"Epps, do you think it's a good idea to get back to you know.. doing all the things you do so early?" Ramona asked as she tried to push me back onto the bed. "What?" I inquired as I sat back up. "Who else is going to feed the homeless, take care of the animals, read to the homeless?" "Oh, please," Ramona scoffed as she plopped on the side of me. "What do you honestly think, Claudia, does this all out of the goodness of her heart?" I raised my eyebrow. "The only place I haven't seen her at is the homeless shelter. They don't pay there," I rolled my eyes as I watched a smile creep up my best friend's face. "True, but I think you should stay in bed a little longer," Ramona whined as she rested her head on my shoulder. "You did just have a horrific head injury, so rest up. I'll go get you some soup." "Ramona, it's been two days since I've been out of the hospital. I'll be fine, it's Monday. It's time to go to the soup kitchen." I throw the blankets off of myself and hop out of bed
As I headed to the soup kitchen to start the week, a man bumped into me. "Oh, my gosh. I'm so sorry." I pushed up my thick black glasses, today of all days my cat, Monty had to mess with my last pair of contacts. "Watch out, watch where you walk." A tall man behind me spoke out. His accent was nothing from around here, but if I had to guess it sounded Italian or maybe Sicilian. "It's okay, Russ, it was my fault, now let's go before we're late." The man I bumped into grumbled as he brushed down the wrinkles on his dark gray suit, before turning abruptly and walking away. "Sorry!" I screamed out as I pushed my glasses back onto my face. "Today's not my day." I sighed trudging on the sidewalk to Anna's Soup Kitchen. "Morning Romona," I waved to my not-so-cheery best friend. I watched as she put her long ebony hair in a bun. "Epperly, we are here every Monday, can't we at least go one Monday to like the beach or something?" She whined as Clark handed her a hair net. "Romona Lirette, c
"Watch it!" Screamed out a familiar voice. "Watch where you're going!" The tall man hollered at me the way he did yesterday, in the same place. "Sorry, I'm sorry!" I stuttered as I picked up the squeaky toys that had dropped out of my hands before pushing up my black glasses. "You?" He buffed up which prompted his muscles to peek through his light blue shirt. "Didn't we go through this yesterday?" He leaned down getting closer to my face. "Russ," The man snapped his fingers as Russ huffed and stood up straightening his suit. "No, need for that, she's obviously in a hurry to umm... play with dogs." He picked up a green squeaky toy handing it to me before turning and leaving. "Russ, we're going to be late." "Si, boss," Russ eyed me down before scurrying up to the man I bumped into yet again. As I continued down the street heading toward Griffin's Animal Shelter, I threw open the door where I greeted my best friend Ramona. "Good morning Ramona," I hold back my laugh noticing her tr
"Oh, now boss this is getting ridiculous, You have to..." Russ began but was silenced when the man held up his hand. "You look different." The man began as he looked me over, putting his hand on his shapely jaw. "I put my contacts in," I studdered clearing my throat. "What's your name?" He asked pushing back his coal black hair as if somehow it had fallen out of place. "Epperly Wakes," I began loudly, "Epperly Sacha Wakes," I spoke softly, pushing my hair behind my ear. "Well, Epperly, I'll keep my eye on you, I'll have to since we keep running into each other like this." He smiled taking my hand and placing a kiss on it. "Have a good day," "Wait, wait, what's your name?" I called out coming back to my senses, but it was too late, he had already rounded the corner and couldn't hear me. I threw my hands down and continued to Shady Oaks Retirement Home. "Good morning, Ramona," I called out watching her trying to get a book from Mr. Shannon's grasp. "Epperly, we're here every Wedn
"Boss, Tony just called and said that the people love to be early so that they can set the move." Russ relayed to me as I began to speedwalk. "Oww," Came the voice of the woman I ran into, she was pretty but I was in no mood to talk with any female. I held up my hand to silence Russ, if I let him he would berate her when I was the one that ran into her. We have no time for pleasantries or formalities, I needed to get going. "Sorry," I heard her yell out. "Good morning Mr. Hyland, your party hasn't arrived yet, I'll send them up to the suite whenever you're ready." Adrianna softly spoke to me as she brushed her hand up and down the buttons of her white blouse. "Thank you, Adrianna." I dismissed her before she could follow me like she usually does. She was beautiful that was certain, her raven hair had streaks of blonde and her olive complexion complemented her bright green eyes. But, she was known around my entire building as anything but virtuous, not that there's anything wrong wit
"The next day, why couldn't he wait until next week?" Russ began complaining as we headed back to my building down the overly crowded street. "You, again?" He barked out as I held out my hand to the girl I ran into yesterday. She must be going back to the soup kitchen, I held up my hand as we continued to walk down the sidewalk. "Mr. Hyland," Adrianna began as she got up from her chair and rushed to my side. "Your party called to let you know they are running a little behind and will be an hour late." "Ugh, that's fine." I looked at my gold watch as I started down the hallway to the elevators. "Sir, if there's anything you need, anything at all let me know." She rubbed her hand down her chest opening her pink blouse more showcasing her breasts. I ignored her and made my way into my office as Russ sat opposite me. "She wants you." Russ laughed as he crossed his left leg over his other. "What? Who?" I asked opening the newspaper on my desk. "Your whatever you want to call her secre
"Oh now boss this is getting ridiculous, you have to..." Russ began as I once again bumped into this woman for the fourth time in two days. "You look different," I started as I looked her over, it was true she did look a little different. "Yes, I put my contacts in," She replied, I couldn't help but smile, her contacts it was so obvious, how did I miss that? "What's your name?" I asked her, I felt it only right, not only to put a name to this face but for Russ' sake. "Epperly Wakes, Epperly Sacha Wakes," She answered. I was stunned, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman but I couldn't allow myself to be distracted not with the phone call I received this morning. "Well Epperly I'll have to keep my eyes on you, I'll have to since we keep running into each other like this." I took her small hands in mine and gently kissed them. "Have a good day," I took off in a hurry to get to my building as I rounded the corner I heard her yell something out but I couldn't understand. "Good morn
"You did what?!" Ramona cackled out as she tossed her purse onto the sofa. "I told you I accepted his invitation to dinner for tonight." I brushed my hair back behind my ear. "Okay, I think I was dreaming so you have to start at the beginning, Epps, this is huge!" She squealed as she bounced down on my living room sofa. "Well, we were bumping into each other every day, twice a day even." I began as I walked into my kitchen for something to drink. "He asked my name and I guess I was too entranced to remember to get his, so I didn't get his name until yesterday. He asked me out to dinner for tonight and I'm going to go." "I'm going with you," She stood up abruptly just as I sat down opposite her. "What like some sort of double date?" I asked as I watched her start pacing the floor. "No, of course not, I'll go and be in the background." She waved her hand in the air, before heading into the kitchen. "You can't go alone, I won't let you, you don't know anything about him." "That's