Send me a sign 01

1

After she had pulled her car in a parking lot, Lena got out of it. Even after four years that she worked here as a personal care attendant, she loved Sumter Place. Walking to the building she rose her head up to the blue sky. It was a beautiful May day. The sun was shining above her head, the sky without clouds.

 

It was half past six a.m. and she had a day shift today. She went inside and waved at Lisa as she was passing the reception.

 

„Hi Lena,“ Lisa glanced up and picked up the phone that had started ringing. Lena continued walking to a staff room. She changed her clothes and got down to work. Sumter Place was a home with nursing care and Lena took care of old people with love. She made it her goal to help people when she was younger. The work fulfilled her inside, she felt useful and see the old people happy and smiling was satisfaction for her.

 

„Good morning, Mr. Jones,“ she greeted an old man who was walking towards her in the hall on his way for a walk. She knew every one of them by name.

 

„Good morning, Miss Gray,“ he gave her a smile taking his hat off.

 

She smiled back at him before she knocked on the first door on the left and walked in.

 

*

 

After a walk with Mrs. Corbett she got in her car and drove home. Mrs. Corbett was her favorite Sumter Place's inhabitant. She was like a mother to Lena. She called her Mary and every day when Lena's shift was over she spent her time with Mary. They usually went for a walk, or talked to each other in Mary's apartment when the weather wasn't good.

 

Lena parked her car in front of her small house in Wildwood. It was nearby Villages so her driving to work took just five minutes.

 

She opened the mail box and collected correspondence. Then she unlocked the door and walked in. She went through the envelopes and put them on the kitchen table.

 

„Hi Shadow,“ she reached down and took her tomcat in her arms. She stroked him. „Are you hungry?“ He miaowed and she smiled, putting him down on the floor. „Wait a minute,“ she pulled one packet of Whiskas out of the pantry, opened it and put the content of it on the plate.

 

She watched Shadow eating for a moment. Grabbing a mug of coffee she picked up her phone that had started ringing and walked on the back porch.

 

„Hi Eva, how are you?“ she put the mug on the table outside and sat down on the bench.

 

„Hi, I'm fine, thanks. And what about you? Didn't you forget our dinner tonight?“

 

„Of course I didn't. We're meeting in Hungry Howie's Pizza at seven, right?“

 

„Yes. Joel will take me there on his way to work,“ Eva confirmed. Joel was Eva's husband.

 

„OK. See you soon,“ Lena hung up.

 

It was six so she had enough time to get ready to go to be there in time. Her best friend Eva lived on 3rd Ave on the other side of Wildwood and they were used to getting together periodically. Eva was married, Joel worked as a surgeon in Promise Hospital of Florida in Villages. The women met at school.

 

*

 

„How is your marriage? Is everything alright?“ Lena asked after dinner as they drunk coffee.

 

„Sure it is. And what about you? Still single?“

 

„Yes, I am,“ Lena nodded. „After the break up with Jon I'm careful.“

 

„No interesting man in sight?“ Eva smiled.

 

„I don't know about him,“ Lena chuckled.

 

„How is Mrs. Corbett?“

 

„She's fine, thanks. Mary is healthy and it makes me happy.“

 

They ordered ice cream and talked for about two hours. Around ten they left the pizzeria and Lena took Eva home.

 

„We should get together again soon,“ Eva said when they arrived in front of her house. „You know, I'm going to have a baby.“

 

„Wow, congratulations!“ Lena smiled. „What did Joel say?“

 

„He was happy,“ Eva's eyes brightened.

 

„It's amazing news,“ Lena kept smiling. „You'll be busy when you have a baby. And when is your due time? Girl or boy?“

 

„In six months,“ Eva laughed shortly. „Too soon to know.“

 

„It's true. Have you experienced morning sickness?“ Lena asked curious.

 

„Mornings. Especially for the first two months. Now I feel better,“ Eva got out of the car. „I'll give you a call.“

 

„OK. Take care of yourself,“ Lena waved at her and waited till she disappeared in the house. Then she drove home.

 

*

 

Lena walked Mr. Davies to his apartment. As she went down the hall she saw a man walking in Mary's door. Could it be possible that one of her sons finally came to visit her?

 

Her shift was over. She changed her clothes in the staff room and went to the reception.

 

„How did the man who walked in Mrs. Corbett's apartment introduce himself?“ she asked Lisa.

 

Lisa flipped through the guest book. „His name's Eric Corbett,“ she raised her eyes to Lena.

