"We'll keep an eye out," Ella assured her, hoping to end this lecture sooner rather than later. She liked the idea of being suspected for something she didn't do about as much as a bout of the flu. This made her feel just as nauseous.
Stina's heels stopped clacking right in front of her. Ella's entire body clenched. She hated it when Stina singled her out in front of everyone. If only she could melt into the lockers behind her.
"See that you do," Stina said in a too-sweet voice. "I'd hate for your job to be at risk."
Ella's gut twisted. Why did that sound like a threat?
Slowly, Ella gathered enough courage to lift her gaze to her stepmother's. Stina's eyes narrowed in a way she was all too familiar with. She couldn't possibly think Ella would stoop low enough to steal anything, let alone office supplies. And to compromise camera feed? She was a seamstress, not a criminal mastermind.
Speaking of which, Ella glanced at the clock. Eight-thirty a.m. was looming nearer by the second.
Ella was meeting with one of Ever After Sweet Shoppe's secretaries, Samantha Holbrook, about some fabric donations for the kids at the children's hospital first thing that morning. Samantha had heard about her project for the hospital and happened to have some extra material on hand she wanted to contribute to the cause.
Stina skulked back to her desk. Done for the day, crew members began zipping out of their jumpsuits, slipping them off to reveal their everyday clothes beneath, and stuffing them into their lockers. Ella started to do the same when Stina called her name.
That sound had the effect of hearing a fire engine and realizing it was headed to her house. Ella zipped her jumpsuit up once more, steeled herself, and approached Stina's desk.
"You called?"
"Yes, just one more thing. We've gotten a request from Highland Heights Apartments. They want to have their units ready to show Christmas Day."
Since Stina's independently owned company also provided custodial services for other establishments apart from Ever After Sweet Shoppe, being assigned to clean other places wasn't that unusual. This pronouncement, however, made time tick louder in her ears.
"Christmas Day?"
"It's part of their promo to get people moving in right after the holidays. They've hired a light service and want each of the units spic and span. I told them we could accommodate their needs."
"By working on Christmas?" That meant she'd have to start working by at least midnight for the units to be ready to be shown in the morning.
"You have somewhere better to be?" Stina crooked a single brow.
Ella swallowed. Stupidly, she'd hoped for an invitation to the family's Christmas lunch, the way Stina used to do before the whole Pris and Derek fallout. But she hadn't been included in family gatherings since that had happened.
Just as well, she supposed, especially if Stina was expecting her to work. Even if she finished cleaning the units in time, she wouldn't be able to rest and ready herself for their fancy event.
If her mom was still alive, her dad would never have stood for this. Ella wanted to brush her hair back, straighten her shoulders, and stand up to Stina, to tell her where to go and how fast to get there, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words. Stina was the master at wielding the weapon of sarcasm. Her quips came faster, whereas Ella could only think of what to say after the matter was finished. After it was too late.
"Are Charlotte and Pris coming too?" Ella asked, though she already knew the answer.
"What do you think?" Stina gave a sassy, pointed smirk before stalking out.
"Sorry I asked," Ella said to the empty breakroom.
Two years. She hadn't been invited to celebrate Christmas at her dad's house for two years. She couldn't believe her stepsister still blamed Ella for her breakup with Derek. Sure, Ella had dated him after he'd ended things with Pris, but that hadn't been planned, nor had it lasted long. From the way Pris acted, anyone would have thought Ella had gotten between Pris and Derek while they were still together, which wasn't the case at all.
Ella attempted to brush it off. Grandma Larsen, her late mother's mom, had caught wind of it last year. She'd invited Ella to celebrate Christmas with her. Hopefully, Grammy would again.
"I'd rather spend it with her anyway," Ella said as she removed her sneakers, unzipped, and stepped out of the jumpsuit. Knowing she should fold it nicely, she wadded it into a lump instead. She had to take her frustration out on something. Might as well be something that couldn't feel.
Ella wished she'd had the forethought to pack a dry pair of socks with her, but who would have thought she'd spill water all over her foot? Ignoring it as best as she could, she adjusted her black undershirt and retrieved the red blouse hanging in her locker. Ordinarily, she wore pajamas beneath her jumpsuit, but she had to look half-decent if she was meeting Samantha for that fabric.
Changing quickly into nice jeans, and the button-up red blouse, Ella slipped her arms into the sleeves of her winter coat. She dusted powder on her cheeks, whipped on some mascara and eyeliner, fluffed her hair, and grabbed her purse before popping back up to the third floor.
The meet-up didn't take long. Samantha had the bag ready and waiting by her office door. Ella thanked her and made her way back to the elevator.
This was perfect. With this donation, she wouldn't have to beeline to the store for anything else before Christmas. The kids at the hospital would each have a colorful new pillowcase Christmas morning.
Stitches for Sierra, Ella's non-profit charity organization, was the one thing that brought her true happiness, especially at this time of year. She needed this after Stina's stingy displeasure.
Carrying the heavy
