My Life After the Disaster

Chapter Twenty Eight

-A Week And Two Days Later-

-Monday, August 21st, 2023-

After Annabelle and her family went back home she made some more calls and had a bunch of stuff brought over to the shelter which I helped to set up with Alexia after school. With all the rooms filled with everything they needed, including refrigerators. She also got washers and driers which went into the laundry room which everyone will share. She bought about four sets of them. Now everything is all set to go. And today I’m picking up our first occupant.

I arrive at the airport early in the morning to pick up Michelle and her son Stevie who is just the cutest little boy. I spot them walking out from the luggage area and wave at them as they make their way over. “Hello, you must be Michelle and Stevie. Annabelle informed me of your arrival. My name is Rose. And I’m in charge of the shelter here in Halifax,” I tell her as I reach out to help her with her bags.

Her face lights up as she looks at me and says, “It’s so great to meet you Rose. Annabelle brought me to the airport. She told me what you’d look like and that you’d be waiting here for me. I’m so grateful for all that you’re doing for me.”

“It’s not a problem at all. I’m helping out a friend. Let’s go this way. I’m parked out in the parking lot for picking up,” I tell her as I turn to leave.

The little boy quickly follows after his mother, smiling around at everything that he sees. “This place is so big,” he says, sounding excited.

We walk out the doors and down to that car in the parking lot. I pop the trunk and help Michelle to put her bags into the car. Once everything is put away I close the trunk and walk over to the driver’s seat, getting inside.

Michelle gets into the back with her son and sits him in her lap, putting her seatbelt over the both of them. “Just want to make sure he’s safe as I don’t have a seat for him here,” she tells me as I look back at them.

“That’s alright. We won’t be going too far. Just keep him close and enjoy the ride,” I say as I turn the car on and pull out of the parking space, driving out of the parking lot and onto the street.

It only takes a few minutes before we arrive at the shelter, parking on the side, I stop the car and turn it off. Then I turn around and say, “Here we are. Your new home.” I undo my seatbelt and get out of the car.

It doesn’t take long for Michelle to get out of the car, holding her son in her arms. She quickly puts him down and makes her way to the trunk, which I popped before getting out of the car.

I go over to her and pull out a bag while she takes the other two. I close the trunk and make my way to the front door. Once there I punch in the code and open the door, letting Michelle and her son go through.

Michelle quickly walks into the building making sure her son goes ahead of her and waits for me in the hall.

I walk inside and lock the door, greeting Joyce, the woman who stands watch over the door and let’s me know anything that’s going on here.

“Good morning Rose. Is this the girl Annabelle was talking about?” she asks me, looking over at Michelle.

“Yes, this is Michelle. From today on until she’s ready to leave she will be staying here at the shelter in room two,” I tell her, smiling over at Michelle and her son.

“Alright. I won’t keep you then. It’s um, nice to meet you Michelle and Stevie. I hope everything works out for you here on out. My name is Joyce and I will be here all week during the day. In the afternoon it’s May, over night is Paul and on the weekends is Joey and Val. There will always be someone keeping this place secure on top of the door security lock. No harm shall come to you or your son while you’re here,” she tells her, smiling down at Stevie.

“Thank you, I appreciate that. It makes me feel very safe,” Michelle says while smiling.

With introductions out of the way I lead her and her son to room two which isn’t far from the front door. I take out the key I had made a copy of and unlock the door, heading inside. Once everyone is in the room I close the door and set Michelle’s bag onto the floor.

She quickly drops her bags onto the floor and gives me a big hug, hugging me tightly but not too tight. “Thank you so much for all of this,” she tells me as she pulls away from the hug.

“It’s not me you need to thank for all this, it’s Annabelle. She’s the one behind it all. I just helped a little bit,” I tell her as I hand her off the key for her room. “For as long as you are here. This is your key. Take care of yourself and if you ever need anything just ask security at the front. They will contact me or Annabelle. But I must be going. I have work to do.”

“I’ve already thanked Annabelle more than anyone possibly should. She knows how grateful I am for all of this. Thanks again. Have a good day,” she tells me, setting the key down on her counter.

I nod my head and leave the room, wave goodbye to Joyce, unlock the door and leave the shelter, locking the door behind me. I make my way back to my car and get inside just as my phone starts ringing. I pick it up after sitting down and say, “Hello?”

“Rose! I’m glad you picked up. How did it go? Are Michelle and Stevie settled in now?” Annabelle asks, sounding excited.

