowed to their garage. It will be such a relief to have it back. The wreckershows up just in time, and I hand over my keys before rushing off to catch thebus to class. Cabs are expensive, so I ride the bus whenever I can.
Studentsfilter slowly into my anatomy class, most looking bored or glum. Not to soundlike a total nerd, but my science classes are the highlight of my week. I adorescience and plan to teach biology until I can reach my ultimate goal. Anevolutionary biologist.
Ethanshares my interest in science, but his real love is history. I think we’re soeager to learn because of the way we were raised. Homeschooled by strictevangelical parents, we were taught the only truth comes from the bible. Ourexposure to science was very limited, and history was mostly a mix of biblicaland military history.
Thefirst few years on my own were tough, living in a homeless shelter, then astudio apartment, surviving on peanut butter, and I escaped my worries byreading everything I could get my hands on. It was like discovering a new worldthat already existed all around me. A book on the evolution of the pepperedmoth introduced me to the subject I want to build a career around.
Timeflies by as it always does when I’m in school, and before I know it, I’m on thebus home again. I have just enough time to put together a lasagna for Ethan’sdinner and make a sandwich to take to work with me.
Afterleaving Ethan a reminder on how long to heat the lasagna, I run out to meet mycab. The bus doesn’t let off near Landon’s house, and I don’t want to be lateon my first day, so I figure it’s worth the expense. A few more days and I’llhave my car back.
Landonopens the door with a smile. “Ms. Page, right on time.”
“Youcan call me Zoe,” I reply, rolling my eyes. Although, Ms. Page is a step upfrom Ms. Difficult.
“Zoe,”he stresses, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Come, let me show you where I’dlike you to start.”
I’mlead to a spacious bathroom attached to his man cave/office. “This is the onlybathroom I’ve been using and as you can see, it’s still cluttered with old manitems.” He opens a closet piled high with junk and another cabinet also stuffedfull.
“Allthis belonged to my uncle. I need it sorted out and the whole room cleaned.”
Thesound of ripping tape bounces off the walls as he opens a large cardboard box.“You should find everything you need in here, but if not, just let me know andI’ll take care of it.”
