Chapter Five
This was the longest day Alexis had ever worked in her life. She wasn’t complaining—she loved her job—but she looked forward to going home and soaking in the tub. Had she eaten lunch today? She couldn’t remember.
Dinner hadn’t happened, of that she was sure. She’d been busying intaking Kelly, and then had rushed straight to the meeting with the board of director. After the meeting, she’d come back to her office to finish the paperwork remaining from Kelly’s arrival.
She remembered Aloni, the cafeteria manager, had popped in her office before leaving to tell Alexis there was a plate saved for her in the refrigerator.
“Thank you, Aloni,” Alexis said to the empty room. Tomorrow, she’d thank her in person.
Barefooted—she’d kicked off her shoes an hour ago—she trudged to the kitchen.
Carl stood at the counter, eating a piece of pie. “Finally taking a break to eat?”
“My stomach threatened to revolt if I didn’t feed it soon.” She opened the fridge and found a plate with her name on the foil covering it.
“Those days happen.” He pointed to the counter. “Luna dropped off extra slices if you want one.”
“What kind is it?”
“Cherry.”
She grabbed a fork and stabbed a pile of noodles. Her parents teased her for it, but she’d always loved eating spaghetti cold. “Let me eat this, then I probably will.”
“What time are you heading out?” Carl asked.
The head of security had a friendly demeanor to him, and he’d quickly become like the brother she’d never had. He took his job seriously, but he also had a fun-natured side to him. His wife, Luna, was a former resident who’d left an abusive marriage. Together, they shared two beautiful girls, whom Carl had officially adopted.
“Within an hour, I hope.”
“Let me know, and I’ll walk you to your car. You can’t be too careful, especially at this time of night.”
“I will.” She took another bite of pasta, careful not to drop it on her new peach-colored blouse. “When will Kevin be back?”
“Thursday, and thank goodness. Tyson usually takes the overnight shifts that Kevin can’t work, but he couldn’t tonight. I’m too old for these shifts.”
Alexis laughed. “You’re what, early thirties?”
“Thirty-two going on sixty.”
“Sure, you are.” The light banter was a breath of fresh air after the heavy day she’d had.
He rubbed his knee. “Somedays it feels like it. These old injuries like to act up when the weather’s about to turn.”
“I heard a cold front is moving in. When’s it coming?”
“Tomorrow. We’ll have morning temps in the seventies and evening temps in the fifties.”
She swallowed another bite. “I’ll make sure I bring a jacket.”
“Before I leave in the morning, I’ll test the heating system. I’d do it now, but it hasn’t been turned on since early spring. It has a habit of groaning in protest that first time it’s used for the season, and I don’t want to wake any of the children.”
“Smart idea.”
Carl finished the last bite of his pie and tossed the disposable plate and fork. “Back to work. Don’t forget to let me know when you leave.”
Once he left the kitchen, she finished her spaghetti in a rather undignified manner. She didn’t care—she was hungry and there was no one to see her. The pie called her name, and she took a piece to her office with her to eat while she tied up the day’s loose ends.
At eleven o’clock, she signed off on the final report. She packed her bags, called Carl to walk her to her car as promised, then started her drive home.