 

Lena nodded. As she was about to leave suddenly the man was walking to the door. He had long light brown hair tied in a pony tail and a beard. Their eyes met for a few seconds and he bowed his head slightly to greet her before he opened the door and left. His eyes were beautiful but sad and intensiveness of his gaze got right to her heart.

 

Because it was their time for a walk Lena returned to the hall and knocked on Mary's door. She walked in and saw Mary standing by the window, her back to Lena.

 

„Mary, are you OK? I didn't want to disturb. I saw you had a visitor so...,“ Lena moved to her and put her hands on the woman's shoulders. „It was your son, wasn't he?“

 

„Yes, he was. My youngest one, Eric,“ Mary walked to the bed and pulled a tissue from under the pillow.

 

„I thought your sons' names are Carl and David,“ Lena said in a low voice. „He upset you, I'm sorry for this.“

 

„I have three sons, Lena,“ Mary wiped her eyes, sitting down on the bed.

 

Lena sat down next to her. „You've never told me.“

 

„I haven't,“ Mary shook her head. „When he was a little boy, he was my sun. His brothers were ten and seven when he was born. It was hard for him. They didn't want to take him anywhere with them because he was much younger than them. You know my husband was only his father, not his brothers. They blamed him that they had lost their father because of him. But it wasn't true.He had spent a lot of time with me or in his room before he found a friend. It was in high school. I thought everything would be alright,“ she paused. „He registered for aikido curses and after school he started working as a bouncer. He knew how to fight. But two years ago...,“ she sighed. „He disappointed me very much. I told him I wouldn't want to see him anymore,“ she whispered, tears pricking in her eyes again.

 

„Mary, I don't know what he's done but he really cares about you. He came to see you even though I don't understand why he didn't do it earlier,“ Lena put her hand on Mary's.

 

„He couldn't come, Lena. He was... far away...,“ she broke off. „I don't blame him for this but for what he's done. He harmed a man,“ she swallowed. „When he appeared here today... everything came back to me. But the fact that he came... has shown who really cared. Carl and David pay my residence here but they have never come to see me. Just Eric... I don't know what to do, Lena...,“ she raised her eyes to Lena. „Do you think I should forgive him?“

 

„Forgiving is human, Mary,“ Lena said in a low voice. „I can't tell you if you should do it. I don't know him, nor what exactly he's done. But he's your son and I'm convinced he loves you.“

 

Mary nodded. „You're right. I will think,“ she turned her head to look out of the window. „He said he would come back again,“ she smiled faintly. „He always has been a fighter.“

 

„It's good,“ Lena stroke her shoulder. „I should go. Have a nice evening, Mary. I hope you'll be alright.“

 

„Of course, my dear, I will,“ she turned to Lena. „Feel free to go. See you tomorrow.“

 

„See you,“ Lena hugged her and left the room.

 

*

 

„Are you looking for anything?“ Lena asked Eric as she met him on the staircase. The last two weeks she noticed that he's been coming to see Mary every day.

 

„Yes. My mom asked me to bring some coffee and cakes,“ he looked at her in embarrassment. „I got lost as it seems.“

 

„You're probably looking for a bistro. You need to go downstairs and to the left.“

 

„Ahhh, thank you,“ he smiled faintly. „By the way, I'm Eric Corbett.“

 

„Lena Gray,“ she offered him her hand to shake.

 

„You take care of my mother, don't you?“ She heard an interest in his voice as he shook her hand.

 

„Yes, I do,“ she nodded. „I noticed you're here every day.“

 

„Yes, I try to make it up for her the time I was... elsewhere...,“ he averted his eyes. „I didn't know that my brothers brought her here.“

 

„It's good, Eric. I have a feeling that they left her. I'm really glad that you returned. I love her like my mother and she's happier now,“ she broke off for a moment. „I'm sorry but I have to go now.“

 

„I see. You're at work. Thank you for helping me out.“

 

„You're welcome,“ she watched him walk down the stairs. His figure was slim, his hair was loose today. He is handsome. I'd like to know what he's done and where he's been for so long. Somewhere deep inside she started having an idea.

 

*

 

Next day afternoon Lena knocked on Mary's door and walked in. Mary was sitting in the armchair and Eric stood in the kitchenette, doing something.

 

„I'm sorry. I didn't know you were not alone,“ she turned around at the door and left.

 

Eric glanced at Mary. He stopped what he was doing as his mother gestured for him to go and ran after her.

