2
CAELIA
“Dad, I have a few minutes before I have to get going,” I say, smiling warmly as I step into the kitchen.
His house is cozy. It’s not at all the bachelor pad I thought it would be. He gruffly told me that he pays someone biweekly to clean for him, and that he’s learned a few things about surviving on his own.
I think he’s being ironic, because I know very well that he’s an excellent cook. He learned and burned his way into the skill set while I was growing up, and then taught me how to properly fend for myself so I wouldn’t have to go through the same mistakes.
I just know that the team keeps him very busy, and it makes it difficult to stay on top of things like cleaning. I’m glad he’s hiring out for things that he doesn’t have time for.
“Have some toast at least before you go,” he urges as the toaster pops up.
I’ve been played. Dad still knows me very well.
“Touchè,” I smirk, sitting at the table as he pulls out the toast and places it on a plate in front of me.
My favorite salted butter sits beside it, so I give in and eat as my stomach rumbles. Anything other than something small will upset it when I’m a bundle of nerves, but this works. I’ve been living here for exactly a week, and today is my first day of work. It feels really weird to be living with my father again.
The first bite of my perfectly buttered toast is sublime, making me hum happily as I chew.
“That’s very cute. You can’t run out of the house without eating. I swear you even look especially thin. I need to make sure you’re eating enough,” Dad grumbles. “Tell me about what you’re doing at this job again. I’m trying to wrap my old man brain around it.”
“You’re really not that old,” I mutter, taking a sip of water. “This shop has tarot card readings, vampire lore, art prints from local artists, and more. It’s two floors of an experience for both locals and tourists. My job is to create videos that will draw people there.”
“How’s the pay?” he asks suspiciously. “It feels odd that someone would pay for this, though I did hear once that New Orleans tourists research the area extensively before their vacations.”
“It’s like twenty-eight grand a year and I’m being hired on a trial basis to make sure I fit what they want,” I wince. “It’s not amazing, but I can pick up work in the city easily if I need extra money.”
“I don’t want you to bartend,” Dad murmurs. “I’ll worry about how safe you are driving home.”
“New Orleans is pretty safe, and I have a knife in my pocket, Dad,” I murmur. “I’m wearing scent blockers, and I’ve been taking self defense classes. I can take care of myself.”
“I know,” he grumbles. “Bartending is the first thing that came to mind. There are a lot of bars in the French Quarter.”
“I love the history of the area,” I admit. “I’ve been doing a lot of reading on it, and I think I could get a job doing ghost tours. Who is going to mess with me when they’re worried about the ghosts of New Orleans following them home for the crimes?”
“Now you’re successfully creeping me out,” Dad decides. “This is a very interesting look you’re sporting these days, Cae.”
“Armor,” I mutter, finishing up my food. “The scarier I look, the easier it is to be ignored. That’s all I want, Dad.”
Sighing, he stares at me, and it feels like he can see too much.
“Well, make sure you chant protection spells when you park and walk to work,” he finally says, shaking his head.
“Dad, you don’t believe in that, do you?” I ask.
“Live in this city long enough, and you’ll find a lot of things will change,” he says gruffly. “If this makes you happy, then have at it.”
His unspoken words that I look very different still seem to take up space in the room, and all I can do is nod as I stand.
“You know, I didn’t want to be me anymore,” I say softly.
Dad flinches as he remains at the table, turning my words over in his mind.
“You can reinvent yourself as often as you want. That’s the beauty of being young, Caelia. Just make sure that you’re not doing it because you’re simply lost.”
I have to get moving or I’m going to cry.I can’t walk into my first day of work with mascara streaks across my face. That’s not the type of first impression I want to make. My interview for this job was done through a video call. They said that I seemed to have the type of vibe that would bring tourists to their shop because of how I looked.
