Chapter 11: Working, Working Day and Night
Daphne, Aspen's mom was all business, the furrowed brow she sported creating wrinkles on her forehead. One hand was firmly planted on the curve of her hip while her beady gaze was focused solely on her daughter as she strolled through the door without so much as a clue as to where she was the night prior. Briefly noting the green digital time claiming it was nine in the morning, she spoke. "Care to explain where you've been? You didn't leave a note or call."
"I know," Aspen retorted carelessly, tugging the messy bun from the top of her head and allowing the tresses to cascade down her shoulders. "—my phone died and Tori's phone charger doesn't work on mine."
"Tori?" A vague description of the teenager flashed behind Daphne's eyelids. "That's who you were with last night?"
The lie came easy, even with her mom's obvious suspicion that it wasn't really Tori she was with. "Yeah, she needed some help with her college applications."
Her efforts were accepted, her mother simply nodding and turning her attention back to the food she was tending to. "Okay."
Instead of rushing to her room right away like Aspen had planned, she lingered a moment, watching her mom in her own state of distraction, wearing her absent husbands way-to-big hoodie and some slippers. "Are you okay?"
The question startled her parent, eyes darting up to the prodding voice, her features softening when she finally realized what had been asked. "I'm fine now that I know you're safe."
Aspen smiled gently, her fingers gripping the railing tighter before darting up the stairs, her phone being tossed haphazardly on the bed.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
She didn't know where to start, her brain being solely focused on the handsome teenage boy that happily assaulted her senses at every waking moment. All she could replay was the sight of Eli laughing, how she felt when they would touch. The fact that he was spending all of his time with her and no other girl made her feel special, he wanted to know who she was for her and not for what she carried underneath her clothes.
Laying down in her bed, arms sprawled out on the comforter, her mahogany brown irises slid shut, no longer tired but reminiscing on the good memories she'd made with Elliot James. "Speak of the devil and he shall appear," Aspen muttered under her breath, her phone lighting up with a notification from none other that Eli, a goofy picture of him still perched in the treehouse, one hand stretched out beside him where Aspen had been nearly an hour ago. "Miss me already?" She typed out and sent back, clicking her phone out to a black screen before gathering a towel and her face wash to take a shower.
The warm water on her body felt heavenly, the steady beads of heat pressing against her hair and face, effectively easing any tension and calming her out into complete relaxation. She wasn't sure how long the shower took but every minute of it was worth it and she felt like a whole new person stepping out and going back to her room.
Another notification from Eli was present on her phone screen, his simple reply causing a smile to break out across her freshly washed face. "Always."
Snapping out of her daze, Aspen got ready as usual with bounce in her step. "Are you leaving again?"
"For work, I keep getting raises so I might as well."
"Are you receiving enough business to be getting raises like that?"
"Mom," Aspen huffs out, head bent down and eyes trained on tying the laces of her shoes. "MJ is loaded."
Smacking her hand on her thigh and playfully rolling her eyes, Daphne could barely contain her words. "Stop calling her MJ, it's Miss. Melody and if she was bathing in money she wouldn't be living here."
"MJ loves my nickname," Checking her appearance in the hallway mirror, flicking around some of her waves. "Give her some credit, she's old but she's not dumb. Staying in the suburbs is cheap and easy, she's elderly with plenty of kind people living around her to help." Unlocking the door and pulling it open, her brown eyes made eye contact with her mother. "Her husband owns the ice cream shop and about a hundred others all around the U.S. So, like I said, she's loaded. Bye!"
Leaving her perplexed mother behind, Aspen got to her car and pulled off for the quick five minute drive to the ice cream parlor. The elderly woman was waiting for her at the door with her apron on and worn tennis shoes. "Hey, MJ."
"Been a while since I've seen you."
"Only a week, M. Plus, you know I always come back to you." Soft laughter emitted, a wrinkled hand coming up to pat on Aspen's back. "We get any new shipment?"
Nodding and pointing a finger to the freshly opened boxes, Aspen started setting everything up, pausing her movements every time someone popped in. "Is it a boy?"
"Come again?" Aspen sent her elder a look, curious to how she always seemed to know what everyone was thinking.
Melody knew that look all too well, it was the same look she had when she was young and falling in love with her husband. "You heard me, child. There's a boy in your life that's making you glow like that."
Aspen's fingers fumbled on the ice cream scoop she was holding, the customer before her not even bothering to hide her eavesdropping. "We're just getting to know each other. It's nothing serious yet."
"Yet, mmm?" Giving her a loving tap, MJ smiled silently, her teasing resulting in the young girl blush. "He any good?"
Aspen's gaze returned to the boxes, hiding a blush behind fresh cartons of flavored ice cream and sorbets. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, forcing herself to remain calm even though her heart was nearly beating out her chest. "I wouldn't know," She finally confessed sheepishly, the words barely above a whisper but MJ heard all she needed to.
She remembered what it was like being young; being chased by every eligible boy in town, going on dates—her first time. She saw so much of herself in Aspen; admired the good head on her shoulders and wishing nothing but the best for such a promising young woman. MJ was prepared to prod further, her mouth opening before abruptly closing as the front bell rang; signaling the beginning of the mid-day rush. "You finish unloading those boxes; I'll man the front."
Aspen let out a sigh, grateful for the distraction as she continued organizing the contents of the freezer. A gel pen rested between parted lips, a clipboard held in her grasp as she checked off her list of the day, moving around MJ to refill empty containers up front.
She'd finished rather quickly, wiping her hands on the front of her shirt as she breached the back room once more, stepping around MJ with a gentle smile. "You work the register," Aspen took over, noticing the impatient looks on the growing line of customers faces; all too caught up in theirselves to have any sympathy for the older woman. "Ever think about hiring more help? I'm sure it would take some stress off of your shoulders."
"Thought about it," MJ confessed, her fingers tapping at the registers buttons with intent, collecting cash and holding out change. Her hands were shaky, a symptom of the medication she took on a daily basis. "Just haven't found the right fit yet—not anyone quite like you."
Aspen pursed her lips, passing the cone to the last customer in line. Her elbow rested on the counter, hip jutted out as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I know a person. She's nice, punctual—I could see if she's interested."
"A friend of yours?"
"Yeah, Tori's great. She'd be a big help—if she says yes then maybe you and Jim can finally take that trip to Greece." The door ringed once more, a new group of needy customers with sweat on their brow and ice cream on their mind strolling up to the front, their eyes scanning the menu in silence. "Think about it?"
MJ rested a hand on Aspen's shoulder. "No need. If you trust her then I do too." She sighed softly, checking her wrist watch while making her way to the back. "Bring her in tomorrow and we'll get her on the schedule."
Aspen's smile grew so wide her cheeks hurt, happily taking care of the customer with a newfound glee. "I won't let you down."
"You never do."