All Chapters of Something Warmer: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

"Miss Eldredge?"Every time someone calls me that way, I can feel the dread circulating through my body as if I'm about to get the world's most brutal talking to in existence. I hate it. My hands get clammy. My heart races. I feel out of breath. Reminds me of when I was six, when reality sat in about my parents' death. I did that then, and here I am, doing it now. PTSD much?I smooth the white apron out on the standard Dabney-Aparo housekeeper uniform and look up at my kind boss with a warm smile. I know this man. He's my uncle, mom's brother. He didn't take me in when I was younger because it just wasn’t feasible, so his mother, my abuela, did. I have always been close to him and his family, though."Yes, Mr. Ortega?" I ask. It's unusual to call him by this name. I want to call him Uncle Kenny.He holds his professional composure for a moment before he allows it to soften. "You wear the hell out of that uniform, mija."I chuckle. It's not what I thought of when I thought housekeeper.

I sit in the car longer than I should after it arrives at Eleven AM. The valet doesn't mind because I pay them a shit ton of money to deal with people like me. Frenzy is on staff today. He gained the moniker by being the fastest to get people in and out of their cars. He's a floater. He goes where I need him, and this is where I need him today. When I pull up, he greets me with a handshake and informs me that my parents arrived fifteen minutes ago, and that was ten minutes ago. I've made them wait a total of twenty-five minutes. They're used to this egregious behavior from me. They know I lost my respect for them a long time ago. It's pretty big of them to want to meet now, considering the circumstances. They probably want more money or to be cut back in somehow or to tell me about some grand idea they have for another venture. If it's the first, we can negotiate. If it's the second, I'll consider it. If it's the last one, they can shove that up their asses and move on. I'm sick and

Alexis's driver pulls up in front of Minutiae alongside everyone else. Minutiae is the place to be on a Friday night. The line is long and I can hear the music from outside. A parking attendant moves to open our door, and I see a familiar face. He helps Alexis out and then offers his hand to me. It confirmed my suspicions when our eyes meet. "Jackson?" I smile. Jackson works at the Rowan Laurel as a valet. Everyone calls him Frenzy, but I just know him as Jackson. He's a year older than me, but he's a good guy. I've always had a little crush on him. But he must moonlight here, too. It would explain why I didn't see him this morning.His smile is brighter. "Well, well, if it isn't Miss Cora Eldredge," he chuckles. He does a little spin of me and then pulls me in for a hug. "God, you're looking beautiful, as always."I thank the gods it's dark and he can't see the blush creep on my cheeks. "Thank you," I answer just as Alexis clears her throat loudly. I chuckle and pull her to me after