Aurora Book 1: Soitera

27. Kitchen Help

I hide in my room in the morning. I'm not coming out until after he leaves. Someone knocks on the door, and I move to the patio.

Armen comes out onto the patio a minute later. "I'm sorry you're upset. I wish I could let you go."

"I could help."

"I know you could."

"Then why did you say no?"

"Because she said developmentally disabled. I'm going to be real with you. Some of them are loud. We've had their groups at the church. Some of them are the sweetest people you'll ever meet. They would love you and you would love them. But then something will happen and one of them will flip a table over because they get excited. Or scream and slam their hands on the wall. They're not violent or mean. I don't believe any of them would hurt anyone. But you don't do well with sudden loud noises. You run away."

I do run. "It's better to run and stay safe. Safe spot."

"You don't have a safe spot on the mainland. It could take days to find you. I would have to break into Dante's house and steal Barney."

"I miss Barney."

"The point is, I can't have you run and not know where you are. I talked to Lilah a little more. She said, you can help with the kitchen for lunch. It's what we did yesterday. She'll be there to keep an eye on everything. I know you like to help people. You're a sweet kid. But we have to keep you safe first. Do you want to help with the kitchen again? It would give you something to do today."

"Yes."

He puts a weird bracelet on my wrist. It kind of looks like a watch, but it's not. "Keep this on when you're not here. It's only for emergencies."

"What is it?"

"Among other things, it's a tracking device. But if you press here," He pushes a hidden red button and his phone alarms. "It alerts me. Kid, people are weird. If someone tries to grab you, hit the button. If you panic and run off, I can find you quickly. If you're lost, hit the button. If something happens, and you have no idea what to do, hit the button. If someone throws you in a trunk, hit the button. It's a safety alarm. I ordered a different one that hides in a shoe, but this is what they sent until it's made."

"Oh." I rub the bracelet. It feels like rubber.

"Oh?"

"Yea." Nothing like this has ever happened. I don't know what to say or think. "I can go to the kitchen thing if I wear it?"

"Yes."

"I'll wear it."

"Thank you. I'll let the pilot know you can go after 11:30. Make sure you eat lunch before you go. And go eat some breakfast. I know you're mad, but you need to eat."

"I will."

I watch him leave. This is weird. I guess I was mad about not being able to go, but what he said made sense. I don't like loud noises. He wasn't trying to be mean about it. And he's trying to keep me safe. I don't understand why he's trying to keep me safe. I've never had anything like this.

Emotion takes over, and I chase him into the hallway. I give him a hug. Then I run back into my room and slam the door in his face.

I sit on the patio until his helicopter leaves, then I go to the dining room. Harry is standing there trying not to cry.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." He runs out.

"ARE YOU GONNA FEED ME?"

A lady comes out of the kitchen laughing. "That's my job." She gives me eggs and toast.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Can I have a big empty bowl?"

"Of course. I'll bring that right out."

I spend the rest of the morning picking and eating berries. Then I take the full bowl with me to the lunch thing. I eat more than I give away.

"I'm sorry I said anything about the dress shop. I should have said something to Armen first."

"No. I don't think so. Most people could help with it. You didn't know."

She smiles. "Did you talk to him? I think I'm going to get some food now. This is about over and I'm hungry."

"Yea, we talked. He gave me this. It's a tracking device." I shrug my shoulders. "I like to help."

"You do help. You help where you can. That's what matters."

Armen walks up to us out of nowhere.

I toss a raspberry in my mouth. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking on you." He's already staring at Lilah.

"Uh huh." I hold the bowl out to him. "You want a berry? They're out of your garden. It's even your bowl."

Lilah smiles. "She did come prepared. Although she's eaten most of it."

I laugh and pull the bowl back. "I love berries. You want lunch? We have spaghetti."

Armen shakes his head. "This is for the hungry."

I shrug my shoulders. "Aren't you hungry? It's lunch."

They laugh and Armen rubs his eyes.

"She does have a point. Are you hungry, Armen?"

"No. I..."

