Dark Like Me 3: Open Up

8

I ring the doorbell of a two story yellow Ornate Italianate house and wait for the door to open. I hope I have the right address, I look at the piece of paper I sloppily scribbled the address on. I haven't been to visit Alchemy in a while, I damn sure didn't visit her while she was at Darwin. So, what in the fuck am I doing here now? Oh yeah...helping Andy. That still didn't sound right.

Just as I am about to turn around to leave, a disheveled Alchemy answers the door, "Sirrah, so nice to see you. Come in, come in."

I walk into a messy house with clothes, shoes, baby toys, and bottles everywhere. I step over the clothes and shoes to get into the living room. Alchemy makes room by moving a pile of clothes off the sofa and one to the floor. A small creature runs from under the pile of clothes and I had to do a double take but the creature was gone. Alchemy motions me to sit where she cleared the clothes, I sit down on the edge of the sofa, not sure what I saw scurrying from the pile of clothes.

"Are you doing okay, Alchemy?" I look around the house. My gaze stop at the mountain of dirty dishes in the sink.

"Yes. Taking care of the baby is no joke, along with working." She moves a strand of hair out of her face. "Job is very demanding and wants me to work extra hours when I haven't got a babysitter. I can't just leave Robyn."

"They do have daycares around here, Alchemy. Very reputable."

Alchemy looks at me as if I have completely lost my mind. I raise my eyebrows at the crazed look on her tired and stressed ridden face. "I am not having some strangers take care of my child."

Her child? What the fu---. Robyn is Andy's daughter from Cole and just as Andy had told me, Alchemy is acting as though Robyn is her daughter.

"Uh, you can go to the daycares and see which ones are best for her." I didn't want to go up against Alchemy about this, although I can now hold my own when it comes to her. But, there aren't school counsels here, just the police.

"That does sound like an excellent idea, Sirrah." Alchemy perks up. "That's a wonderful idea."

"Great."

"Enough about me. How have you been, Sirrah?" A smile plays across her face.

"I've been doing great. Riki proposed to me."

Alchemy grabs my hand to inspect the ring, "it looks fake, Sirrah."

My heart falls and I take my hand back.

"Trust me, booboo. There is nothing fake about my ring. Where's your ring?"

The devilish smiles disappears from her face. She'd been telling me about some guy she'd been dating when she started going to Darwin. But, I hadn't seen him around. Doubt he is even real.

"Are you sure it's real?"

"Have you been to see your sister?" I change the subject feeling a tingle in my fingers.

"Not recently. We did talk and she told me she wants Robyn back when she gets out."

I nod knowing that much.

"I believe she is an unfit mother and I am going to take this to court...when I can get the chance."

I step in. "Robyn is Andy's child, Alchemy. You know that. She trusted you to take care of her until she could get back on her feet. She didn't want you to take her from her. If she did, she would have signed over rights to Robyn. That's not right and you know it.

Alchemy shrugs her shoulders, "she shouldn't have gotten on drugs and shit in the first place."

I frown at her statement. Now, I know Alchemy hasn't changed at all. Frustrated at the fact that Alchemy might have fooled others but not me, I stand up now sure I will help Andy get Robyn back.

"I can babysit for you one day, Alchemy if you want." I offer knowing Andy will be getting out within a few days.

Alchemy gasps, "Would you do that for me?"

"I will."

"Thank you so much," She hugs me but my body stiffens up. I give her a disgusted pat on her back. Another creature which I have identified as a roach runs across the wall again. This time there are three of them.

"It'll be okay."

She lets me go, "I hope so. If I don't get help soon, I'll lose it."

I am a little shaken by that statement, "Hang in there."

"Thanks."

I leave. I know now that I have to somehow get Robyn out of there. So, on my way back to work, I text Alchemy that I can get Robyn in the morning. She texted me back how appreciative she is and that she will bring her around eight in the morning.

I get back to work in time after lunch, Mr. Sasson has called a meeting for everyone. We are all gather in the conference room down the hall from our regular work room. We all pack in the small room like sardines.

"Is that everyone?" He calls.

They murmur in agreement.

"Great. Uh, Ms. Winters? Ms. Winters?" I scoot up to the front next to Mr. Sasson. "There you are." He turns his attention back to the employees to make sure everyone is here. "Close the door. If someone is late, then they just miss out."

The door closes.

"Now for business. Mr. Ellwood is going through some hard times right now and has asked Ms. Winters to take over until he comes back."

Concern murmurs spread throughout the crowd of employees. Mr. Sasson silences the crowd.

He continues, "I am supposed to be retired but I'm coming out of retirement to help Ms. Winters with this. I don't want any of you to get her a hard time or any sign of slight disrespect. She may not be able to fire you but I can. If I catch you disrespecting Ms. Winters or anyone else, you will be fired automatically. Is that understand?"

The crowd nods and murmurs in agreement. I look over the crowd and there is no Engel. Also, Mr. Sasson more than likely has gotten wind of the kind of disrespect that goes down in this place of business. Something Mr. Ellwood never addressed or did anything about.

"Wonderful. We are here to help you, not hurt you. Now, go on about your business. I've to teach Ms. Winters a few things about business running."

The crowd disburses to their jobs. I stand there and wait for Mr. Sasson's instructions on what I should be doing and how to do this. Once everyone has left the room, he turns to me, "Are you ready for this, Sirrah?"

"No," I say. "But, I can do this. I am a quick learner."

He smiles, "That's a can-do spirit. But, don't worry, I was nervous when I started my first business. Being in charge of a lot of people with different minds, can be a really scary thing."

I smile a little. I honestly felt relieved. "Besides, you got one thing I didn't have."

We walk out and down the hallway, "What is that?"

"You have someone to help you, I didn't. That's what made it even harder to maintain. But, I managed."

Throughout the day, Mr. Sasson walked me through the company's financial status and payments. It became overwhelming to know all of this, though I am grateful I went back to college for a business degree. It took a load off my shoulders to know a little bit about what I was doing.

But, why do I need to know all of this if Mr. Ellwood is coming back soon? Maybe not soon enough. I didn't ask, I feel like I should ask. But, I don't want Mr. Sasson to think I am prying into personal business.

I guess my dating project will have to wait.