Page 53 of Lay It Bare

Ellisandre

Ellisandre eyed the line of stitching down the dark beige panel of fabric. Dana bit her lip, her feet swinging where she sat in front of Ellisandre’s sewing machine. The young girl had bits of thread sticking to her shirt and a bandage on one finger. They were making curtains for Damian and Jun’s new room in the Residency. Richard had given them the second living room to turn into a space for the two of them. Damian’s old bedroom was too small for two men. The long, straight seams of curtains were appropriate for teaching entry-level sewing skills. And Dana had taken to the craft like a duck to water.

“Is it right, Daddy?”

A smile twitched on the edge of Ellisandre’s lips. Dana was making ample use of the title Daddy. Ash and Alice were all in on it as well. Linda was the only one struggling. But the young ones in their mish-mashed family were wearing her down. The worst of it was when Dana had greeted Ellisandre with an enthusiastic “Daddy!” after one of her self-defense lessons and Ellisandre’s old martial arts teacher from their Europol days had heard it. They were never, ever going to hear the last of that. Everyone on the other side of the pond was going to know the moniker now.

“It’s straight enough.” Ellisandre nodded in approval. Jun and Damian were not going to be critical of nearly invisible seams, and no one would be able to see the few wavy parts along the line once the curtains were finished and hung. “And you went back and forth on both ends. Good job.”

“I locked it in!” Dana over-enunciated the “locked in” phrase.

“Yes, the seam is locked in.” Ellisandre smiled fully. “Now we only have fifty more to do.”

Dana groaned. “I’m going to be old.”

“I could help you.”

“No!” Dana snatched the curtain panel back. “I’m doing it.”

“Very well, then.” Ellisandre stepped back. “I’ll check the next one when you’re ready. Be careful with the iron.”

“I’m always careful.” Dana moved over to the kitchen table and climbed onto one of the padded chairs, kneeling up to get above the table surface so she could use the ultra-light iron. Ellisandre kept their eyes on the girl as she pressed the fresh seam flat. It was a delicate balance between helping and making way. Raising humans was a constant balancing act. Perhaps they and Linda should limit themselves to just one.

The door to Ellisandre’s apartment opened and Alice pushed inside, carrying large, bulging bags. Ash followed right behind her, carrying a similar array. The voice of one of the bodyguards speaking to Ellisandre’s security filtered through and faded away as the door shut. There was no need to have the security personnel inside the apartment.

Alice plopped down on the floor. “Thirty-two.”

Ellisandre raised an eyebrow.

Ash deposited his bags in a more organized manner against the nearest clear wall and started gathering up Alice’s dropped parcels. “Thirty-two pillows.”

“We bought thirty-two pillows. And I have receipts.” Alice held up her purse like some sort of trophy. “So whatever isn’t right can be returned. But I am not going back out for pillows for at least a week.”

She pushed off the floor and limped over, holding out the credit card Linda had given her to use. “Here.”

“Keep it.” Ellisandre waved it off. “Use it for household expenses. That one is for you.”

“Oh.” Alice looked down at the card and blinked. “You sure?”

Ellisandre raised one eyebrow.

“Right. Yep. My bad.” Alice shoved the card back into her purse. “You’re always sure.”

Ash started to snicker and slapped a hand over his mouth, spinning away on his back foot. He draped himself over Dana’s chair where the girl was still focused on ironing the seven foot seam. “That looks good.”

“Thank you.” Dana tilted her head until her crown just touched Ash’s temple, connecting them and still keeping focus on her task.

“I’m making food,” Alice said. “Dana, when do you have a break?”

“Can I finish?” Dana pointed to the seam.

“Of course.”

A knock came at the door. Linda came in. “This is where all of you are.”

“I’m coming up to make food,” Alice said.

“I already started the noodles marinating,” Linda said. She came and sat where she could see Dana ironing. “Do you want to cook the mushrooms and tofu?”