Loving Lauren

Chapter One

"Lauren!" My mother called for me. I sat up in bed and yawned. I wish that I could call for five more minutes. Just five more so I could relax under my blanket. I got up and brushed my teeth and fixing my hair. I went downstairs and I saw my Dad sitting up in a chair. I smiled.

"Feeling better Dad." I said, and he looked at me smiling. He is suffering from lung cancer. My mom came to me rubbing my arm.

"Hey don't worry about that. Sit down and eat. How are you doing?" My mom asked.

"I'm fine mom. Don't worry about me." I said, and she sighed. I ate my breakfast and ran upstairs. Putting on my black dressy pants, white button up shirt and blazer. After checking my outfit I put my loose curls was brushed into a slick mid ponytail. I sighed at my reflection and caked on my makeup hiding the fact that I was tired. When I was done I grabbed my phone off the charger and rushed to the kitchen again. My mom had me a cup of coffee.

"Addy! Sam! Let's go before you are late!" I shouted. I hugged my mom goodbye, and kissed my father on the head. "You guys take care and remember you can always call me okay."

"Don't worry about us. Try not to overwork yourself Lauren." My mom said. 

"I wont. See you guys tomorrow." I said, and she nodded. I went to the car and my siblings were waiting by the doors. I unlocked the small sedan and hurriedly got them to school before the tardy bell rung for them.

"You guys have fun okay. Here for a snack or something." I said handing them each five dollars. Five dollars that we probably would need for bills or something. I didn't want them to stress over that. I wanted them to be happy.

"You should keep it for something important." Addy said staring at the money.

"Hey don't worry. Bills already paid. Little extra cash this time around." I said smiling and she didn't look convinced. "I'm not taking it back. Have fun at school okay." I said looking back. Sam didn't say anything. He fully understand Dads condition. He took it hard. Dad was his best friend, and helped him with football. Was his coach before he became ill. "Sam...." I said touching his shoulder. He shrugged it off before exiting the car. He was a senior and I was doing everything to make him happy. He has scholarships lined up to get him through. So that wasn't a problem. As long as his grades don't slack he will be okay.

I sighed and looked back at Addy. She was just a sophomore. "Addy you are going to be late." I said, and she nodded.

"I'm going. I just think I might get a job. To help out. My friend father owns an ice cream parlor. She said I could work there if I wanted. I was thinking of getting it." She said.

"You don't need to worry about money okay....that's taken care of. I want you to have fun and go out with friends." I said and she nodded. "If you do consider the job than maybe you can take the cash and go shopping with your friends. But....your grades will have to be good okay."

"Okay." She said smiling and I smiled. "Bye Laur!" She said running out. I waited for her to get inside the school before pulling away.

When I got to work I clocked in. I walked around with my clip board and made sure orders were in. I gave orders to staff members. "Did you here who is coming to stay here?" Kathy gossipped.

"If you are referring to Mr. William's than yes I know. The whole staff doesn't need to know because we don't need everyone stalking our guest. We need to be professional." I said, and she sighed.

"Have you seen him. He is so cute." She gushed and I lifted my hands up in surrender. "His green eyes, brown hair, chiseled cheek bones. The Lord sure did take his precious time on him. He is so handsome and so dreamy. He is a foreign man with an British accent." She squealed and we got looks from guests. I shhed her and pushed her towards the receptionist desk as she rambled.

"How is Jeff?" I asked and she rolled her eyes.

"He is doing fine. Katie started daycare. She absolutely loves it." She said and I smiled.

A bellhoper rushed in with his cart and went to the elevator. "Mr Williams is here ma'am and he is early." He spoke to me and I nodded.

"Okay so that means his room needs to be finished now. I will go handle that. Kathy go to the kitchen order his lunch." I said and she nodded. The maids rushed to his room and I went with them. They remade his bed vacuumed the floor. Placed fresh warm towels in the bathroom, and put fresh mints on his pillows. I rushed them out and looked at everything. I bent over fluffing his pillow more. The door turned and I stood up fixing myself.

"If you need anything just call the front desk. The number will be 01, and ask for....ah Lauren our finest employee. This is her. I am sure she has made sure your room is top notch." Mr. Ramon said.

"Yes sir. We have fresh warm towels, champagne as a little treat. I hope your stay here is to your full expectations." I smiled.

"Thanks." He said. The bellhop placed his bags down neatly. Mr. Ramon excused himself and I helped the bellhop with the rest of the items. We excused ourselves and left his room. I went back down the elevator and Kathy grabbed me.

"Was he cute like I said?" She asked.

"Kathy what did I tell you? Professional." I scolded her.

Around 2 I finally went on my break and called my parents. "How is everything?" I asked.

"Yes you shouldn't worry. Your siblings are here. Did you eat yet?" She asked.

"I had a snack. It's a really hectic day. I only have a fifteen minute break. I just wanted to make sure everything is alright. How is Dad?" I asked.

"He is on his last couple of pain meds. I just hope he makes it until we can be able to get him chemotherapy again." She said, and I walked the halls of the hotel. I dabbed my eyes with a tissue.

"He will. I'm worried for Sam. He is so distant." I said, and she sighed.

"I know. He won't talk just lock himself in his room. I am worried for you. You just work costantly. Two jobs, and never resting." She said.

"Don't worry for me. We have bills, and food needs to be on the table. Promise me you won't worry for me. It will be okay." I said, and she sighed.

"I am your mother I have to worry." She said. I was paged on my walkie talkie. "Sounds like you need to get back to work."

"Yeah. I love you Mom." I said.

"I love you too honey." She said, and I smiled. The phone went dead and I put my phone away. I grabbed a pill and took it. I grabbed the walkie talkie and answered it.

"Lauren here." I said.

"Lauren, Mr. William is in his office room on floor two. Room 125. He says he needs help with the WiFi." She said.

"Copy that. I am on my way." I said, and turned around caught off guard at him standing there. His eyes were glued to his phone. He looked down and held his hand out. I stood waiting for him. He answered a text and then looked down.

"Your WiFi sir." I said and used my master card to unlock his office door. I turned his WiFi on his his laptop. "Anything else you need?" I asked.

"No thank you." He said and I nodded. I made my way to leave but a hand grasp my arm. I stopped turning around and he grabbed his wallet.

"Oh no...." I said, and he shook his head.

"Take it." He said and placed a couple of hundreds in my hand.

"I can't take this." I said, and he took a seat at his desk ignoring me.

"It's not mine. Thank you Miss. If you could leave I have a business call I need to take. Come to room at 9." He said, and I left his room dumbfounded. I put the money in my pocket. What happens at nine?