We Wear The Mask (PASH)-Chap. 5
by Chrissyn
 

We Wear The Mask--part 5
 
 

After leaving The Youth Center, Cilla and Chad took another bus to the Bed and Breakfast.
Luis had telephoned Grace, explaining Cilla's plight, that she was new in Harmony, with no money, or roof over her head.
Chad and Cilla entered the small dining area of the B&B--lemony sunshine filled the room. Jessica was humming, and clearing off a table and wiping it with a cloth.
"Hey, Jessica," Chad called.
She looked up from her task. And smiled. "Hi, Chad."
"Where's your moms? I need to talk to her about something."
"She's in the kitchen. It's okay if you go back there."
"Thanks, Jess."
Chad and Cilla went to the kitchen. At the door frame, Chad said, "Miss Bennett."
Grace was at a butcher block counter top, making scones. A grater was near the bowl, as was a lemon missing most of it's zest.
The room was warm from the heat of the oven, and the redolence of cinnamon filled the air. On the counter, in a wicker basket was a batch of just baked pumpkin muffins.
Grace smiled. "Hi, Chad. Come on in." With her attention darting from Cilla to Chad, she said, "Luis called and said you had a friend in need of a place to stay." She smiled at Cilla. "I assume you're the person."
"You win the washer/dryer combo," Cilla replied. "My name's Priscilla Wainwright."
"Nice to meet you, Priscilla," Grace said.
"Call me Cilla."
"Okay, Cilla. Luis said you just came in from Los Angeles."
She shrugged. "Yeah, last night."
"With no money, and no prospects. That struck me as...odd," Grace said.
Cilla frowned. "Why?"
Grace shrugged. "Well, coming to a new town where you don't know anybody...with no money and no place to stay."
Who did this hum-drum looking woman, with this ugly hairstyle think she was dippin' in my business? Cilla thought. She itched to tell her a thing or two. But she needed a place to stay, so with effort, she kept her mouth shut. "Well, I know Chad," she chirped. "I figured he'd help me get settled."
Grace smiled at Chad. "Yes, Chad is such a kind person."
"And the smell in here is making this kind person hungry," Chad enthused. "I ain't had a crumb this a.m." Nodding at the basket of muffins, he said, "And those are looking right yummy. Mind if I have one." He looked at Grace hopefully.
"Sure," she said, getting the basket, and extending it to Chad. "Would you like one Cilla?" she wanted to know.
Cilla shrugged. "Why not? We can a muffin party," she joked.
Chad ate the baked good with alacrity, holding out a free hand to catch the crumbs. Cilla bit off hers. "Oh, girl," she spluttered to Grace. "This is da-bomb! Just delicious! I bet you can burn."
Grace frowned. "Burn?"
"Cook," Chad clarified.
Blushing, Grace said, "Yes, I like to burn." She giggled. Watching Cilla munch away, Grace said, "Well, you haven't been in Harmony long enough to form an opinion of the town. But it's a nice place. The people here are so friendly."
"Yes, I'm beginning to see that," Cilla said.
"And you're lucky," Grace offered. "I have two vacant rooms, and one of them is yours until you get on your feet."
Cilla brightened. "Oh, that's so nice of you."
"There are eight rooms here all together. And in the morning, I offer the guests, muffins, pancakes, coffeecake--baked goods. Gourmet coffee and freshly squeezed orange and grapefruit juice."
"Oh, yummy," Cilla said, being sarcastic. But it eluded Grace.
"I have a girl, Margie, who helps me clean, and gives me a hand in the kitchen. But I figured six hands are better than four."
"Excuse me," Cilla said, getting Grace's drift.
"Miss Bennett wants you to clean rooms, and help her out in the kitchen," Chad explained.
"Yes," Grace said, nodding to Chad. Looking at Cilla, she said, "I'll assign you four rooms, and you can help me make breakfast for the guests. Tommorrow morning, I'm going to make mini muffins. We start serving at nine thirty, so you should be down here about eight."
"Well, I don't know anything about cooking," Cilla said.
"Oh, I'll tell you everything you need to know. Making muffins is quite simple, actually. There's nothing to it."
Sam entered the room, looking surprised to see Chad and his friend.
Cilla lifted a lascivious eyebrow at Sam, that said aren't you cute. "Well, hello," she caroled.
"Hi," Sam said.
"Hi, yourself. Wanna frisk me?" she flirted.
Sam was a bit abashed by her behavior. Going to Grace and simpering, he said, "I don't think my wife would like that."
"Your wife?" Cilla said.
"Yeah," Chad said. "Remember Luis said the Chief-of-Police's wife owned the Bed and Breakfast?"
"So he did," Cilla said, slightly embarrassed. "Sorry," she mumbled to Grace.
Grace shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Lots of women flirt with my husband."
"But my heart only belongs to you," Sam said.
Make me throw up the muffin, Cilla thought.
Grace gave Sam a peck on the cheek. "What brings you here, honey?"
"Just in the neighborhood," Sam explained. "And I thought I'd drop by and have a cup of java with my favorite girl."
"Oh, how nice," Grace said, brightening like a summer sun. She explained that Cilla was new in town, and that she'd be staying at the B&B until she got herself together.
Sam nodded. "Well, welcome to Harmony, Cilla," he said.

