"Oh, now boss this is getting ridiculous, You have to..." Russ began but was silenced when the man held up his hand.
"You look different." The man began as he looked me over, putting his hand on his shapely jaw.
"I put my contacts in," I studdered clearing my throat.
"What's your name?" He asked pushing back his coal black hair as if somehow it had fallen out of place.
"Epperly Wakes," I began loudly, "Epperly Sacha Wakes," I spoke softly, pushing my hair behind my ear.
"Well, Epperly, I'll keep my eye on you, I'll have to since we keep running into each other like this." He smiled taking my hand and placing a kiss on it. "Have a good day,"
"Wait, wait, what's your name?" I called out coming back to my senses, but it was too late, he had already rounded the corner and couldn't hear me. I threw my hands down and continued to Shady Oaks Retirement Home. "Good morning, Ramona," I called out watching her trying to get a book from Mr. Shannon's grasp.
"Epperly, we're here every Wednesday, Can't we at least go one Wednesday to like a beach or something?" Ramona whined as she finally retrieved the book.
"Ramona, could you enjoy the beach knowing that these poor souls were here?" I asked as I grabbed a blanket from the closet.
"Yes," She stated crossing her arms.
"Ramona Lirette!" I stomped my foot walking over to put a blanket over Mr. Shannon.
"Okay, okay," She put her hands up in surrender.
"Ramona," Rusty started. "Oh, Epperly, hello, hello," He walked over slowly, and shook his head back as his shoulder-length dark brunette hair swung about. Rusty Hodges was a bit overweight, his two front teeth were more pronounced than his others, and he had a long scar on his forehead that he refused to talk about.
"Morning Rusty," I quickly moved to Mrs. Mary watching Rusty make his way toward me.
"Epperly, are you going to leave me hanging again this weekend?" He asked as he poked his bottom lip out as he continued to walk in my direction. "You left me at O'Callahan's, I waited there until they closed."
"I never said I was going to O'Callahan's, Rusty," I said plainly as I moved away from Mrs. Mary and closer to Ramona.
"So, Saturday night I'll be at Josie's Bar, and I'll see you at eight." He rounded Mrs. Mary in her rocking chair as he made his way closer.
"Mr. Hodges," Grumbled Mr. Stevens, the co-owner of Shady Oaks. "I need you on the top floor today, Jacob didn't make it in. He tapped his cane on the ground as he stared down Rusty making noises as he walked to the elevator. "Ms. Wakes and Ms. Lirette, good job here," He smiled as he began turning the ends of his thick white mustache upward. "Uhh, we have a new staff member who will be joining you soon, I'm sure I can trust you two, to show her the ropes." He began walking away with a slight limp putting his white fedora on top of his snow-colored hair.
"Good morning, I'm... oh my god don't tell me you guys volunteer here too?!" Claudia cried out shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she crossed her arms. Her mousy brown hair was braided up and her dark brown eyes rolled around as if our presence was annoying her. "You know, it's so annoying that you have to be so good all the time."
"You know, thanks so much Claudia, and it's seriously annoying that you're such a..." Ramona began as she trudged toward Claudia, I held out my hand in front of her as she breathed out and turned around.
"We volunteer a lot of places, Claudia, so today you'll be washing all the bedding and clothes." I relayed as I motioned down the hall.
"Oh, so you put me on laundry duty?" Claudia whined as she stomped her foot. "Just because you aren't getting any doesn't mean you have to make us all have a shitty day." She scoffed heading down the hallway.
"Don't listen to her, Epperly, hey, why don't we go to Donavan's tonight?" She started rubbing my back, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
"I want my pudding!" Mr. Shannon screamed out as he raised his fist in the air.
"You'll get your pudding!" Ramona shrieked as she turned around to face the old balding man.
"Ugh, who knew old people were so disgusting, thank god I only have to come here Wednesdays and Fridays," Claudia complained as she dusted off her hands and grabbed her bright pink purse before throwing it over her shoulder. "I'm outie, oh and Epperly, you should find some dick, you won't be so moody." Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked out of the sitting parlor.
"So, are we going to Donavan's?" Ramona smiled as she grabbed my crocheted cardigan from the visitor's closet.