 

„Lena, wait,“ he catched up with her at the staff room's door.

 

She stopped, the knob in her hand and looked at him. „Yes?“

 

„I know it's the time for your walk,“ he ran his hand through his hair. „I'd like to ask you if I could go with my mom today.“

 

„Of course, Eric. It's your right,“ she answered slowly, surprised.

 

„Thank you,“ he was about to leave but he stopped and turned to her. „You can join us if you wish.“

 

„Thanks but no. I really don't want to intrude. Your interest in your mother makes me happy, believe me,“ she gave him a small smile. „If you wish, we can alternate. The more time you spend with her the better for her. Just let me know when you'll come next time, OK? I will adjust my time depending on this.“

 

„Yes, I will,“ he went back to Mary's apartment.

 

When she was later sitting on the back porch, drinking coffee, she couldn't stop thinking about the strange man, surrounded by secrets. Since the first time he laid his eyes on her, she couldn't get rid of the feeling that he's got under her skin. Was it good or bad? She couldn't decide.

 

*

 

It was Friday, five minutes after ten p.m. and Lena walked out of Sumter Place after her afternoon's shift. She headed for her car when she saw someone sitting on the curb next to the parking lot. She stopped when the man rose, walking to her. She started breathing as she recognized Eric.

 

„Is that you? What are you doing here by now?“

 

„I'm waiting here for you, Lena,“ he stopped at a respectful distance. „I have no one to turn to. I hope it's not too forward from me, but I don't want my mom to know about it,“ he looked away for a moment.

 

„Do you need me to take you somewhere?“ she noticed a backpack in his hand.

 

„No, I don't. I don't know where you could take me. You know... I've lived at my friend's place but his wife gave birth and he brought her and their son home today. I can't stay there anymore... Don't you know about a place where I might stay overnight?“ he saw her frowning so he added quickly. „I don't want you to take me to your place, no. Maybe there's a room here in the building...,“ he looked desperate.

 

Lena stared at him and thoughts whirled in her head. She recalled Mary's words that he harmed a man and was afraid of him a little bit. On the other hand her heart was speaking to her too. Your goal is to help people and this man has no place to stay. You can't leave him here. He's alone, without help and it's a night-time.

 

„Come with me,“ she decided. „We'll find solution.“ She walked to her car and he hesitantly followed.

 

„Thanks,“ he said in a low voice as they got in the car. She nodded and the ride passed in silence.

 

She led him to the garden. There was a small cottage built by the previous owners of the house. She kept it clean and habitable and sometime she spent the night there with her tomcat.

 

„You can stay here,“ she pointed at the cottage. „We need to talk tomorrow.“

 

„Sure. I owe you. Thank you,“ he looked in her eyes before he moved to the cottage.

 

„You're welcome. Inside you'll find everything you need. If you need anything else I'll be up till midnight,“ she watched him with a sharpened gaze. „Good night.“

 

„Good night,“ he walked inside.

 

She turned around and went home.

 

She couldn't fall asleep. She thought about if she didn't make a bad decision when she took home someone like him. She stepped to the window. Light in the cottage was turned off. She returned into the bed and in the end she slowly drifted to sleep.

 

*

 

Lena was preparing breakfast and saw him standing on the back porch. „Come in.“

 

As he walked in he stumbled over Shadow. „What the hell!“ he cursed, furrowing his forehead.

 

Lena clapped her hands. „Come here, Shadow.“ He miaowed and jumped in her arms. She stroked his white long fur and put him on the counter. „Here's your meat, my little one.“ She moved around the counter to the table. „Take it easy, big boy,“ she frowned at Eric. „Sit down. We have breakfast and we can talk.“

 

He slowly stepped to her and stroked her cheek. She felt the tension between them in the air. „You're beautiful, Lena.“ She wanted to catch his hand when he was about to do it again but he was faster and caught her wrist. „If you stop talking to me like my mother which you aren't, we can talk.“

 

She raised her eyes to him. „Let me go. Now,“ she said quietly, putting stress on every word. „And stop threatening me.“

 

„You're afraid of me,“ he lifted his eyebrow, releasing her hand slowly. „You don't have to,“ he stepped back to leave her personal space and sat down at the table.

 

„I'm not afraid of you, nor I'm curious, Eric,“ she said, sitting at the table. „I know just a little pieces of your past from what your mother told me. If I let you live here I need to know everything about you. So you can choose.“

 

„You're threatening me now,“ he smiled faintly.

