Troubled Temptations

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The rest of my day is busy as usual. People are coming and going, customers having their food and leaving us tips, some more generous than others. Emily and I had surpassed some sort of barrier because we smile at each other every time we rush by or bump into one another.

"Hey, babe." Eric pops his head into the kitchen area and both Emily and I look at him.
He might as well be addressing all the female staff in the kitchen because a couple heads more turn to look at him. Clearly, there's a flaw in Eric's plan to call every girl "babe", because eventually everybody or nobody at all will react to him. "You." He points at me with an awkward smile and says, "Someone's here to see you."

Who could that be? I hope it is Anthony. I'd like to go on another date with him. I have a free schedule after work again, since my mom has Benji. I think sweet thoughts about the man of my dreams as I leave the kitchen but stop in my tracks the moment I see who it actually is.

"Mom?" I'm shocked, "What are you doing here?"

She holds up one finger and breathes heavily. Has she been running?

"Where's Benjamin?" I ask as soon as I realize it was her turn to pick up Benji from daycare.

My boy peeks around my mother and then, seeing me, runs towards me almost knocking me down.

"Mom, what is going on?" I still don't understand why she's here and with Benjamin. She's still gasping for air but starts to settle down a little bit.

"I..." gasp, "I can't do this..." gasp, "not today..." gasp, "I'm too tired" gasp, "and he's too fast!" She's pointing at my son now.

"Mom, what do you mean? I have to work! You promised to help me out whenever I needed." I try hard not to accuse her but I guess this is how it translates in her head.

"Don't you start with me!" She's getting angry now, wagging her index finger in my face, still gasping but less by the second.

"I wasn't starting anything." I pick up Benji and kiss his cheek.

"What did you do to Granny?" I ask my boy even though I know my mother hates it when we call her that. She wants to be called Gigi. I guess she doesn't feel like she's at the actual grandma age yet. So I do this on purpose sometimes, only to bug her. And it works, because her eyebrows are knit together tight as she's squinting at me.

"I had chocolate cake at daycare," he responds in his adorable baby boy voice, then quickly says, "and I can run really really fast now. I'm Buzz Lightyear!" He throws his fist in the air like a champion.

That explains it. He's high on sugar and needs to run this off. I understand the situation now but I have to ask, no, beg Alexi to let me go for the night.

I kiss my boy once more and hand him over to my mother. Her eyes are ready to pop out of her scull and her mouth is twitching, looking for words.

"Relax," I tell her and motion her to stop by lifting my hand to her eye level, "I'll talk to my boss. I'll be right back."

I wonder how Alexi will take this. He's been more than generous with my flexible hours and advances. I realize this is too much to ask but I don't have other options. My mother is my only babysitter and when she's out of the picture, I'm on my own.

"Hey Alexi, a word, please?" I call him over. I can see that he's too busy in the kitchen so I have to do this fast. No sweet-talking.

"Whatup?" He's restless, and I can tell he wants to get back to chopping, cooking, tasting, and whatever else chefs do.

"I'm sorry but I have to leave, like right now," I say straightforwardly like it is, then add apologetically, "My mother brought my son here and I don't have other babysitters."

Emily walks into the kitchen area. Her eyebrows shoot up. She didn't know I had a son. I didn't want anyone to know but this is a crisis and well, the cat is out of the bag now.

"No probs," he replies, with his accent more Russian than ever, "as long as you find someone to replace you." He seems a bit angry. I can't blame him, though. He's about to be short-staffed for the busiest time of the evening. I fidget with my fingers, not knowing what to say.

"I'll cover for her." I hear Emily's voice echo through the busy kitchen.

"Okay then," Alexi says and lingers for a beat, thinking this over.

"But you'll pay me for your hours," she turns to me.

Well, obviously.

"Sure," I agree and say, "Thank you so much."

Emily is about to say something when a commotion behind us stops her. Now what?

"How long will you be hanging out back here?"

Mother.

"Stop it, mom. I'm already coming," I say through gritted teeth and send an apologetic look towards Alexi and Emily. It's not every day that a random person walks into the kitchen, and brings a child with her.

"Mrs. Gilmond?" I hear Alexi's voice from beside me. His tone can't be interpreted, but is he... surprised?

"What?" she snaps, she's already aggravated because of the situation. Benji is pulling her arm but she doesn't let go of him, holding him tight. I motion Benjamin to come to me and for once he obeys. My mother lets go of him, seeing that I've got this.

"I...um...well..." Alexi doesn't know what to say. I have never seen him at a loss for words. My mother has some sort of effect on him. I don't know whether it's good or bad, though.

"It's Gloria." My mother seems to calm down a little bit after she's freed from the little devil.

"My name is Gloria," she repeats herself.
This is weird. All of us, me and Benji, Emily, Alexi, and my mother standing here like we have a lot to talk about or share the news.

"Emily, back to work," Alexi finds his voice again.

Emily nods and leaves, giving me a smile before rushing out the door. I know she'd rather stay back here and witness the soap opera unfolding before the kitchen staff right now. But you can't argue with the boss.

"I'm sorry but strangers can not enter the kitchen," Alexi says in the softest way possible.

"What? I'm not a stranger. My daughter works for you," she says, all huffed up like it's the most natural thing for parents to visit their offspring at work.

Oh. My. God. I'm witnessing a clash of unnatural forces. My mother is on one side and my boss is on the other, and I don't know which team to support.

My mother has always been like that, but her inner woman got even stronger after beating her depression. I wouldn't dare to argue with someone on their territory, knowing they own the place. But my mother is tough. She has even managed to shut Alexi up, and no one has ever done that before.

"Um...I..." Alexi is looking at me. I swear he's about to say "help me" really soon.

"Mom, let's go already." I smile apologetically at Alexi.

"You go home, take care of your son," she says after a moment. She looks at Alexi, "I need a drink!"

Alexi's eyebrow shoots up as if he's intrigued. Frankly, so am I.

I look at my mother and then at Alexi. What the hell is happening? I shift Benji on my hip and thank Alexi again for letting me go for the night and leave. My mother follows me only to say goodbye to us at the kitchen door and leave for the bar. I guess it's just Benji and I going home then.