"No, I need to see Mr. Stevens, he sent Judy with a note when you went to give Mr. Shannon a bath." I giggled letting down my hair from the large clip.
"Yeah, you let him pour the apple juice all over himself." She shoved me as we both laughed. "I'll call you tonight."
"So, Mr. Stevens, you wanted to see me?" I asked entering his office and taking a seat on the black chairs in front of his desk.
"Yes, of course, Ms. Wakes, you and Ms. Lirette have been volunteering here for ten years and I know I've said this before and I wouldn't take no for an answer, You have to take the job here I'm offering. I can't in good conscious have you doing hard work and not get paid for it." He frowned as he began rummaging through the drawers. "Now, here take this, and give the other to Ms. Lirette, and don't give it back, you both will get one every week."
"Thank you, Mr. Stevens. You didn't have to." I got up and walked out of the nursing home and down the street.
"You again!" Russ shouted at me as he grabbed my arm and twirled me around.
"Russ, that's enough," The man held up his hand. "So, Ms. Epperly Sacha Wakes, we meet again. This is something to keep running into each other like this, What would you call it?" He smiled as he looked down at me, his Italian accent hovering around him like cigarette smoke, his mocha-colored skin kissed the sun and glistened as beads of sweat started to drip down his temples.
"Fate maybe," I chuckled not realizing I was staring at him. "I didn't get your name."
"Hack Hyland, it's a pleasure to meet you." He extended his hand to mine as he bent down to kiss it."Well, since it must be fate then you will join me for dinner tomorrow night then?" He asked.
"Boss, Tony just called and said that the people love to be early so that they can set the move." Russ relayed to me as I began to speedwalk. "Oww," Came the voice of the woman I ran into, she was pretty but I was in no mood to talk with any female. I held up my hand to silence Russ, if I let him he would berate her when I was the one that ran into her. We have no time for pleasantries or formalities, I needed to get going. "Sorry," I heard her yell out. "Good morning Mr. Hyland, your party hasn't arrived yet, I'll send them up to the suite whenever you're ready." Adrianna softly spoke to me as she brushed her hand up and down the buttons of her white blouse. "Thank you, Adrianna." I dismissed her before she could follow me like she usually does. She was beautiful that was certain, her raven hair had streaks of blonde and her olive complexion complemented her bright green eyes. But, she was known around my entire building as anything but virtuous, not that there's anything wrong wit
"The next day, why couldn't he wait until next week?" Russ began complaining as we headed back to my building down the overly crowded street. "You, again?" He barked out as I held out my hand to the girl I ran into yesterday. She must be going back to the soup kitchen, I held up my hand as we continued to walk down the sidewalk. "Mr. Hyland," Adrianna began as she got up from her chair and rushed to my side. "Your party called to let you know they are running a little behind and will be an hour late." "Ugh, that's fine." I looked at my gold watch as I started down the hallway to the elevators. "Sir, if there's anything you need, anything at all let me know." She rubbed her hand down her chest opening her pink blouse more showcasing her breasts. I ignored her and made my way into my office as Russ sat opposite me. "She wants you." Russ laughed as he crossed his left leg over his other. "What? Who?" I asked opening the newspaper on my desk. "Your whatever you want to call her secre
"Oh now boss this is getting ridiculous, you have to..." Russ began as I once again bumped into this woman for the fourth time in two days. "You look different," I started as I looked her over, it was true she did look a little different. "Yes, I put my contacts in," She replied, I couldn't help but smile, her contacts it was so obvious, how did I miss that? "What's your name?" I asked her, I felt it only right, not only to put a name to this face but for Russ' sake. "Epperly Wakes, Epperly Sacha Wakes," She answered. I was stunned, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman but I couldn't allow myself to be distracted not with the phone call I received this morning. "Well Epperly I'll have to keep my eyes on you, I'll have to since we keep running into each other like this." I took her small hands in mine and gently kissed them. "Have a good day," I took off in a hurry to get to my building as I rounded the corner I heard her yell something out but I couldn't understand. "Good morn