 

„I'm the one who didn't leave you sleep in the parking lot the last night, do you remember?“ she glanced at him, spreading the butter on the bread.

 

„Yes, I do,“ he nodded. „Coffee?“ he asked and filled her cup, then his one. „Maybe I don't look like that but I appreciate you took me in yesterday. Really,“ he ran his hand through his hair and she realized he was nervous. „OK. What do you want to know? Shoot,“ he sipped from his cup and put his hands on the table.

 

„Look, I don't want to interrogate you, Eric,“ she looked in his eyes firmly. „Your mom mentioned you harmed a man. So I inferred you were in prison.“

 

„What else did she tell you?“ he jumped out of the chair.

 

„Sit down, please,“ she gestured to the chair. „Nothing much. You disappointed her. Your brothers were quite older when you were born. You learned aikido and worked as a bouncer,“ she shook her head and waited till he sat down again. „I don't want to judge you. I just want to know who I took under my roof, that's all. Are you a murderer or thief? I don't think so. What then happened?“

 

„Well... Yes, my brothers are much older than me. I was their whipping boy. I don't like recalling that,“ he growled.

 

„Then skip it,“ she said in a low voice. „You learned aikido to be able to defend. It's understandable. After school you found a job as a bouncer. Your mom told me you had a friend.“

 

„Yes, Stefan,“ he nodded his head slowly. „Basically he was the reason why I ended up in jail.“

 

„Eric, did you hurt your friend?“ she asked softly.

 

„No, I would never hurt him,“ he took a deep breathe. „We were in a bar. I went to use the bathroom and when I returned that guy was kneeling on his chest and hit him in the face,“ he clenched his fists. „When I saw it...,“ he raised his eyes to hers, „you can't imagine how much hate and rage I've kept inside me for those long years. Stefan was helpless just like me all those years when I was a boy. I saw red when I saw the scene at the bar. I seized that guy by the collar and threw him across the room. Then I was punching him again and again...,“ he lowered his head, „... till he stayed lying on the floor... The blood was all around... and on my hands... I vented my anger on him, Lena.“

 

„You lost your self-control, right?“ she shuddered. „How long...,“ she swallowed, „... how long have you been in prison?“

 

„Two years,“ he looked at her. „Then I lived at Stefan's.“

 

„Did you think about what if this happened again, Eric?“ she ran her hand over her forehead. „You could hurt anyone else. You're unsteady.“

 

„No, it won't ever happen again. I won't let it happen,“ he whispered.

 

„You can't be sure,“ she leaned over the table. „Now it's locked up inside you but whenever you can blow up.“

 

„No!“ he hit the table with his fist.

 

She sipped from her cup and folded her arms on her chest, just staring at him without word. He looked away, got up and left the house. She let him go and collected the dishes. She turned the dishwasher on and started preparing lunch.

 

*

 

„Do you need some help?“ she heard his voice behind her. He returned as she expected.

 

„Can you peel potatoes?“ she asked over her shoulder as she was stirring sauce in the pot.

 

„Sure,“ he stepped closer. She watched him with a corner of her eye as he took a knife and started peeling potatoes. If he stabbed her...

 

„What are you baking?“ he glanced at the oven.

 

„Pork meat,“ she opened the oven to check.

 

„It needs some water,“ he uttered.

 

She did what he said. „Can you cook?“

 

„Yes, I was a cook in prison,“ he cut potatoes into pieces, ran water into the pot and put it on the stove. „Where do you have salt?“

 

She handed him a salt shaker. He added salt into the pot. „What?“ he asked as he noticed her staring at him.

 

„Nothing,“ she shook her head and put the pot with the sauce aside. „What is your job now?“

 

„Believe me or not, no one wants to employ someone like me,“ he sighed. „They released me three weeks ago and I'm still without a job. It's humiliating.“

 

„I thought so,“ she nodded her head, pouring some coffee for herself.

 

„What do you mean?!“ he asked sharply.

 

„Would you like some coffee?“ she looked in his eyes when he didn't answer. „Why are you so angry right away?“ she pulled a mug out of the kitchen unit and handed it to him. „I understand that it's hard to find a job for you. I didn't want to say anything else,“ she turned around and walked on the back porch.

 

„I'm sorry, Lena,“ he joined her. „I know I'm acting like an idiot. I just... I ruined my life because of one moment of stupidity,“ he said peevishly.

