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A young woman with olive skin and long, black hair walked up to the counter. She carried a small, turquoise train case and wore a matching pillbox hat. She tentatively tapped the brass bell with her gloved hand.
"May I help you, dear?" I asked as I came out of the backroom.
"I'm just here..." Her eyes were wide and terrified. She leaned across the counter, gripping the marble top so hard, I thought she might leave marks. "I need a room."
"Of course! Are you all right?" I stepped swiftly to her with concern.
"There's someone after me." She cast a brief look over her shoulder at the front door, as if frightened someone might come walking through. "I was told this was a safe place to come. That you help women like me."
What an odd thing to say.
I mean, of course I would always help a woman in trouble. Who wouldn't? It's in witch nature. But that this was something people were talking about?
"I will be happy to get you checked in," I replied, not entirely sure how else to respond. I handed her the black quill. "Here, just sign the register as Jane Doe."
"I can see that you've provided safety to a lot of girls like me," She squinted at the page as she removed her glove. "Is it some sort of code? Five John Doe's crossed out and five Jane Does signed in?"
"What?" I asked. I inpsected the book. We crossed people out when they checked out, which explained all the Johns, but I had no idea what Ajax was doing checking in Jane Does without settling their bill.
"So strange," I mused. I wondered what Ajax was up to. There was no way I would be able to get that extra help if we were comping rooms. "I'll have to ask my associate about that." I turned back to the mailbox. "Here you are. The key to room 3D."
"Thank you for your discretion," she said as she turned and walked up the grand staircase.
I set about tidying up the reception area as a quiet peace descended on me. Warmly, I thought about how much I enjoyed the company of my ferns. They would wrap their long fronds around anyone standing close to their pedestal. Just their way of saying they welcomed in the lonely wallflowers of the world. I sweetly wiped the dust from their leaves and they expressed their gratitude by wrapping their greenery around my fingers.
The front door opened and Ajax toddled in, arms filled with wonderful smelling McDryads takeout as we officially handed over our shift duties.
"Glad to see the place didn't crumble to the ground," he grumbled as he deposited lunch on the counter.
"Quiet as a cucumber," I replied.
He squinted at me. "Odd turn of phrase..."
"What?" I asked. I pressed the back of my hand against my forehead, a slight sense of dizziness washing over me.
"Have you eaten anything today?" he asked, scowling.
"I'm sure I did," I replied, not being able to remember if I did or not.
"So busy you couldn't get away to take care of yourself?" He shook his head with disappointment.
"No," I replied. I felt like I was forgetting something, but had no clue what it was. I reached down and scratched my ankle. "Not a soul checked in. I've been alone all morning."
"Shame," said Ajax, separating what was his and what was mine. He caught me fiddling with my wrappings. "Ankle still bothering you?"
"Just in fits and spurts," I replied.
"You need to get it examined."
"It's healing. Just taking a little while."
"Those goblins carry all sorts of filth. You never know what those things have been chewing on."
"I'm fine," I insisted. He gave me a look that said he wasn't buying it, so I promised, "I'll head out to see a healer this afternoon."
"Don't forget!" he said, shaking his finger at me. "You always say you're going to see a healer and then always forget or come up with some excuse."
My laugh of disbelief was so explosive, it came out sounding like a bark. "No, I don't."
"You've been promising me for the better part of two weeks!" he insisted.
I didn't remember a single conversation about seeing a healer. Ajax was always so dramatic. "The pain goes away! It's just the occasional flare up."
"After lunch!"
"Fine! I'll go after lunch!" I answered, taking the bag from McDryads. I inhaled deeply. "This shroomwich is awfully distracting, though."
"After lunch!"
"After lunch," I replied, taking the bag and disappearing into my office.
I sunk down into my red velvet wingback and propped my feet up on the footstool. I took a bite of the sandwich. It was so good. The fire was warm and I realized I was blissfully happy. The light that shone through the stain glass windows sparkled with colors and rainbows. I itched my bandage. As I finished the last bite, I reluctantly folded the leaf wrapper to put in the trashcan.
I stood in the middle of the room for a moment, remembering I was supposed to be doing something. Suddenly, I couldn't remember what. I stared at the door. Had Ajax taken over the front desk yet? Shouldn't I be at the front desk until he came back?
And how did I get this empty trash from McDryads? I turned the leaf wrapper in my hand. Ajax must have left it in the room, but he was usually so tidy and often bought me something to eat, too. I couldn't remember the last time I had eaten anything. I mean, I felt full, but I was going to have to find something for lunch.
At least my ankle was feeling better.
Just needed a few minutes with my feet up.