"You did what?!" Ramona cackled out as she tossed her purse onto the sofa. "I told you I accepted his invitation to dinner for tonight." I brushed my hair back behind my ear. "Okay, I think I was dreaming so you have to start at the beginning, Epps, this is huge!" She squealed as she bounced down on my living room sofa. "Well, we were bumping into each other every day, twice a day even." I began as I walked into my kitchen for something to drink. "He asked my name and I guess I was too entranced to remember to get his, so I didn't get his name until yesterday. He asked me out to dinner for tonight and I'm going to go." "I'm going with you," She stood up abruptly just as I sat down opposite her. "What like some sort of double date?" I asked as I watched her start pacing the floor. "No, of course not, I'll go and be in the background." She waved her hand in the air, before heading into the kitchen. "You can't go alone, I won't let you, you don't know anything about him." "That's
"Mr. Hyland, your party will be here, in about twenty minutes," Adrianna scurried from behind her desk as her heels clicked with each step. "What?" I questioned as I entered my building with my cousin in tow. "What party?" "Oh, Mr. Ricci..." Her voice sounded strained as she tried to sound seductive watching my every move. "Ricci!" Russ yelled out as he started toward the meeting office. "Thank you, Adrianna," I announced as we made our way to the elevators. "What does that old bastard want?" Russ inquired as we entered the meeting room to prepare for Giovanni Ricci. "Haven't a clue," I stated as I sat in my chair at the head of the table and watched the glass door swing open to Giovanni Ricci waltz in as if he owned my company. "Ricci," "Hack Hyland, so glad you agreed to meet me," Giovanni smiled widely as the gap in between his two front teeth began to show more clearly. "Yes, seems I might have to employ yet another receptionist," I said as I turned my head toward Russ. "
"Mr. Hyland," I said as I bumped into that beautiful man once again. I am infatuated with this man, from his alluring accent to the dimples when he smiles. "Mr. Hyland, I thought we were past such formalities?" Hack smiled as he looked down at Lilly the pug puppy Griffin asked me to walk. "Of course, sorry I'm just..." I began as I looked over at Russ who was staring me down like a hawk. "Nervous?" Russ questioned as he moved toward me with a huge grin on his face. "We keep running into each other, this is Lilly," I brushed off Russ's question as I directed my attention back to the other Italian in front of me. "We do, did you enjoy our date?" Hack asked as he switched his weight from one foot to the other while putting his hand in his pocket. "Yes, I did very much, your restaurant, the food was delicious," I stated as I let Lilly's leash out a little further. "Good, good, I would like to take you out again, tonight?" Hack inquired as he reached for my hand, but before I could g
"So, about that date?" Hack smiled as I put my hand in his. "How about I take you and your friend for lunch and tonight you and I can eat, wherever you like," "I uh..." I began as I was still mesmerized by his looks. "We'd love to, and she'd love to," Ramona cut me off as she took me by the arm. "Wonderful," Hack clapped his hands together before gesturing us forward. "I know a few good restaurants in this direction," "I'm feeling French food, what about you Epps?" Ramona said as she interlocked our arms together. "I'm not sure, I could eat anything," I replied as we passed more people on the street. "I may be partial but I do love Italian food," Hack hoarsely chuckled as he looked back at his cousin. "Well, I did enjoy our meal when we went on our date," I replied, looking toward my best friend. "But, today we have Ramona for lunch, so I suggest we eat at a French place. Tonight we can dine at an Italian place if you don't mind." "I don't quite have an appetite for Frenchmen
"What's happened, Rocco?" I asked with a fever as I hurried into my SUV. "Niles DeMarco's dead, Tony Rizzio's been shot, Mario Pugliese's dead, and Ollie DiNiro has been shot, Sir," Rocco answered as he continued to wipe the blood and sweat from his face. "Who was it?" I demanded, as I looked back at my cousin. "Who the hell hit me? Who had the gall enough to hit the most potent family without a blessing?" "We aren't sure," Rocco began as he ached in pain turning to his right side. "Oh, I feel it now, I... I think they have shot me." He looked down to see a hole in his suit jacket, he lifted his shirt to reveal a bullet hole spurting blood on the leather seats. "Aren't sure? What do you mean?" I asked as I placed my handkerchief on his side. "There were two cars, mixed of three families, The Ricci's, The Fontana's, and Messina's," Rocco replied as he started to wail in agony. "Enzo Fontana, Bosco Messina, and that damn Giovanni Ricci," I hopped out of the vehicle and hurried u