 

„It's something more than stupidity, Eric,“ she looked at him. „It's something... deeper,“ she broke off and looked away. „You need to get it out but not the way you did. You should aim your... temper at something positive.“

 

„It's easy to say,“ he mumbled. „I don't know where to turn. I need to set my life in order now. To find a job, make some money, have home... I'd like to take my mom to live with me again, Lena. But I can't.“

 

„That's the spirit!“ she gave him a small smile. „See that you have some positive thoughts. You have a goal. It's very good.“

 

„The goal is good for nothing if I won't find a job,“ he shrugged.

 

„You will, my friend,“ she said firmly and finished her coffee. „I'm going to finish our lunch,“ she retreated to the kitchen.

 

He sat down on the stairs, staring at the garden. He rose his head to the sky. Did you send me a sign in an angel form? Because she is an angel. Tell me what should I do? Perhaps I might become a better human by her side. She's beautiful, intelligent, strong, compassionate, kind and supportive. He shook his head. Why would she want me to stay by her side? Me, a dubious character. I'm nothing in comparison to her. You're wrong, my friend. He didn't know how long he was sitting there when she called him to go to the table. He sighed and walked inside.

 

*

 

„What kind of a job would you like to do?“ she asked when they finished eating and started collecting the dishes.

 

„Thanks. It was delicious,“ he got up to help her. „I would do anything. I'm not in the situation to choose.“

 

„True,“ she nodded. „What about a cook? Would you like to do it again?“

 

„No problem,“ he glanced at her. „Why?“

 

„While you were meditating on the back porch I gave a call to a cook in Sumter Place. I realized they were looking for a help in the kitchen,“ she turned the dishwasher on.

 

He stared at her in amaze. „Really? Do you think they might hire me knowing who I am?“

 

„I convinced him to give you a tryout. It will up to you if they decide to hire you,“ she averted her eyes. „Don't look at me like this. It's clear you're in the situation that you need help. But...,“ she looked in his eyes, hesitating if she should continue.

 

„But?“ he lifted his eyebrow.

 

„But you should tame your temper, Eric. No offence,“ she said in a low voice.

 

„I will, Lena,“ he looked in her eyes for a moment. „Thank you.“

 

„You're welcome,“ she smiled faintly.

 

„I want to go to see my mom now. Do you want to go with me?“

 

„No, thanks. Just tell her hi,“ she pulled a tray out of the fridge. „I baked a cake for her,“ she winked and cut the cake to pieces, putting them in the plastic box.

 

*

 

Eric put the pieces of the cake on the plate, put it on the table and settled on the chair next to his mother.

 

„Lena says hi and she's sending the cake, mom.“

 

„Did you see her? She's nice, isn't she?“ Mary smiled.

 

„You know, mom...,“ he averted his eyes.

 

„What, Eric? Tell me,“ she took his hand in hers.

 

„I lived with Stefan and his wife till now. But his son was born so I couldn't stay there anymore. Lena helped me out yesterday night and offered me a temporary shelter in her garden cottage. She's more than nice.“

 

„Oh Eric..., don't hurt her. She's so good woman,“ she got up slowly and stepped to the window. „I love her like my daughter. She takes care of me in her free time even though she doesn't have to do it,“ she turned to him. „What will you do? Do you have a job?“

 

At that point someone knocked on the door and a man walked in.

 

„Hello, Mrs. Corbett, can I talk to your son for a moment?“ he asked. „He'll be back in a few minutes.“

 

„Hello, Fred, of course. What's wrong?“ Mary looked scared.

 

„Everything's alright. He'll tell you,“ he turned to Eric. „Can we talk? Are you Eric Corbett?“

 

„Yes, I am,“ Eric got up. „And you are...?“

 

„I'm Fred Johnson, the chief cook here in Sumter Place.“

 

Eric nodded and followed him out of the room. „Don't worry, I'll be back soon. Have the cake, mom,“ he winked at Mary before he closed the door behind him.

 

„You asked me if I have a job,“ Eric was back in fifteen minutes, a big smile on his face.

 

„Yes, I did. And?“ Mary asked, confused.

 

„You're looking at the new kitchen help in Sumter Place now,“ he spread his arms, sat down next to her and hugged her.

 

„Eric...,“ she breathed out, hugging him back.

 

„A guardian angel walked in my life, mom,“ he announced when he let her go.

 

Mary smiled knowingly. „Good luck in your new life, my son.“