The clock on the oven flashed. It was after eleven; he should be asleep. Flipping off the lights and TV, I snuck into the bedroom, silently changing into pajamas and setting the alarm on my phone for four in the morning. Slowly and carefully, I climbed into bed. Dominic should have already set his alarm for eight, but I would double-check it in the morning before I left for work. With the long days at the diner, then coming home to take care of the household, the eighteen hour days caught up to me quickly. Once my head hit the pillow, it didn’t take long for me to fall into a deep sleep.
It felt like I’d only just closed my eyes when the vibration of my phone pulled me from sleep. The sun hadn’t yet risen but if I didn’t get up right away, I’d be late getting into work and with so many customers coming in early, grabbing breakfast before their day started, I couldn’t afford to be late. Creeping out of bed so as not to wake up Dominic, I took a clean uniform from the closet and tiptoed, in the dark, to the bathroom, waiting until the door was closed to turn on the light.
I was dressed and ready to walk out the door in less than twenty minutes, which gave me a little more than ten minutes to walk to work. Thankfully, the diner was only a few blocks away and I could make it there in five on foot if I didn’t dawdle, so I used the extra time to double-check Dominic’s lunch and coffee.
When I was sure everything was ready, I grabbed my purse and stepped out the door.
The humidity had risen throughout the night, something I hadn’t noticed with the air conditioning on but now, even at this early hour, the heat felt almost overpowering. Fanning myself with my hand, I made the trip quickly and clocked in for the day.
“Morning, Elena,” Gretchen called from behind the counter.
“Morning. Let me put my purse in the back and I’ll be right there.”
She walked over to take an order and I stepped out to hang my purse on the hook in the back. Grabbing an apron and tying it around my waist, I loaded my notepad and pen into the front pocket, hurrying behind the counter.
“Who’s not taken care of yet?”
Gretchen pointed to the row of customers. “Everyone up here, but there’s a table in the back I think might be ready to order.”
We didn’t have a hostess to help us, and since we were the only two who did the early morning breakfast shift during the week, we took whatever tables needed help and split the tips down the middle. It was easier than figuring out who should take what table. Once I’d taken and entered the order from the back table, I went back to wait with Gretchen, who’d already served their drinks.
“Did you give him any money last night?”
I sighed. “No. Dominic stayed home last night.”
“Yeah and let me guess—treated you like shit the whole time,” she snapped.
Gretchen and I were never going to see eye to eye on this. It was an old argument. She didn’t understand that I needed Dominic. He loved me. My eyes began to blur. Turning my face away, I tried to hide the tears.
“Oh, Elena.” Gretchen dropped the empty cup and pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I wish you could see how wonderful you are, and that you deserve so much better than him.”
Stepping out of her embrace, I shook my head and wiped at my face. “No. He’s the only man who has ever, or will ever want me. I’m not pretty like you. I’m just so plain.”
Gretchen had long blonde hair and crystal green eyes, not to mention a new date every weekend. I’d had one boyfriend in high school, and I’d married him.
Her hands landed on my shoulders. “You’re not, but until you see that, you’re stuck with him. Please don’t give him any money to gamble again.”
I let the subject drop. It wasn’t worth the argument. I knew full well if Dominic asked me for money, I’d give it to him. What Gretchen didn’t realize was that with every suggestion, he was only trying to improve my appearance, or the way people looked at me. All of it was to help me. Dominic would never do anything to hurt me.
CHAPTER 2
Elena
After our disagreement, the shift went quickly; odd, considering it was my twelve-hour day. Gretchen apologized later, which I accepted, and at clock out time, I waved a quick good-bye on my way out of the door. She lifted her chin in response, knowing I couldn’t stop because I needed to get home and get dinner ready for Dominic. It wouldn’t do to have Dominic come home from work and be disappointed in me. Speed walking down the block, I made it home quickly, thankful I’d thought to marinate the chicken last night before I went to bed. Paired with a side dish and a vegetable, it made for the perfect dish, and would definitely be done in time.
I was just setting the table when Dominic walked through the door. “Fucking chicken, again,” he said, his tone cutting. “It better not taste like shit.”
He dumped his stuff by the door and sat down at the table. I cast a sideways glance, making a mental note to tidy it all away once I finished cleaning up from dinner. We ate in silence, Dominic spending the entire time on his phone. At least he liked it. He finished everything on his plate. Dropping his fork, he stood.
“Finally, something edible. Now that you’ve shown, after all this time, you can cook, make sure it all tastes good.”
He left the kitchen and I set to work. My goal was to make sure the kitchen was spotless by the time he came back out to watch TV and, hearing the squeak of the showerhead, I knew I had about ten minutes. In that time, I wiped off the table and loaded the dishwasher. Dominic came out dressed ready to go out. His dark brown hair was wet, making it match the color of his eyes. At five foot nine, he had about six inches on me. He watched me and for one small moment I hoped the points I’d earned at dinner were enough for him to take me with him.
“Where are your tips?”
Dropping my shoulders, I reached into the pocket of my uniform and pulled out the sixty dollars I’d earned, handing it over to him. Whether Gretchen liked it or not, we were married and whatever was mine was his.
He grabbed the money from my hand and counted it. “This is it? Jesus, you can’t even earn a decent amount delivering food to tables.” He shoved his phone and the money into his pocket. “It’ll have to do. Make sure my lunch is made for tomorrow.”
Without another word, he walked out the door. My throat burned in an attempt to hold back the tears. I did as he said and made his lunch, followed by a quick shower. Dominic was out, meaning I didn’t need to wait for him to fall asleep, so I went to bed early. Exhausted, I climbed under the sheets and let sleep take me.
The bed dipped down, letting me know that Dominic had made it home from his night out. A quick peek at the clock told me it was after three in the morning. I had about another hour before the alarm went off. I attempted to go back to sleep, but Dominic’s constant tossing and turning kept me awake. Eventually, the alarm sounded on my phone and I got up for the day.
Whether or not Dominic had gone to sleep or not, I didn’t know, but by the time I got home from my shift, he was gone. And I’d finished early. Gretchen was off for the day and I saw no reason to hang around and talk.
A few hours later, dinner was on the table and ready but Dominic still wasn’t home. I called his phone. No answer. Knowing it would be bad manners to start eating without him I waited. And waited.
Over an hour later, he showed up.
“Elena, where the fuck are you?” he yelled, slamming the front door.
“In the kitchen, waiting for you.” I didn’t want him to think I’d started without him, or done nothing all day. I sat stoically at the table, hoping he would notice how clean the living room was on his way through.