Grace left the kitchen, and escorted Chad and Cilla to Cilla's pied-a-terre. The room was sparkling, and engaging. The four poster, brass bed was covered with a blue and white blanket with designs of a cloud.
"In the den, there's a giant screen TV," Grace explained to Cilla. "And a book shelf, so if you get in the mood to read or watch TV, that's the place to go." Grace turned to leave.
"Thanks for everything, Miss Bennett," Chad said. He threw a pleading expression at Cilla, encouraging her to do likewise.
"Yes, Mrs Bennett. Thank you so very much. I'm so grateful for your kindness," Cilla poured on feigned politeness.
When Grace was out the room, and Chad shut the door, Cilla snapped, "I don't like this at all."
"What?" Chad asked. "This is a nice room, and beggars can't be cho--"
"I'm talking about this arrangement!" Cilla elucidated. "Grace Bennett is trying to use me, trying to get some cheap labor."
"Cilla, what are you talking about?"
"She wants me to clean rooms, Chad," she stated. "Me! Clean rooms! And help her bake muffins and make pancakes. Who do I look like? Betty Crocker."
"Dipped in dark chocolate," Chad replied.
Cilla made a face. "Hee. Hee. But Chad, I'm seriously thinking about telling girlfriend that if she wants me to be her chambermaid slash kitchen assistant, we gonna have to discuss a time card and an hourly wage...I've got twelve dollars in my pocketbook, and she thinks, I'm working for free...Girlfriend is out of her mind." She threw a hand on a slim hip.
"Oh, quit your bitchin'," Chad demanded. "And stop trying to get over. The woman's given you a place to stay. And it's only fair that you show your appreciation by helpin' out around here. What did you think? She was gonna put you up for nothing...Miss Bennett could rent this room out and make some money off it. But she's letting you use it."
She sighed dramatically. "I guess you have a point."
"I know I do."
She plopped down on the foot of the bed. "Please tell me, how in the world did that drab looking woman manage to snag that hunk a hunk of burnin' love? Sam Bennett is fine."
"Ain't nothing wrong with how Miss Bennett looks," Chad said in defense of Grace. "She a nice lookin' lady."
"You're just saying that because she gave you a muffin. But she damn sure ain't nothing off Cosmo," Cilla said cattily. She put her thumbnail under the nail of an index finger, and flicked it. And then held out her hands and examined them."
"Looks ain't everything," Chad said. "And you shouldn't bad mouth somebody who's helping your ass out. Show some appreciation." He paused. "And another suggestion..."
"You're full of them today," Cilla said.
"Why don't you chill flirtin' with every dude you make eye contact with. First it was Luis. Then Chief Bennett."
"I like to flirt," Cilla retorted. "And I don't need you lecturing me. You're not my daddy."
"You playing yourself cheap acting like that," Chad said.
"Men like flirty, fun-lovin' girls." She stretched back seductively on the bed. "And why do you care who I dally with? Are you by chance, a wee bit jealous?"
"Girl, don't go trippin'...I ain't jealous of you. You don't mean squat to me. I'm a dude, and I know how men think. You come on to guys, even in fun...some will think you want to get busy. And you might find yourself in a situation you don't want to deal with."
"I can handle myself." Sitting up, she sighed. "And you know Chad, Harmony has really changed you. I mean, you've always been reliable, which is one of the things I admire about you...I could always depend on you to fix things, make it right. Give me a soultion to my problem...
But despite having your you-know-what together, you use to be fun. Now, you're all Mr. Sedate."
"Cilla, I'm older, and I've done some growing up. And everyday can't be a day at the carnival and clowning around...I've got to get going." He headed for the door.
She took Chad's hand, waylaying him. She pulled him to her. "Chad, don't leave," she said.
He knew what she wanted. "Cilla." His tone contained a trace of a whine. "I'm interested in Whitney."
"What's love got to do, got to do with it," she sang a refrain of the gone-but-not-forgotten Tina Turner hit. "Come on," she wheedled. Her voice a seductive whisper. "Let's have a little love in the afternoon for old time's sake."
He smiled wryly. And in a gesture devoid of any hostility, he retrieved his hand. "Cil, I have a lunch date with Whitney. Later."
He left the room.
Oh, well, she thought. "Can't win 'em all," she muttered. But she'd get Chad back. In time. She grabbed her purse, unzipped it, and removed a bulging pouch.
She dumped its contents on the mattress. Coins clanged onto the bed. She plucked one from the pile. "I'd love to redeem one of these babies," she muttered. "But I'll bet Juice is looking for me. And these." She tossed one in the air and caught it.
She knew the coins were worth five thousand dollars a piece.
If she cashed in one, she could buy a fabulous wardrobe, rent an apartment, and not have to stay here, playing assistant to Mrs Fields.
But now wasn't the time to try and sell these things. Juice is pissed, and surely he's searching for her.
But he'd never think to look in Harmony. Who'd ever think she came to this place?
So she'd wait it out. Eventually, he'll think locating the coins is a lost cause.
She had to be patient. And that wasn't one of her virtues.