“I just left them in their room. Michelle has the key and they’ve got their stuff. She’s very happy and Stevie seems to be enjoying himself too,” I tell her, putting my phone on speaker so that I could drive. I buckle up and put my key into the ignition, starting the car. Pulling out of the parking lot, I drive out onto the road.

“That’s good then. I’m glad that they’re happy. What are you doing now?” she asks me, sounding curious.

“I’m heading back home to get ready for my next modeling job, which is in a couple hours. I also need to eat something as I didn’t get a chance to eat this morning,” I tell her as I focus on the road. I’m actually driving my aunt’s purple car because I don’t have a car of my own yet.

“Oh, okay. Well thanks a lot for picking up Michelle and her son. I couldn’t go with her as I have things to do here but I did take her to the airport and paid for her flight,” she tells me.

“Yes, I know. She told me you took her there. And I certainly wasn’t expecting you to be there when she arrived. Anyways. I have to go. I hope everything is going well for you. I’ll talk to you again some other time,” I tell her, ending the call.

Soon enough I pull into my aunt’s driveway and open up the garage door, driving inside.

I honestly just want to crawl back into bed and go back to sleep but that’s not possible as I have things to do. So, I get out of the car after turning it off and head into the house, greeted by my aunt who was waiting for me in the kitchen with breakfast already cooked. My stomach grumbles just at the smell of it.

“Sounds like someone is hungry. It’s a good thing I made lots of food,” Guinevere says as I make my way over to the kitchen.

“Yes, I’m so hungry. I’m basically starving,” I tell her as I grab a chair and sit down at the table. “This looks and smells amazing. Why did you make french toast?” I grab a piece off the pile and bite into it.

“I just felt like it. And I know you love it. Your mom used to make it all the time. She said it was your favourite breakfast food,” she tells me while eating her own food.

“She wasn’t wrong. I could never get enough of it. And yours are perfect. I love them,” I tell her, taking another bite.

We talk about what I did this morning after leaving the house while we eat our breakfast together. Before long we’re both done and I’m getting up from the table.

“I’ve got to go do my makeup and head out so I’ll see you after. Adrian said he’ll pick me up in thirty minutes,” I tell her as I turn the corner, heading for my room.

“Okay, make sure to stay out of trouble,” she says, half joking as she says it.

I shake my head and go into my room, closing the door behind me. I walk over to my closet where I keep my makeup and pull it out, taking it over to the bed with my handheld mirror. I pull everything out and quickly put my makeup on, wasting no time. I then put everything away and head towards the front door, just in time for Adrian to arrive. “I’ll see you later Guinevere,” I say, waving goodbye to my aunt as I open the front door. I don’t bother to lock it behind me as my aunt was right there.

Adrian honks his horn at me and says, “Come on gorgeous, I don’t have all day to wait here for you.”

I close the door and make my way over to his car, getting into the front seat next to him. “You literally just got here. Did you have to be so rude?” I ask him, closing the door.

“Not really, but I find it fun. I see you’re wearing casual clothes again. You look so much more beautiful in stylish clothes,” he tells me, pulling away from the curb.

I quickly put my seatbelt on and say, “I like to wear clothes that are comfortable. I don’t care how I look. And I’m going to be changing into whatever clothes they want me to model, so, it doesn’t matter what I wear. Also, you should be nicer to your models. You don’t want me going to find a new agent now do you?”

“Sorry, I won’t do it again,” he says, pressing his lips together. “You look just fine in your clothes. You have a beautiful face so it doesn’t matter what you wear.” He picks up speed a bit as he drives along the road.

“Thank you for thinking so,” I tell him, looking out the window.

We drive a bit longer before arriving at the studio where I’d be doing my modeling today. Modeling some summer dresses for the same man that made the lingerie I had modelled last month.

We both get out of the car at the same time and head into the building together.

As soon as we step into the building Gregory spots me and comes right over. “Oh, my, just as beautiful as ever I see,” he says, admiring the way I look. “I have the dresses lined up in the changing area, same as before. You can pick whichever one you want, put it on and come back out here.” He smiles as he looks me over.

I nod my head and make my way over to the changing area, grabbing the first dress on the rack and change into it.

I go back and forth till I’ve worn all five dresses and posed for photos with them. Gregory says his thanks, hands Adrian the cheques and sends us off on our way, not without checking me out again though.

Adrian hands me my cheque and we get into the car, heading back home.