Home at Last

Chapter 4: The Lie

  Vera woke up and yawned, hearing her alarm going off she looked at the clock 7:30am it read. She rolled out of bed and stretched and began to brush the knots out of her short brown hair. Once she was done and had put on a pair of high waisted jeans and a red plaid flannel over her white tank top, she quietly made her way to the living room, where Stephanie still lay asleep. The events of the night before had echoed through her dreams, and she really didn't feel like giving them another thought. She took the cup of water, which was now empty, and went to the kitchen.

  Vera had always loved to cook, and at home boy, she cooked to impress. She turned on the stove of her penthouse kitchen and started to mix up some pancake batter. She poured it into the pan and began to make pancakes. Once they were done, she fried up some bacon and eggs to go along with it, adding finely cubed green bell pepper to the eggs along with the tiniest bit of Colby Jack cheese for flavor. Once she was done she heard a yawn from her living room.
  She walked in and smiled, "Good morning Steph, how are you feeling honey?" Steph rubbed her eyes and sat up "I'm okay... what's that smell?"
  "I made breakfast!" Vera said excitedly "do you want some?" Stephanie smiled "well sure but please don't feel any obligation, I wouldn't want to intrude on your privacy more than I already have.." Vera reassured her "No, after you've been through this is far from intrusion. I insist." Steph smiled and Vera led her to the kitchen, where she had already put the dirty pans in the sink and the plates of food were already sitting at the table. Once they were done eating, Stephanie and Vera began to talk.

  "So... where are you from?" Stephanie asked kindly, "Well, my roots are in the Ukraine but I'm from New Jersey. It's been my home and I live on a farm there. I'm just here for a job" Stephanie looked confused, "A job? I don't know what kind of job sends you to this place and gets you this penthouse but sign me up!" Vera laughed nervously, she never liked telling people who didn't know who she was about her job because she knew they would view her differently. "I'm a celebrity interviewer, I have been for about seven years now" "that's so cool!" Stephanie said, "what a job! I usually stay off the internet totally because I like to live a more private life, clearly because I don't have any friends and I had to come to a clients room because I had no where else to go but- sorry that was a lot." Vera got up and started gathering the plates, needing a subject change before Steph decided to ask questions. "No it's fine dear, that's what I'm here for. As my grandfather always used to say, miy dim - tse tviy dim— my home is your home."

Vera quickly realized she didn't know anything about Stephanie, only that she had a douchebag boyfriend and that she lived a pretty private life. "So.. where are you from?" Stephanie looked almost surprised that she asked "Peru, my dad was a missionary from a church in the United States visiting the country when him and my mom fell in love, they ended up moving to his home in South Dakota and then later up to Toronto where I've been ever since I was 2. I've faced a lot of assumptions, so thank you for asking rather than assuming." Vera had also faced the same assumptions, she spoke fluent Ukrainian and was very in tune with her ethnic background as well, she grew up with many traditional influences around her from her family. "No, it's no problem, I wouldn't want to assume anything."

  "So Vera, are you married? Have any kids?" Vera immediately blurted out, "No, I'm single and I have no kids" she didn't know why she said it, maybe it was the thrill that Steph wouldn't need to know or wouldn't find out the truth, but that was a pretty weird lie for her to tell. She snapped back to reality quickly and continued what she was doing. "oh, that's somewhat surprising. You're very pretty and warm, I'd expect you'd be atleast some kind of caretaker. Guess you have to be careful around those celebrities huh? Wouldn't want them to fall in love with you." Vera felt her face turn red, not knowing why it did. Did Stephanie really think she was pretty? And why did she care so much anyway? Man, she really had been away from her everyday life so long that she was seeking validation from a maid. Stephanie looked at Vera, who was holding a half dirty plate she had been cleaning deep in thought "Hey- Heyyy I didn't mean it that way I mean I see you as more than just pretty you know? And I really wanna be friends so I hope I didn't screw this up before it even started." Vera looked up "Oh no- I mean yes I want to be friends" she said half smiling. Something about this moment felt important, though she couldn't put her finger on what.

  Stephanie sighed. "Well, I'm gonna have to go back home.. home to him. I'll see you later Vera. Thank you so much for the hospitality. I'll see you when I come to clean and-" "wait!" Vera shouted, "you're not going back to him after what he did, stay here at the hotel. I'll pay for your room because you deserve better than that and atleast you can have your own space" Stephanie looked baffled "but you barely know me? Why would you want to help me so much. I really don't want to take advantage of your kindness and I'll be okay if I just go home" Vera stopped her there. "I insist, you can come up to visit me here any time you want. You deserve a safe place to stay, and I have the means to provide that so I will." Stephanie hugged Vera without warning. She put her arms around her and held on tight, almost tighter than Renn had ever held onto her. "Thank you so much Vera." Stephanie said, sounding like she may cry. "I have to go now yknow, Can't be late to clean the bottom floor." Stephanie gave Vera one last smile, grabbed her purse, and went out the front door. Watching her leave, Vera felt butterflies.