Page 55 of Wild King
The sound of footsteps behind me makes me turn around, and when I see Eleanor instead of Nathan, I’m surprised. In her arms, she carries trays of something covered in foil, and hanging off her right arm is a big, blue canvas bag filled with cleaning supplies.
“Oh, let me help you,” I say as I hurry over to take the trays from her. “I wish you would have let us know you were coming with all of this. I would have made sure one of us was waiting to help you carry all of this in.”
Eleanor gives me a tiny smile and shakes her head as she sets her bag on one of the stools at the island. “I’m fine. No need to worry about me. Please, go about your business and forget I’m even here. I was hoping I could sneak in and tidy up like I have all the other times, but I think I must have forgotten it’s a holiday.”
I study the older woman for a few moments as she begins to take the foil off the trays. She has to be at least in her late fifties, and although she seems to be in good shape, I can’t imagine she’s strong enough to be carrying all this stuff around for long.
“Even though I know Matthias has that food service deliver meals to you all each week, I thought some homecooked mealswould be a nice treat for you. I made a few things. There’s meatloaf here, and I know Kellen loves my lasagna, so I made a big pan of that.”
As she lifts off the foil covers to show me each meal, my mouth begins to water. That lasagna smells incredible!
“You didn’t have to do this, but I can tell you it won’t just be Kellen enjoying this,” I say before taking a big sniff of that delicious pasta and cheese.
Eleanor’s face lights up at my mention that I love what she’s brought. Her blue eyes practically sparkle with joy.
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Now I’m glad I made double my usual amount. Matthias and Ava aren’t huge pasta fans, but I know my Kellen, and that man can put away some lasagna.”
She turns to the last two trays and pulls back the foil to reveal shrimp scampi and what looks to be at least three dozen cookies. “I hope you love Italian, because I went to town with the garlic in the scampi. Last, but not least, I wanted to bring Kellen his favorite butterscotch cookies since he didn’t get the batch I made for the last time he came to the house.”
I can’t help but smile at how sweet this woman is. She truly adores Kellen, which is a wonderful change from what I’ve been dealing with from nearly everyone I reach out to about him.
After helping her put the food in the refrigerator, I offer her some coffee or tea, but she declines. “I’ve had more than enough caffeine for the day already, but thank you. I need to get working on cleaning up, so don’t feel like you need to pay attention to me or entertain me. I know you have important work to do. I don’t want to bother you.”
Taking a seat at the island, I let out a heavy sigh. “To be honest, I’m happy for the distraction. I’ve had a tough time lately with trying to get anyone to listen to me when it comes to Kellen, so getting to be around someone who thinks so highly of him is a pleasant change.”
She begins to unload her bag of cleaning supplies, but her expression morphs into sadness at hearing no one wants to forgive him quite yet. “I’m sorry to hear that. I wish the world could know the Kellen I know. That person is funny and sweet and never fails to make me smile.”
“I wish they could know that person too. For now, all they want to think is he’s this one-dimensional bad guy. I’ve been able to get promises of something positive in the future, but right now, I’m mired in a world full of no. No, we can’t do that. No, we don’t think we can’t help with anything right now. Maybe in a few weeks. I don’t even think they’re finding people want to hear he’s a villain. They’re just sticking with that. It’s very discouraging.”
When I stop my whining, I look up to see sympathy in Eleanor’s eyes. “I hear you’re the best, so I have faith in you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
She hands me a cookie and smiles. “You know, nothing makes you feel better like something sweet.”
I can’t help but laugh since that’s practically my mantra. “Oh, trust me. I’m all on board with that. I just ate a piece of cheesecake. I love my sugar.”
“A woman after my own heart. I know when I’m down or worried, nothing takes my mind off my problems like making something delicious. That’s one of the reasons why I made those cookies for Kellen. I’m worried about him, but getting stressed out isn’t going to do anyone any good, so I figured the best way to help is to make his favorite cookie. He always did love butterscotch. None of his brothers did, so whenever I made them, he’d have them all to himself.”
Curious to hear more about Kellen’s life before this year, I take a bite of one of those cookies, and instantly I’m in heaven. “Mmmm…I think I know why these are his favorite. You do know how to make a great cookie, Eleanor.”
She spies my latest batch of cupcakes on the other end of the island and asks, “May I try one?”
Thrilled she might like my baking, I grab the tray and slide it down toward us. “Please do.”
Eleanor takes one and after the first bite, I know she loves it as much as I love those butterscotch cookies. “Oh, my. This is delicious! It’s so moist and fresh. And this icing! Mmmm…”
“I’m glad you like them. Take as many as you want. I made a lot,” I say, chuckling. “When I’m frustrated with work, nothing eases my mind like baking. If I don’t get someone to give finally say yes soon, I’m probably going to be making another dozen or two since it’s my favorite way of dealing with stress.”
When she finishes, she smiles. “You are a woman of many talents, I see. I’m glad Kellen has you in his corner.”
“I just wish I was having more luck. It’s still technically soon since everything became public, but I had hoped there would be some movement toward at least acknowledging he’s not the worst person in the world by now,” I say, feeling discouraged again.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know. I’d do anything for him,” Eleanor says while she finishes unloading her cleaning supplies onto the other side of the island.
Maybe she can do something to help me.
“Would you be able to tell me more about Kellen? Hearing something from you about his life growing up might help me figure out what tactic to use to convince people he’s not a bad guy since constantly reminding them how well he did in college and grad school isn’t cutting it.”