SNOW GLOBE Read Online Free PDF Page B

served hot soup, in case Aja dumped a bowl on someone.
    After everyone had been served dinner, Aja and Janie went to the kitchen to cut cakes and pies for dessert. “How did you find out about this job?” Janie asked.
    “I met this guy, Walker, who told me about this place needing help.”
    “Walker? What a dreamboat.” Janie tasted a finger full of chocolate frosting. “Just don’t get near his girlfriend, Kendall. She’s a piece of work.”
    “Oh, he never mentioned her,” Aja said, more disappointed than she would have expected.
    Janie paused and wiped chocolate from her face. “I don’t know the whole story with them, but she’s always coming to visit him. I think she lives in the Chicago area.” She stacked the dessert plates on a big tray. “Just be careful with her. She’s the type that would cut you with her claws.” Janie meowed, and scratched the air at Aja. “Come on, let’s get these desserts out before our guests start falling asleep in their plates.”
    Aja took a smaller tray of sugar-free apple pie while Janie hefted the platter of chocolate cake. They’d just gotten out the door of the kitchen, and Aja noticed a frail gentleman standing alone near the door.
    “Hey, Mr. Jenson. How’s your wife?” Janie set the tray down and said to Aja, “She just had surgery.”
    “She came home today,” Mr. Jensen said. His voice was soft and trembled a little. “I was hoping to take some dinner to her.” He held his shaky hands up. “I just can’t cook like she does, and she’s too weak to come to the dining room.”
    “Have you eaten today?” Janie asked, concerned.
    “No, no. But I’m okay. I’m just worried about my Buttercup.” He smiled wistfully and said to Aja, “That’s what I’ve always called her. She’s my special flower.”
    “Let me get some dinner for you both. And I’ll cut an extra big piece of chocolate cake for her. I know it’s her favorite,” Janie said.
    “Thank you, love.” Mr. Jensen wearily sat in a chair near the kitchen door.
    “China, or whatever your name is,” Mrs. Poston called across the room. “I’m ready for my coffee.”
    Janie told Aja to grab the pots of coffee and start pouring. “We’ll get the desserts in a minute. I want to make sure the Jensens have a good dinner. He won’t eat without her, and look how thin he is.” She shook her head. “I hope Mrs. Jensen makes it. She’s been real sick for a long time, and this surgery may be the final straw. If anything happens to her it would crush him.”
    Aja took the coffee, being extra careful with the hot liquid, and went to each table, pouring more decaf than regular.
    “You’re the new girl?”
    “So pretty.”
    “You’ll love it here.”
    “Oh, you know Walker?”
    Everybody had something nice to say to Aja as she went to each table. Except Mrs. Poston. “My coffee’s cold. Get me a fresh cup.”
    As Aja poured a fresh cup for Mrs. Poston, Janie came up, holding two covered dishes. “Can you walk Mr. Jensen to his room with these?”
    “Sure,” Aja said.
    “Why does he get his food to go?” Mrs. Poston griped. “Next thing, we’ll have a drive-through window.” She turned toward Mr. Jenson and yelled, “Steve, you need to get Leigh up walking. That’s the best way to get her back in shape.”
    Mr. Jensen slowly walked toward Aja and Mrs. Poston. “She’s just too tired, Bea. We’re going to rest tonight, but thanks for the advice.”
    “You shouldn’t mollycoddle her,” Mrs. Poston said. “I’ve had hip surgery, and now both are titanium and stronger than when I was a teenager.”
    Janie rolled her eyes and handed the dishes to Aja.
    Aja followed Mr. Jensen out of the dining room. For every one of her steps he’d take three. His body was so thin his pants, belt buckle just below his nipples, still looked like they’d fall off him. The trek was painfully slow, and the hot dishes burned her hands.
    Probably sensing her impatience, Mr. Jensen said, “If I