"Epps, do you think it's a good idea to get back to you know.. doing all the things you do so early?" Ramona asked as she tried to push me back onto the bed. "What?" I inquired as I sat back up. "Who else is going to feed the homeless, take care of the animals, read to the homeless?" "Oh, please," Ramona scoffed as she plopped on the side of me. "What do you honestly think, Claudia, does this all out of the goodness of her heart?" I raised my eyebrow. "The only place I haven't seen her at is the homeless shelter. They don't pay there," I rolled my eyes as I watched a smile creep up my best friend's face. "True, but I think you should stay in bed a little longer," Ramona whined as she rested her head on my shoulder. "You did just have a horrific head injury, so rest up. I'll go get you some soup." "Ramona, it's been two days since I've been out of the hospital. I'll be fine, it's Monday. It's time to go to the soup kitchen." I throw the blankets off of myself and hop out of bed
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake," I struggled to open my eyes hearing the voice that sounded all too familiar. "I was a little worried,""What?" I questioned as I squinted to see Hack standing over my bed. "Where am I?""Hello, to you too, Epperly." Hack chuckled as he grabbed my hand. "You're in the hospital, you've been asleep for the past two days. You hit your head pretty hard.""No, oh no, Ramona," I stated as I tried sitting up in the bed but I winced in pain."Take it easy, Epperly." Hack smiled as he helped me. "Ramona is fine, she's been here the entire time. She left to get food,""Oh my, you're finally awake!" Ramona yelled as she walked through the door, dropping the sandwiches onto the floor. "You had me so worried, I didn't want to leave you,""It was Rusty wasn't it?" I breathed in deeply as Ramona walked to my side. "I woke up though before, I remember waking up here.""Yeah, the nurses checked you out. You woke up and I was in the bed next to you getting examined. Yo
"What's happened, Rocco?" I asked with a fever as I hurried into my SUV. "Niles DeMarco's dead, Tony Rizzio's been shot, Mario Pugliese's dead, and Ollie DiNiro has been shot, Sir," Rocco answered as he continued to wipe the blood and sweat from his face. "Who was it?" I demanded, as I looked back at my cousin. "Who the hell hit me? Who had the gall enough to hit the most potent family without a blessing?" "We aren't sure," Rocco began as he ached in pain turning to his right side. "Oh, I feel it now, I... I think they have shot me." He looked down to see a hole in his suit jacket, he lifted his shirt to reveal a bullet hole spurting blood on the leather seats. "Aren't sure? What do you mean?" I asked as I placed my handkerchief on his side. "There were two cars, mixed of three families, The Ricci's, The Fontana's, and Messina's," Rocco replied as he started to wail in agony. "Enzo Fontana, Bosco Messina, and that damn Giovanni Ricci," I hopped out of the vehicle and hurried u
"So, about that date?" Hack smiled as I put my hand in his. "How about I take you and your friend for lunch and tonight you and I can eat, wherever you like," "I uh..." I began as I was still mesmerized by his looks. "We'd love to, and she'd love to," Ramona cut me off as she took me by the arm. "Wonderful," Hack clapped his hands together before gesturing us forward. "I know a few good restaurants in this direction," "I'm feeling French food, what about you Epps?" Ramona said as she interlocked our arms together. "I'm not sure, I could eat anything," I replied as we passed more people on the street. "I may be partial but I do love Italian food," Hack hoarsely chuckled as he looked back at his cousin. "Well, I did enjoy our meal when we went on our date," I replied, looking toward my best friend. "But, today we have Ramona for lunch, so I suggest we eat at a French place. Tonight we can dine at an Italian place if you don't mind." "I don't quite have an appetite for Frenchmen
