Chapter 9: Chapter 8

It wasn’t easy trying to find someone who was willing to living in with an old couple and provide constant care for Gloria.

The few women Elena had spoken with, all said the same thing. They had kids and would need to go home at the end of the day and wouldn’t be able to be a live-in helper.

While a few others, after hearing about changing an old lady’s diapers and feeding her through a tube, they turned their noses up and turned down the job.

Elena didn’t know what else to do, she didn’t want to throw Gloria in a home because she knew she wouldn’t get the proper care she deserved. And Robert needed someone to help him with so many things in his everyday life.

The doorbell rang and Elena had to tell Robert that she would see who it was.

‘’Hi, are you Elena? The one they said was looking for someone to help around the house with your mother?’’

‘’My mother-in-law but yes. How did you hear about this?’’

It wasn’t like Elena had put out an ad, she only flipped through the classified section of the papers and saw a few adverts for care takers.

‘’Hmm…’’ the young lady seemed unsure. ‘’Someone told me about it, said they talked to you, but the job didn’t suit them, and I thought that maybe I could see if it was still available.’’

Elena looked her up and down. ‘’Sorry, but I didn’t get your name.’’

‘’Oh, sorry. Its AJ.’’

‘’AJ?’’

‘’Yes, my mom was a simple person and I guess that two letters were the best thing she could think of as a first name for me. And my last name is Silva in case you were wondering.’’

‘’Ok.’’ Elena stepped aside and let AJ inside her in laws’ house.

‘’So, what is your experience?’’ Elena began.

‘’Well, to begin. I’m 22 years of age. And I have done babysitting here and there in my teens. I previously did courses in Home Health Aide and Nurse Aide. I was working part-time at TC Nursing and Retirement homes because they didn’t have full time employment for someone fresh out of school. But sadly, as we all know it was burnt down.’’

‘’How many days did you work while there?’’

‘’Only three days a week, and honestly I didn’t do much. Just helped to find the residents and change bedsheets.’’

Elena nodded and began to show AJ around the house.

‘’I’m honestly not expecting you to clean the entire house, because honestly, my father-in-law is mostly in bed, the living room, or the kitchen these days. And there is never that much dust away.’’

AJ nodded.

‘’You don’t have to do much cooking either. Robert mostly eats soup now, so if you make enough for him to have for at least three days and cooking enough again on Sunday for the rest of days.’’

‘’Ok.’’

‘’The hardest part is that you would have to provide care mostly for Gloria, she suffered a stroke that rendered her immobile and not able to talk. You would have to feed her through a tube, give her a sponge bath and change her diapers whenever that is needed…’’

Elena was afraid to say it, not wanting to scare AJ off.

‘’Is that all?’’ AJ asked.

‘’Well, it would also require you to be a live-in.’’

AJ smiled. ‘’I’ll take it.’’

‘’Really?’’

‘’Yes, I am struggling to find a job and right now I am low on cash. I can’t always depend on my parents for money, so yes.’’

Elena gave a smile. ‘’Ok, so you will be paid weekly.’’

Elena slid over the expected pay.

AJ smiled. ‘’So, when do I start?’’

‘’Today.’’

When Elena got home, a wave of sadness over took her, she looked around the foyer with a sigh and felt as if she should sell the house, it seemed even emptier to her now, but she didn’t know if she could bring herself to do such a thing. It was Malik’s dream home and the place held too many memories.

After buying the place, they both renovated it to their liking, they added a jacuzzi indoors, covered over the pool out back to make a gazebo so they could enjoy the outdoor during the summer and spring.

‘Could I part ways with the house?’

‘Or even Malik this quickly.’

He was the only man she knew and ever loved, and it broke her to pieces knowing that she would never see him again.

Elena took a deep breath and stopped crying; she knew she couldn’t stand around and feel sorry for herself.

And what she should really be doing is to go to Georgia.

She could find out who that woman was to Malik and if those kids were really his.

‘’I should,’’ Elena told herself.

After making her mind up, Elena booked a last-minute flight to Georgia and went to bed early, seeing that the flight would be early in the morning.

Elena wanted to put her mind at ease, and even hoped that she was overthinking this situation that Malik might have had a second life with another woman.

Elena was a bit grumpy when she woke up, all she could dream about was Malik.

She even dreamt of the lady and the kids in photo, laughing at her and mocking her.

After getting ready, Elena got a new fear. Wondering if she would meet the same faith as her husband, and with no family to contact, she would be just another body at the morgue.

‘They would probably burn me instead of giving me a proper burial,’ she thought, then shook her head to dismiss it.

Elena told herself to stop thinking like that.

She took a deep breath, “get it together Ellie.” She told herself, then left the house and went outside to where Belinda was waiting to take her to the airport.

The flight to Georgia was tiring, there was a delay and once the plane took off; there was a child in the row behind Elena who kept kicking and screaming.

When Elena finally arrived in Georgia it was late afternoon and she couldn’t get a car to rent, but she did get a cab rather quickly to take her to her hotel.

‘’Hi, reservation for Elena Perry.’’

‘’Yes. Oh.’’

Elena looked at the receptionist, wondering what she meant by ‘oh’.

‘’The room you originally booked isn’t available.’’

‘’Ok, well do you have any rooms available?’’

‘’Yes, but that will be hundred and fifty dollars per night.’’

With a shrug, Elena said. ‘’Fine by me.’’

Elena walked back to the desk. ‘’Another thing, is it possible to get a rental car?’’

‘’Oh yes, the hotel provides its own rental services.’’

‘’Wow, that’s amazing, could I get one within the next hour?’’

‘’Sure Mrs. Perry. All you have to do is select your car and it will be yours to rent for the period of your stay.’’

‘’Thank you,’’ Elena smiled at the woman.

After getting to her room, showered, then left the hotel. She stopped at a café to gather her thoughts.

She called Belinda, letting her know that she had arrived safely.

After getting her coffee and cake, Elena sat outside.

‘’I don’t know how I am going to find this woman, Belinda. I don’t even know her name.’’

‘’No, people would think I’m weird if I walked around pushing a picture in their faces.’’

Then Elena paused.

‘’Oh my God,’’ she let out then covered her mouth.

She shook her head, wondering if she was seeing things.

‘’I have to go,’’ Elena said and hung up.

She could believe her eyes, so she rubbed them and yet the person she thought was dead, was standing on the curb as if waiting on someone.