The Employer

Chapter 11

Celeste Peters

I must have died and gone to heaven. Only three weeks into the job and there are so many things that have me pinching myself every day. Here's a list because I make lists now:

1. I'm already starting to make a small dent in paying off my credit card bills and even stow a teeny bit away for Noah's future lawyer. This means I'm ever so closer to getting my baby brother out of prison! After spending time researching, I have about eleven thousand five hundred dollars to go. Baby steps, let's fucking go!

2. I am in love with everyone I work with. Turns out, the telenovela nights are just a major gossip session mixed with some TV viewing. These women know everything about everyone in the community and I currently feel equipped to write a book about the neighbors I've never met should the occasion arise. And while Kristina is our boss, she's more of a mom who takes care of every single thing we need. (That reminds me, I need to thank her for getting me car insurance.)

3. I have complete creative control when it comes to meals. There are still some hard days, like when the girls told me they loved fish sticks when I asked, but then they actually meant hate instead of love after I made it for them. But overall, when it comes to feeding the girls, it's been getting easier. I know what are hard no's now, versus what I can convince on. And my coworkers literally love anything I put in front of them.

4. The girls are amazing. They are hands down the funniest people I have ever met and it's actually scaring me how much I've grown to love them in such a short amount of time. We now have a weekly tradition where they help me cook a meal. Heidi has even written it into the official schedule, likely somewhere between Haiku writing and glass blowing, or whatever else these five-year-old girls are being subjected to these days.

5. Lastly, interactions with Marc are nonexistent. I thought we would likely run into each other a couple of times a week, but it's like the man doesn't even live here. The only evidence of his presence are the family photos scattered throughout the house and the empty morning coffee cup that lands back in the kitchen sink. In all honesty, I debated whether to add this to my Pinch Me List. I kind of want to feel the things that I felt when hearing his laugh or voice and seeing his smile. Plus, my heart stings when the girls cry and ask for Marc but he's not here. But ultimately, I've settled on adding this point to the Pinch Me List because it's a good thing I'm not running into him. Here is a two-point sub list to stress why it's good and needs to be on this list:

A. After the coffee shop interview, I can't stop thinking about him. And I can't be thinking about him in the ways I'm thinking about him. He's my boss' boss and five thousand percent out of my league. Seeing him would only catapult me deeper into those thoughts that I need to work on stopping.

B. If I saw him, I'd say something inappropriate again and then after all, I'd lose my job. After the coffee shop interview or whatever that was, I replayed our conversation over and fucking over again and decided I need to train myself to be more proper. And I need time to figure out how to do that. I even asked ChatGPT but it gave me an essay that I didn't have time to read.

So, to summarize, things are looking up! And now it's Wednesday afternoon, which means that my cooking session with Nina and Laila is coming up. I'm feeling energized and ready for the fun.

After I chop and prep some of the food, Heidi and the girls arrive. Kristina got them these cute little aprons last week, with heart shapes all over and their names monogrammed at the center. They put them on and instantly look like they could model for some kids cooking magazine.

"What are we making today, Ms. Celeste?" Laila asks. I told her and Nina they didn't have to add Ms. before my name and they laughed at me like I was crazy.