"Mr. Hyland," I said as I bumped into that beautiful man once again. I am infatuated with this man, from his alluring accent to the dimples when he smiles. "Mr. Hyland, I thought we were past such formalities?" Hack smiled as he looked down at Lilly the pug puppy Griffin asked me to walk. "Of course, sorry I'm just..." I began as I looked over at Russ who was staring me down like a hawk. "Nervous?" Russ questioned as he moved toward me with a huge grin on his face. "We keep running into each other, this is Lilly," I brushed off Russ's question as I directed my attention back to the other Italian in front of me. "We do, did you enjoy our date?" Hack asked as he switched his weight from one foot to the other while putting his hand in his pocket. "Yes, I did very much, your restaurant, the food was delicious," I stated as I let Lilly's leash out a little further. "Good, good, I would like to take you out again, tonight?" Hack inquired as he reached for my hand, but before I could g
"Mr. Hyland, your party will be here, in about twenty minutes," Adrianna scurried from behind her desk as her heels clicked with each step. "What?" I questioned as I entered my building with my cousin in tow. "What party?" "Oh, Mr. Ricci..." Her voice sounded strained as she tried to sound seductive watching my every move. "Ricci!" Russ yelled out as he started toward the meeting office. "Thank you, Adrianna," I announced as we made our way to the elevators. "What does that old bastard want?" Russ inquired as we entered the meeting room to prepare for Giovanni Ricci. "Haven't a clue," I stated as I sat in my chair at the head of the table and watched the glass door swing open to Giovanni Ricci waltz in as if he owned my company. "Ricci," "Hack Hyland, so glad you agreed to meet me," Giovanni smiled widely as the gap in between his two front teeth began to show more clearly. "Yes, seems I might have to employ yet another receptionist," I said as I turned my head toward Russ. "
"You did what?!" Ramona cackled out as she tossed her purse onto the sofa. "I told you I accepted his invitation to dinner for tonight." I brushed my hair back behind my ear. "Okay, I think I was dreaming so you have to start at the beginning, Epps, this is huge!" She squealed as she bounced down on my living room sofa. "Well, we were bumping into each other every day, twice a day even." I began as I walked into my kitchen for something to drink. "He asked my name and I guess I was too entranced to remember to get his, so I didn't get his name until yesterday. He asked me out to dinner for tonight and I'm going to go." "I'm going with you," She stood up abruptly just as I sat down opposite her. "What like some sort of double date?" I asked as I watched her start pacing the floor. "No, of course not, I'll go and be in the background." She waved her hand in the air, before heading into the kitchen. "You can't go alone, I won't let you, you don't know anything about him." "That's
"Oh now boss this is getting ridiculous, you have to..." Russ began as I once again bumped into this woman for the fourth time in two days. "You look different," I started as I looked her over, it was true she did look a little different. "Yes, I put my contacts in," She replied, I couldn't help but smile, her contacts it was so obvious, how did I miss that? "What's your name?" I asked her, I felt it only right, not only to put a name to this face but for Russ' sake. "Epperly Wakes, Epperly Sacha Wakes," She answered. I was stunned, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman but I couldn't allow myself to be distracted not with the phone call I received this morning. "Well Epperly I'll have to keep my eyes on you, I'll have to since we keep running into each other like this." I took her small hands in mine and gently kissed them. "Have a good day," I took off in a hurry to get to my building as I rounded the corner I heard her yell something out but I couldn't understand. "Good morn
"The next day, why couldn't he wait until next week?" Russ began complaining as we headed back to my building down the overly crowded street. "You, again?" He barked out as I held out my hand to the girl I ran into yesterday. She must be going back to the soup kitchen, I held up my hand as we continued to walk down the sidewalk. "Mr. Hyland," Adrianna began as she got up from her chair and rushed to my side. "Your party called to let you know they are running a little behind and will be an hour late." "Ugh, that's fine." I looked at my gold watch as I started down the hallway to the elevators. "Sir, if there's anything you need, anything at all let me know." She rubbed her hand down her chest opening her pink blouse more showcasing her breasts. I ignored her and made my way into my office as Russ sat opposite me. "She wants you." Russ laughed as he crossed his left leg over his other. "What? Who?" I asked opening the newspaper on my desk. "Your whatever you want to call her secre