Tracy

He towered over me, he blocked out the light, and he tracked up my floor. Samuel Maddox Junior was an imposing, grouchy, mean, gruff, sexy man. Shit. How did the word sexy get in there?

I jumped when he slammed the door and Bella whimpered.

“I know right? He’s worried about noise that might disturb his sister and he slams the door like that? Total hypocrite.” Bella whimpered again and put her head down next to me.

I was used to a loud and boisterous work environment from my days at Ruff Life. We had puppies, kids, Harlow Hayes. It was a riot of life and vitality.

The Castle was more like a mausoleum. There were four people in this house right now but barely a sign of life. Bitterness and decay came from the top down and now I had seen the top. Maddox was scary as hell.

I did the floor again to remove the giant footprints of dirt he’d tracked in.

The kitchen smelled a lot better and was looking bright and cheery. That was a step forward. Even if Maddox was enraged by it. I’ve made a difference already, darn it!

What was his problem? I didn’t to dwell on the answer to that question. I’d promised Sarge some lunch. There wasn’t much in the pantry, but there was soup, and bread, and cheese. Today would be grilled cheese, but I started a list of things I’d need to stock here to provide Sarge with nutritious meals. I’d had a print out of his dietary needs from the agency and I aimed to take the list and make it as tasty as I could for Sarge.

I didn’t know what I could realistically do for Olivia, other than making this space more positive, but I did know that her father, Sarge, desperately needed good food, sunlight, and clearly a counterpoint to his volatile housemate and son.

As I got busy making a tray for him for lunch, the door opened again.

This time a lot less intimidating figure entered the kitchen. He looked my age, or a little younger. He was tall and gangly and wore leather similar to Maddox and Kade wore, but it hung off him.

One of his patches said ‘Probie’ and the other said ‘Fitzie’.

“Hello. I’m Fitzie.”

“Hi. Tracy Plumb, I’m the new housekeeper. Can I help you?”

“I’m the courier for The Dark Saints. I’ve got stuff for Maddox, I usually leave it here, on the table.”

“Okay, I’ll be sure he knows it’s here.”

Fitzie laid a manila envelope on the counter. He smiled broadly.

“Um, I also like to visit Olivia. Sarge says it’s okay.”

I was touched. This was one of the first positive developments of the day.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Then you know the way?”

“Sure do. And Miss Plumb?”

“Tracy.”

“Uh, Tracy, the kitchen looks much better.”

“Thank you! I think a squirrel, or something had died in here, but we’re getting there.”

“Ha, yeah, it was getting gross. I’m glad they hired you. The last one was lazy. Maddox keeps firing them.”

“Well, no chance of that. I’m small but mighty.” Fitzie laughed and it restored my faith in the universe.

“I’m sure you are. Nice to meet you.”

He was young, and high strung, and as twitchy as the squirrel I envisioned ransacked this kitchen, but he wasn’t barking at me, so I called it a win. I needed all the allies I could get for this new job.

“You too, Fitzie. Have a nice visit.”

I finished making food for Sarge and processed all I’d taken in during one busy morning. This place needed me. That was the good news. The more concerning issue was the question of whether I could I stick it out if Maddox decided to give me the boot.

I needed this paycheck. My parents needed this paycheck. I resolved that the only way to survive was to do my best, go above and beyond, and hopefully the beast upstairs could be overruled by the Teddy Bear that I suspected was inside Sarge.

Sarge was overly thankful for the lunch. I arranged his tray near him and assessed his room. It needed attention.

“Sarge, I need to clean in here, too.”

“Oh, no, worry about Olivia and the rest of the house.”

“I will. But you’re not going to escape my dusting and organizing wrath.”

“Oh, Christ. You sound like my wife used to. And grilled cheese? How did you know?” Sarge ate the lunch I’d prepared like he’d never eaten before.

“I just wondered, how you’d like me to go about getting you stocked up with things here?”

“I’d say buy whatever you need. But of course, the final say goes to the kid, Maddox the Younger, unfortunately. My wife, left this place to Olivia and him, provided I always had a place to stay. It was fine before Olivia’s situation, but now, well … Maddox, he’s got the cash these days.”

“Got it. I’ll propose a weekly food budget. I’ll need a list of your favorites.”

“Right now?” Sarge’s wheels were turning.

“I’ve got a pen and paper ready to go.”

Sarge described his favorite foods. I was pretty sure I actually saw his eyes light up. I mentally reconstituted ways to get him healthier versions. I wondered how long it had been since he’d eaten a consistently healthy diet.

Before I knew it, an hour had passed.

“My goodness! I need to get back to work. I don’t want to be slacking my first day.”

“It’s okay. This is the nicest meal I’ve had in a long time. I am getting tired, and it’s time to sit with Olivia.”

“I’ll go in and check on her, how about that? You take your rest. Don’t worry.”

I made list after list in my head. Sarge’s room needed dusting, organizing, and clean sheets. I wondered where all the linens were for this place. Another thing to put on the list.

I left Sarge to his post-lunch nap, dropped off his lunch tray in the kitchen, and then made my way back to Olivia’s.

I peaked in. Fitzie had come and gone. The nurse was still in her same place.

“How is she?”

“She’s no different today than she was yesterday or the day before that.”

The nurse was a bitch.

I ignored her and turned my complete focus on Olivia.

“Hi there.”

I felt it was best to just start talking. I knew she probably couldn’t hear me, but I had been hired to do this. I was getting paid an excellent salary. I owed my new bosses, Maddox Senior or Junior, everything I had. And right now, Sarge was resting easier knowing Olivia had company.

“So, your Daddy, Fitzie, now me? Are we driving you crazy with visitors?”

At first, I felt a little awkward but soon it was easy, talking to Olivia. I watched her breath; it was the only motion in the room. And I started talking about my own situation.

“So, yeah, that’s the deal. I’m in a bind.”

I also realized that I could help with Olivia. I may not be a nurse, but I could help.

“Is there a brush or comb in here?” I asked the nurse and she shrugged. There was no help there, so I walked to Olivia’s dresser and sure enough, there was a brush, comb, a flat iron; all the same stuff I had. There were also several three-ring binders and each of them had neatly printed labels on them that read ‘House To Do List’.

That could be helpful. Olivia had overseen this place before she was shot. Maybe there were things on her list I could get done.

I’d have to dig into those House To Do Binders when I had a minute.

I found a spot next to Olivia and took a section of her pretty blonde hair in my hand. I had no idea when the last time her hair had been brushed or styled. I’m sure the current nurse hadn’t done it. I was careful not to tug. I worked through her hair slowly, lock by lock.

“I saw your flat iron, maybe I’ll do that tomorrow? Your hair is spectacular. I always wondered what it would be like to be a blonde!” I chatted with this sleeping beauty, this Sunflower, as Sarge had called her.

She didn’t move so much as an eyelash but the sun from the window caught a lock of her hair that I’d placed on her shoulder.

It sparkled.