Page 31 of Heartbreak & Cupcakes
ALEX
“How long doyou think you’ll be?” Frank asked from the front seat as he pulled up in the back of the senior center.
My flight was scheduled to leave SFO in forty-five minutes. I’d planned on leaving earlier, but I read two extra books to Lexi. She always asked for extra books when she knew I’d be going out of town.
“Twenty minutes.” That would give us just enough time to make it to the tarmac.
There were definitely perks to having a private plane chartered and not having to go through security or check-in was one of them.
Frank gave me a thumbs up.
I stepped out into the alley and the city sounds filled the air. There was jazz playing, horns honking, the buzz of people rushing to wherever they were headed. The city was alive, it was a living, breathing thing, which most of the time, I felt like I wasn’t.
I was surviving. Going through the motions. Doing what I had to do for Lexi. But there was no life in me.
Monica, who ran both the senior center and assisted care home, opened the door with a smile on her face as she greeted me with a formal, “Mr. Vaughn.”
“Please, call me Alex.” It was the same exchange we’d had for the past year.
Monica Grant didn’t like me. I was sure of it. I just wasn’t sure why.
I saw the way she was with the residents and employees. She was warm, friendly, and open. She was pleasant enough to me, but her guard was always up. She kept me at arm’s length and watched me like I was going to steal the silverware.
Maybe it wasn’t that she disliked me as much as distrusted me. Which I didn’t understand. All I wanted to do was help to make her job easier and the building more habitable.
“Follow me. I think you’ll be happy with the progress,” her tone and gait were equally clipped.
I silently walked beside her as we made our way down the hall toward the kitchen and dining area. I’d started renovations on the resident floors. I’d only planned on renovating those but after Mia and I toured the facility she’d pointed out that the place was falling apart and asked how, in good conscience, could I possibly turn a blind eye to that.
Sometimes, especially in business, I had a tendency to have blinders on and only look at the bottom line. Mia infused humanity into the business. Something I hated to admit I’d lacked in my life even before life had stolen my happiness.
Growing up, it had been a dog-eat-dog world. I had to look after myself, and then before I reached adulthood, I had a family to protect and provide for. I’d operated in survival mode for as long as I could remember.
But thanks to Mia, I’d expanded the renovations.
I’d taken care of some things behind the walls so far. I’d installed a new HVAC and plumbing. And taken care of a mold problem and also refurbished all of the residents’ rooms. The energy-efficient windows were going in next week.
“As you can see, there’s been a lot of progress.” Monica lifted the I.D. hanging around her neck and pressed it to the keyless entry box. I’d installed a higher-grade security system in the building. It was for the staff and residents’ protection.
“Everything looks great.” We’d toured the kitchen and rehab room, but there was one more space I was interested in seeing. “Have they finished the community room?”
“They have. Just last weekend.” She smiled brightly once again, and once again I could see the joy didn’t reach her eyes.
For months I hadn’t said anything to her, but today something snapped in me. I stopped and turned toward her. “Have I done something to offend you?”
She blinked up at me, caught off guard by my candor. “What...no…why would you...”
“I feel like I have, and if that’s the case, I’m truly sorry,” I spoke sincerely.
I wanted to make Monica’s life easier, not harder.
“You haven’t,” she assured me, and I believed her. “I’m just...I have concerns.”
“Concerns?” I repeated. If she had concerns, I wanted to know what they were. “What concerns?”
She straightened her shoulders. “May I speak candidly?”
“Please.”
