It's a Wonderful Cover Life #3

Happy Sunday!  Now I have good news and bad news.  The bad news – there won’t be another update until Wednesday.  The good news – I gave you an extra scene, which means more Sarah.  Enjoy.

6.  Ballerinas and chocolate milk

“I’m telling you, Sarah, this is going to be a piece of cake.”

Sarah gave a disbelieving snort and picked up her pace a little.  Carina might be her best friend, but she had a gift for getting them into trouble, usually leaving it up to Sarah to bail them out.  This was the last time, Sarah promised herself.  If Carina’s scam panned out, the Buy More would be off her hands by Christmas and she’d be free to live the rest of her life on her own terms.  She wasn’t ready to admit that out loud though and kept a step ahead of Carina as they turned the corner near the break room. 

When she passed the doors, something caught her eye and she stopped abruptly before backtracking as soundlessly as possible.  She glanced over her shoulder, pressed a finger to her lips as indication for Carina to keep quiet.  The gesture was met with a questioning look which Sarah chose to ignore.                      

Taking a step to her left, she was at the perfect angle to see the break room reflected in the glass pane of the half open door. 

Chuck searched the small fridge, careful to avoid the mystery crisper.  On a hunch he moved the six pack of Golden Annie and found what he was looking for.  Before closing the door, he debated whether or not to save Jeff from himself and toss out the beer.  Then he shrugged.  If Jeff could get past the stench and actually drink what has been labeled as ‘murky swamp water’ by Bad Booze dot com, who was he to mess with one of Koch’s few customers.        

He crossed the room and sat down in front of his four-year-old who was perched on the table, her pink tutu in stark contrast to the brown and green tones of the room.  He twisted the cap off the bottle and inserted a straw into the milk before placing it in the eagerly awaiting hands.        

“Careful,” he warned when she took a big gulp.    

“You wanna tell me what’s wrong?” Chuck asked soothingly after she had swallowed, running the pad of his thumb under her blue eyes. 

“Mrs. Easton put me in the back row,” the girl confessed in a small voice.  “She says I’m too tall and I block the other ballerinas.”  The last word got lost in a sob.

It took Chuck a few seconds to establish context.  Then he smiled encouragingly.  “Can I tell you secret?”  He leaned forward, touching his forehead to the girl’s.  “Real ballerinas are tall.” 

“Are you sure?” Her eyes were wide and serious.

“Pretty sure,” Chuck confirmed.  He leaned back, grateful to see his smile mirrored.  “And you know what’s cool?  I’m tall too, and so is uncle Devon and aunt Ellie.  We can see over all those ballerinas in the front row, so we won’t miss a second of your recital.”

Maggie thought it over for a moment and then flung herself forward, wrapping an arm around his neck.  His hand shot out instinctively to steady the drink she was holding. 

“You’re the best daddy ever.”

Sarah almost fell over when Carina grabbed her arm and pulled her back around the corner.

“I know what you’re thinking and that’s a bad idea,” she hissed. 

“I’m not thinking anything,” Sarah protested and then, for the first time, became aware of the fact that she was smiling.  She quickly schooled her features. 

Carina folded her arms and fixed Sarah with a skeptical look.

“Okay, fine,” Sarah conceded.  “Do you think he’s married?” she asked, trying her best to keep her voice even.  The last thing she needed was for Carina to think her interest was personal.  She was still licking the wounds left by Bryce Larkin and Carina didn’t let an opportunity go by without reminding Sarah that she had been warned.   Besides, Sarah told herself, this was pure business.

“If he isn’t, he sure got the raw end of that deal.”

Carina’s reply jolted Sarah a little, but she didn’t let it show.  She hadn’t spotted a wedding band on his finger during their brief encounter earlier, and for reasons unknown she had looked, but that didn’t mean anything.  Many married men didn’t wear them.  She shook off the thought. 

“Get me his personnel file,” she ordered more than asked and walked off before Carina could think to close her mouth.

---0---

7.  Five year plans change

“Is she asleep?” Ellie asked when Chuck sank down on the other end the couch. 

“Yeah,” he sighed tiredly.  “She’s so excited about the recital, it’s a miracle I got her to sit still long enough for her bath.  Of course then she insisted on giving me an exclusive preview while I was trying to get her into her PJ’s.”  He ran his hands across his face.  “Let’s just say a wardrobe change in the middle of the show poses quite a challenge.”  He reached for his lukewarm cocoa and downed it.     

Ellie gave him a sympathetic smile.  “It’s going to get easier, you know.”

Chuck shook his head as he returned the mug to the coaster.  “It’s not that, Big Mike was a real slave driver today.”

“Ah, I guess the boss stopped by?”

“Yup,” he replied.  Deciding it was for the best to leave it there, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.  Turning his head, he caught Ellie’s gaze and changed the subject.  “I did the math again.”

“And?” she asked expectantly.

He shot her a small smile.  “We’re almost there.  Another seven thousand dollars and I’ll have enough for a sizeable deposit on a new place and startup capital.  If I pick up an extra three shifts a week, I should have the money saved up in no time.” 

“Chuck, that’s going to take you at least ten months,” Ellie pointed out.  “And you’re going to see even less of Maggie than you do now.”

That thought had crossed his mind, but he didn’t really have other options.  Not that that stopped him from feeling guilty.  Maggie was growing up so fast and he didn’t want to miss a second of it, but he had to focus on the bigger picture.

“It will only be for a little while.  Once I’m my own boss I can work around her schedule.  My office will literally be next to her room.”

“Or,” Ellie suggested, “you can except my and Devon’s offer…”

“El,” Chuck cut her off.  “I appreciate it, but I can’t take your money.  That’s for your wedding.  Besides, the two of you have done so much already, letting us stay here and helping to take care of Maggie.”  Ellie opened her mouth to protest, but Chuck raised his hand, silencing her.  “I need to do this.  She’s my responsibility.”