I cut him off. "Lilah is hungry too. You guys can go eat. I'll stand here and supervise while I eat the rest of this bowl of berries. I'm sure it'll be fine. If not, I'll jump out the window, and you can figure it out."

She laughs. "Are you hungry?"

"No. I haven't stopped eating yet. I had breakfast, lunch, and everything I could find in the garden. I'm still eating."

"I get like that on my cycle too. You need some chocolate."

My whole body twitches. "That dark black cherry cake at Jacks."

Armen rubs his eyes. "No. Eat your berries. We'll get chocolate later. You're not going to beg Jack for cake."

"Fine."

I wait for them to roam off with spaghetti. Then I text Everett about the cake. I really do need chocolate. I feel like it would cure everything.

30 minutes later, Armen is getting ready to leave and one of the helpers from Jack's place walks in with a covered platter and a dozen roses.

Armen crosses his arms. "Are you serious?"

I put my hands up. "I only told Everett that it sounded good. I did not call Jack."

Lilah laughs. "Everett begged Jack, not her."

"A gift from Everett, Miss. Aurora." He puts it on the table with the roses.

"Thank you. That is so sweet."

"Enjoy." He turns around and walks out.

"Let's see this amazing cake."

I pull the lid off, and it's a whole cake. I grab a fork and try to stab it.

Armen grabs my arm. "You are not eating a whole cake in one sitting."

"Watch me."

Lilah loses it. "Armen, don't get between a girl and chocolate. But I have to agree with him. You'll get sick, sweetie. Let's get you a plate and a piece of cake."

"Get three. You have to try it too. It's amazing."

She puts a bite in her mouth and nearly falls into a seat. "Oh, Amlio. This is so good."

I sit down with my cake. "MMM. It's as good as I remember."

Armen leans on the table and smirks. "Fine. I'll get the recipe for you girls."

I put the empty plate on the table. "I feel so much better. I think I can stop eating now."

She nods. "I told you. You just needed some chocolate. For some reason, that fixes it."

"Oh, he sent me a card too." I pull the card out of the roses. "I love you and can't wait until tomorrow. He can be so sweet."

She licks her fork. "What's tomorrow?"

"I'm taking her home." Armen puts the lid back on the cake.

"You're taking me?"

"Yes, we're taking my plane in the morning. I'll be there for a couple of days."

"Why?" I don't understand this.

"I want to check a few things at the school and make sure your doctor is close enough to you. Just small things. You'll be fine."

I'm not sure what to think. "Jerry signed me up for drivers ed. But since his guardianship got removed, will you make sure I'm still signed up? I really do want to learn to drive."

"Yea, I can do that. And I'll get you a cheap car you can learn to drive on. Everett will be over 18, he can ride around with you."

I fall off my chair.

Lilah pulls me up and I start sobbing.

Armen grabs me and hugs. "This is peanut butter all over again. You're fine. Forget I said it. We'll deal with it once you get home."

I wipe my face off and nod. It's the only way forward right now.

"Well, I'm going to miss you, sweetie. You have fun in school and good luck with your license."

"Thank you." I give her a hug. I do like her.

"Lilah, will you have dinner with me when I get back? It'll be a few days. It'll be weird with the house empty, but I would like to have dinner with you again." This man looks so vulnerable standing in front of us. I've never seen him look like this.

"I would love to have dinner with you, Armen. I look forward to it."

His eyes light up. "Thank you."

"I'll give you my number. Let me know when you get back."

"Can I message you before I'm back?"

"Of course. I would like that."

I try not to laugh. These two are in the awkward stage. They're cute together though.

"Let's get your stuff and get out of here, kid." He picks up the cake and bowl.

I grab my flowers and smell them. "Later, Lilah."

"Bye sweetie."

Nyx and I pack all my stuff when I get back. Somehow, I acquired a lot of stuff. Not counting the five big boxes of feminine hygiene products, I have six more big boxes of s**t. Dresses are two of them. I showed up with half a suitcase full. I'm leaving looking like I'm moving.

"I'll see you at school or on spring break." Nyx takes my phone and adds himself to Everetts friend group chat.

"Why do you want in that?"

"Could come in handy. Never know."

"I guess so. See you soon."