After the incident at the airport the day before, her surprise encounter with the Guardians at the florist’s, followed by the confrontation with Noah, Gabby realized that she was on unannounced probation. She needed to be cautious going forward. If she even wanted to go forward. She certainly did not want to arouse Noah’s ire again. She hoped that Liam had told Noah that she would be covering for Maxwell during lunch and his breaks.
The dozen new Tyros were on the lawn, learning rudimentary tai chi moves, and the Pledges were attending their morning classes. Gabby was trying to keep a very low profile, and as she walked toward the main building, she didn’t slow her pace to speak to anyone. A simple nod was all she felt was necessary. She wondered if anyone knew about the episode from the day before. Rachel tried to chat with her, but Gabby gave her a gesture that indicated “not now” and kept walking.
When Gabby entered the main building, she found a very tired-looking Pledge whom she did not know seated at a table near the door. He stood immediately. “May I ask the purpose of this visit?” He sounded like an automaton.
“I am here to cover for Maxwell’s morning break,” Gabby answered nervously.
The Pledge looked at his clipboard. “Name?”
“Gabby Richardson.” She surreptitiously looked around the main hall while the gatekeeper scrutinized his list.
“Please sign here.” He handed her the clipboard. “Remember, you are only to go to the desk. Nowhere else on the floor is permitted.”
“Yes. Understood.” She signed the paper and climbed the staircase leading to the private floor of offices and living accommodations. A small desk with a landline telephone was the only piece of furniture in the hallway.
Maxwell was locking the desk when she arrived. “As I mentioned yesterday, you answer the phone and take a message. No one is ever available. Got it?”
“Got it,” Gabby responded.
“I’ll be back in a half hour.” Maxwell put the keys in his pocket and headed down the hallway leading to the front staircase.
Gabby sat nervously at the desk. Is this a good time to try to make a call to my family? Will they know if I place a call? And what about Maggie? I have to get word to her as well. Listening very carefully for footsteps or voices, she jumped when Liam flung open the door to his office.
“Good morning.” Liam was in a fine mood. “You ready?”
“I ... I think so. How hard can this be?” Gabby mustered a smile.
“Give it a few minutes and it will be ringing off the hook.” Liam looked at his watch. “Ten o’clock. That’s usually when the calls come in. Remember, just take a message and give them to Noah. He fields all the calls.”
“Roger that.” Gabby smiled back at him. She watched Liam’s back as he disappeared down the back staircase. She listened again. Nothing. Gabby pulled the phone under the desk. If anyone should enter the hallway, she would say she tripped and knocked it over. She quickly dialed her parents’ house, where her sister was staying to look after everything until their mother got out of the hospital. Three rings. Four rings. Pick up, damn it!
“Hello. Richardson household,” the voice of her seven-year-old nephew answered. He was a bit mature for a boy his age, and well mannered.
Gabby whispered, “Jake, it’s Aunt Gabby. Where’s your mom?” She knew she didn’t have time to chitchat.
“Hey, Aunt Gabby! How come you didn’t come home? You hurt your foot or something?”
“I’m okay. Jake, please put your mommy on the phone. It’s really, really important.”
“She’s not here. She went to pick up Grammy. Grammy’s coming home today.”
“Who else is home?” Gabby wondered who was minding Jake.
“Grandpa, but he’s in the basement looking for some stuff. Want me to go get him?”
Gabby knew she didn’t have much time if she wanted to get in another call. “No, just tell him that I’m okay and will try to call again tomorrow? Okay? You got that?”
“Yes, ma’am! Aunt Gabby is okay and will call again tomorrow!” Jake was proud to be trusted with a message.
“Okay, great. Now go tell Grandpa right now. Okay, honey?” Gabby was starting to get nervous. Someone could walk up either flight of steps any minute. “I’ve gotta go. Love you!” She quickly hung up, placed the phone back on the desk, and took her seat. She was trembling. Calm down. Deep breaths. Light in ... dark out. She had repeated the sequence several times when the phone rang and scared her half to death.
She regained her composure, and answered, “Good morning. Thank you for calling The Haven. How can I help you?” There. That wasn’t too hard.
“Dry cleaning is ready for pickup,” a voice with an unusual accent said. Gabby couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it wasn’t Hispanic, which was common in that area.
“Thank you.” Gabby jotted down the message as the person on the other end of the phone hung up without saying another word.
Another call. This time it was from the local car wash. “Need to reschedule detailing job. Maybe tomorrow.” Another odd accent, another abrupt end of the call.
Gabby made a note in the message book. Within a few minutes, Maxwell returned. That was a quick half hour, she said to herself. But she was relieved that she had been able to get off a message to her family. Next was Maggie. Do I dare try another call at lunch?
“How did it go?” Maxwell asked dryly.
“A few messages.” She handed the book over to Maxwell. “Men with peculiar accents.”
Maxwell responded with, “Come back at noon. There’s a lunch meeting in Liam’s office today, so mind your place.”
A lunch meeting. That would quash her hope of reaching Maggie. Maybe during Maxwell’s afternoon break. Gabby got up and headed down the stairs. She would be able to make her morning class on Vishnu, the Hindu god known as the preserver of the universe. After her class, she went to the kitchen and fixed a sandwich of tempeh, caramelized onions, coconut bacon, and cashew cheddar sauce on grilled millet bread. It was actually quite tasty if you didn’t know the ingredients. The coconut bacon was a good substitute provided you didn’t let it sit around too long; otherwise, it would get soft and start to taste like coconut. She ate her sandwich quickly and headed back to the main house, nodding at Rachel as she passed by. Rachel gave her a curious look. Gabby, again, gave her the “not now” sign. She would figure out a good time to bring Rachel up to date. But then she wondered if she should mention any of it to her friend. Gabby had no idea why her trip had been interrupted, and now, with the new assignment at the main house, perhaps saying nothing was a better choice. Then a thought occurred to her. Maybe I’m being tested. But by who? And why? She made a mental note to be careful.