Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Four

'I'm sorry Ecie,' Lauren said quietly. 'My dad's an asshole.'

'Its fine,' Ecie smiled. 'Your mom's already apologized and she's being really nice.'

'I suppose that's something,' Lauren smiled. 'Oh well, perhaps things'll get better.'

Ecie shrugged. 'Are they nearly ready?'

'Mom!' Lauren called.

'We're coming,' Verity replied appearing with Melvin. 'Are we all ready to go?'

'Yep,' Ecie smiled. 'I'll wait down by the car.'

Ecie left the apartment and went down to the parking lot.

'So how long have you been working at the store?' Verity asked as she went down with her husband and her daughter.

'Since September,' Lauren replied. 'I met Ecie in class and we just hung out during the day. In actual fact, she helped me get the job in the first place.'

'You shouldn't rely on other people to help you out in life,' Melvin said. 'You should look out for yourself because one day you won't have all your friends doing things for you.'

'I didn't ask her to help me get the job,' Lauren replied. 'She just suggested it and I thought it could be worth a shot. I would never have heard of the opportunity if she hadn't have pointed me in the right direction.'

'You have a future,' Melvin said. 'It's easy for her to drop out of college because she wasn't feeling like it. It's easy for her because she's white and she can get whatever job she wants. All she has to do is bat her eyelashes or lift her skirt a little...'

Lauren felt her blood boil as hairs on her arms stood up and she clenched her teeth and fists.

'You have to work harder because you're black,' Melvin went on. 'You've always got to prove yourself because otherwise they won't give you a chance. You cannot always be around to help out other people.'

'Melvin...'

'All I'm saying is that your friend can stay and work at the shop for the rest of her life, but that's not what you're going to do,' he said holding up his hand to stop further interruptions. 'That was not how I raised you and obviously her parents are too busy to care about their...'

The elevator doors opened and Lauren stormed out of the metal doors and marched over to Ecie's car.

'What happened?' Ecie asked as Lauren opened the back door angrily and got in.

'Let's just get this fucking thing over with,' Lauren grumbled. 'I've officially had enough.'

'It's only been like three hours,' Ecie said looking at her best friend sympathetically. 'I'm sorry.'

'I don't care,' Lauren said as her parents approached the car. 'I want this thing to end.'

Everyone climbed into the car and shut the door as Ecie started the engine and drove out of the parking lot and drove towards Chêne de Pois.

'Oh hello girls,' Holly smiled at them looking surprised to see them. 'What are you doing today? I didn't realize you were working.'

'We're not,' Ecie replied nodding towards Lauren's parents. 'Her parents are in town and Lauren wanted to show them where she worked and get some shopping done.'

'Okay,' Holly looked at Melvin and Verity. 'Well seeing as you're both here, you wouldn't mind giving me a hand with something?'

'Not at all,' Lauren said. 'I'll do whatever.'

'Great,' Holly nodded. 'It won't take more than a second.'

'I'll be right back mom,' Lauren said. 'I just need to do something.'

'Okay,' Verity nodded. 'That's fine.'

'Oh right,' Lauren said. 'Holly, these are my parents Verity and Melvin. Mom, dad, this is my boss Holly.'

'It's a pleasure to meet you,' Holly smiled shaking their hands. 'You have a very organized and efficient daughter. She's an amazing asset to us and she's great at managing to keep on top of everything.'

'So we'll be back in a moment,' Lauren said. 'Just take a look around and see if there's anything you like. Don't look at the price tags.'

'Thanks girls,' Holly smiled holding the stock room door open for them. 'It's just these boxes here. Would you believe they actually delivered our orders before they were scheduled to arrive?'

'Really?' Ecie said looking at the invoice. 'No way, that's crazy.'

'I know, right,' Holly laughed. 'I don't have enough hands to sort these out, but seeing as you're here I thought you might help unpack some of this stuff.'

'No problem,' Lauren said. 'I need something to take my mind of my parents.'

'What's happened with them?' Holly asked. 'They seem nice.'

'I can just about handle my mom, but my dad pisses me off,' Lauren replied. 'I can't be around either of them for very long otherwise I explode and get really annoyed.'

'They're your parents,' Holly laughed. 'It's their job to piss you off.'

'You don't understand,' Lauren said. 'Tell her Ecie.'

'You know Verd, right?'

'Yeah,' Holly nodded. 'What about him?'

'Well they're kind of like his parents,' Ecie replied. 'Only a little different.'

'Right,' Holly nodded. 'Well in that case, no offence; I'm sorry.'

'Don't worry about it,' Lauren laughed. 'I've had to put up with that constantly for the past eighteen years.'

Holly laughed. 'Well I'll leave you girls to sort this out and I'll come back in a bit to check up on you. Thank you so much.'

Holly left the stock room and Lauren and Ecie started on the boxes.

'I'm sorry about that,' Lauren said joining her parents laden with clothes. 'Some of our orders arrived a little early and Holly needs a hand unloading them and getting them put away. I can show you the nearest Starbucks so you won't have to be stuck on your feet, and then I can come and get you when I'm done.'

'It's no problem,' Verity smiled. 'We can wait here. I like all the clothes you've got.'

'Have you seen anything that you like?' Lauren asked putting some of her clothes onto racks and brushing them a little.

'I don't know,' Verity replied. 'They all seem to be very expensive.'

'I told you mom,' Lauren said. 'Don't look at the price tags. I'm going to buy you whatever you want from here as a present.'

'Lauren...'

'Oh my god mom,' Lauren said. 'You're my guest here and I want to get you something. Just let me know if you see anything at all. I've got enough to get you something.'

'Okay,' Verity nodded. 'I'll let you know.'

'And I'm being serious about the Starbucks,' Lauren replied. 'I don't know how long I'll take and I'd rather that you didn't get bored.'

'It's fine...'

'When am I going to see my daughter,' Melvin joked. 'I thought you weren't working today.'

'I'm not, dad,' Lauren replied. 'But something came up...'

'If you hadn't of come here today she would have found waited for tomorrow,' Melvin replied. 'This is what I mean by people taking advantage of you, and you not being able to say no.'

'This is my job dad,' Lauren said. 'Holly is my boss and she's a really great one too. I offered to help because I wanted to. She didn't force me or take advantage at all.'

Melvin ignored Lauren. 'So are you nearly finished?'

'I'll just take you to Starbucks now,' Lauren said putting her clothes down. 'I'll come and get you when I'm done here.'