“Well, the offer stands.  You just say the word.”

Chuck knew better than to argue.  Ellie was relentless, so he’d quit while he was ahead.  

“Thanks,” he smiled. 

“That’s what family is for.”

She returned the smile and gave him a pat on the knee before getting up to collect the empty mugs.  Chuck followed suit and started to gather the toys scattered throughout the living room. 

“Chuck,” Ellie called quietly from the kitchen and when he looked up, she tossed a pink pig over the counter.  He caught it in one hand and crammed it into the toy chest on top of the wooden building blocks, making a mental note to take it out first thing in the morning.  Maggie had developed an issue about animals in cages, stuffed ones included, since she’d watched Madagascar, and she insisted that they should be free to roam.  Of course they’d only become aware of the situation after a very eventful trip to the local zoo. 

Chuck closed the lid and pushed the chest into the corner next to the entertainment system.  He rolled back onto his haunches to get up, but froze when he heard a knock.  His eyes widened and he launched forward, yanked the toy chest open and stared down at Mr. Oink.  I’m losing my mind, he thought as he eyed the lifeless toy.  Shaking his head he dropped the lid back down.  Immediately there was another knock.  With a small yelp, he opened the chest again and freed the pig. 

“Chuck,” Ellie spoke behind him, barely stifling her laugh.  “I think that’s the door.”

---0---

8.  When a proposal comes knocking

“This is a bad idea,” Sarah heard Carina’s voice in the back of her mind, but there was no turning back now.  She’d already knocked twice and the doorknob was twisting.  She quickly released her bottom lip from between her teeth and consciously released the death grip on her purse strap. 

This was just a business proposal, she reminded herself, and there was no reason to be nervous.  She took a deep breath anyway.

The door swung open to reveal the man she’d met earlier and had shamelessly spied on.  He looked disheveled, wearing sweatpants and a long sleeved t-shirt splattered with water and soap, and his curls sticking out around his ears.  For a second Sarah thought that maybe Carina was right.  They should rather hire actors, no matter how sweet he was with his daughter. 

The last thought caught her off guard, but she quickly shook it off when Chuck’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. 

“Miss Walker?”

“Sarah,” she corrected, apparently adding to his surprise.  He stood speechless for a moment. 

“I, uh…” he finally found his voice, “hi.”

“Hi, Chuck.” 

“Is there an emergency at the store?” he asked.  “Please tell me Jeff and Lester didn’t burn it down.  I really need that job and…”  He stopped abruptly and cleared his throat.  “How can I be of assistance?”

Sarah gave him an amused smile as he went from a babbling geek to super professional in four seconds flat.  She didn’t answer immediately.  Instead she cocked her head to the side and waited for him to invite her inside.  He didn’t.  There was a beat of awkward silence and she realized that if she didn’t push the conversation forward, there was a good chance she’d be standing in his doorway all night.

“I’m sorry for intruding, but I was wondering if I could speak to you about something?”  When she heard voices from inside the apartment she quickly added “In private.”

“Sure,” he answered hesitantly and glanced over his shoulder.  “My sister and her fiancé are home, so perhaps…”  He trailed off and gestured towards the fountain.  Sarah nodded and led the way, still debating with herself whether it would be wise to make the offer.    

Chuck kept a respectable distance when he sat down on the edge beside her.  Sarah noticed and made up her mind.  All the male actors she and Carina had interviewed couldn’t keep their eyes out of her cleavage and she had to focus on closing the business deal, not fending off unwanted advances.  The children were even worse as they’d interpreted the role to be that of a rich spoilt brat which basically made her want to strangle more than one of them. 

On paper, Chuck was perfect.  He was single, his daughter was cute and according to his performance evaluations he was loyal, hardworking and trustworthy.  He was just what she needed to pull off the con.

“I have a proposition for you,” she started before she could change her mind.  “There’s this project I’d like you to be involved in.  It would take about two days, three at the most, and you’ll be more than compensated for your time.  How does twenty thousand sound?”  She cringed inwardly.  That was not what she’d rehearsed on the drive over, but then, it wasn’t every day she tried to buy herself a fake family. 

“Dollars?” Chuck choked out.

“Mm-hmm,” she nodded. 

“Wow.”  He blinked in disbelief.  “Okay, um, I assume that includes hardware?”

Sarah’s jaw dropped.  Of all the responses she’d imagined, that was definitely not one.  How could he think she would need to pay for that?  She snapped her mouth shut, looking for the right words to tell him off when she realized she hadn’t been specific.  Yet, he’d manage to jump to a conclusion and she was curious. 

“Hardware?” she asked.   

“Yeah, you know, I usually do installations and repairs, and at twelve dollars an hour you’ll be overpaying if it’s only for services rendered.  Plus you qualify for the staff discount, but seeing as you own the store, you probably wouldn’t even have to pay if you don’t want to, but that’s up to you of course.”

“It’s not an installation job or anything relating to electronics,” she clarified, relieved that Chuck’s mind had not gone where she’d thought, and a little disturbed that hers had.  

“Okay,” he stretched out the two syllables, looking perplexed.  “In that case I’m not too sure I’m your guy.  My skillset is fairly limited.”

“No.” She shook her head.  “You’re my guy.” 

When the words left her mouth she balled her hands into fists to avoid slapping them over her mouth.  Chuck had noticed her faux pas too as he was a few shades pinker than a second before, but thankfully he didn’t say anything.  Get a grip, she chastised herself, this is not the first deal you’ve negotiated.  Taking her pep talk to heart, she decided to get straight to the point, but much to her dismay, it came out as “I need you to be my husband.”