“Goodness,” I stammer, looking up at it.

  “Notice a theme, did you?”

  I hear Alvaro’s voice, but I’d forgotten he was there. “I’m sorry. What did you say?” I question, turning to look at him.

  “A theme. Did you pick up on the theme?” In the tone he’s using, it sounds like he’s mocking something.

  Quickly running my eyes around again, my gaze lands back on him. “Someone likes flowers?”

  “Bingo.” Alvaro laughs. “Mia loves flowers. She used to be a gardener back before she became allergic to the sun. Now, she brings the garden inside to her.”

  “I think it’s nice. It gives the place a touch of softness.”

  “That’s what I say too, dear.” A medium-built lady wearing a purple dress, black, sensible shoes, and an apron with bright yellow and white daisies on it, hurries down the hall toward us. Her hair is streaked with gray, white, and hot pink, all pulled up in a loose bun. She has a motherly vibe about her.

  “Don’t listen to him. What do men know of flowers?” she scolds Alvaro.

  “I know when there are too many,” he scolds right back. “Hailee Green meet Minnie. She runs the house, hates clutter, and makes the best scones. And apparently, has pink hair this week.”

  “Aww, you noticed, you big gorilla. See, you do have manners. How nice.” Minnie takes my hand and pats it as she talks. “Welcome, Hailee. I’ve got your rooms ready for you. Come with me, and I’ll show you. Then we’ll go over a few things before lunch. Madam Mia will meet with you later this afternoon when she’s up. Sound good? Good, come now.”

  Minnie turns and pulls me toward the stairs. I look over my shoulder as I take the first step and see Alvaro watching. “Thank you.” I smile and wink at him.

  “You’re welcome, Hailee.” He returns the wink.

  Reaching the second floor, I’m again overwhelmed by the beauty of the place. The landing is open from the hand railing to the ceiling, on the other side it overlooks the sitting room. The walls are rich burgundy with floral wallpaper borders on the top. Looking to the left, then the right, I see a sitting area and a large window with floor-to-ceiling drapes at the end of each hall. Halfway down the two halls have a half circle of large molded wooden beams surrounding the openings. It gives me the feeling of being in a hobbit's home and I instantly love the architecture of it.

  “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” I state with my mouth wide open as I gape at the surroundings.

  “It is, isn’t it? Of all the places the Madam and I have lived, this is my favorite.” Minnie looks around, then walks over to the railing that overlooks the sitting room below. “This is where you’re presented. Don’t come down to meet your client until you’re announced. If you don’t have a client you’re allowed to be downstairs for the night. If you have a client, please come back upstairs thirty minutes before your scheduled time.” She turns to the right. “Now, you’re down this hall.”

  “We’re presented?” I ask, following her.

  “Oh yes, the Madam stands on tradition. Times when ladies were called upon and gentlemen were announced, even if they are paying clients.”

  Reaching the first set of doors on the left, she opens it and walks about halfway in with me trailing behind her. “This is your working room.” She spreads her arms out while walking to the doors on the right, she opens the first one. “This is your connecting bathroom. Madam and I want your bedroom door closed and locked when there’s a client here. Any other time, you may keep it open.” Walking into the bathroom, I’m gobsmacked by first, the size, then the gold fixtures, and the elegant white marble. But the white claw-foot tub with gold feet at the end of the room sends me over the edge with excitement.

  Touching the fluffy gold towels on the rim of the tub, I ask, “How many people share this bathroom? Is there a signup time for using it?”

  “Just you dear. It’s all yours.” She opens the other door and walks through it. “And this is your private room. No client may be in your private room, ever. Understand?”

  “That’s all my bathroom?” Minnie stops and looks at me. “Sorry, I understand.”

  “It’s alright. I can see why you’re excited. All three rooms are yours, the bathroom will be used by clients as well, should there be a call for it. Good?” She waits for me to nod my head. “Right, I’ll leave you to check out your quarters. When you’re ready, come down the stairs and turn left. The door at the end of the hall will take you to the kitchen and dining area. I’ll meet you there. Don’t be long. We have some things to go over before lunch.” Minnie turns to leave, but not before looking me over. “My, you’re so pretty. You’re going to be popular.”

  She’s out the door before I can ask her what that means. I don’t want to be popular. I just want to fit in around the house and learn how to be good at my job. Maybe get a few regulars, so I can start making money.

  When mom died, she left me with nothing. I had to find a job in order to keep the efficiency apartment we had. When you’re different from everyone else around, you don’t have a lot of friends and you learn quickly how to do things on your own. Even if that means doing things you don’t want to do.

  But now, I’m here in a mansion, in a bedroom the size of my old apartment with a bathroom fit for royalty. I put my hand on the silky comforter. It feels soft and inviting. Taking the room in, I see a large cream-colored six-drawer dresser with an attached mirror. A stand with two doors, I’m guessing, to put a television on. Two-night stands with open shelves and this bed that’s fit for a princess. There’s enough room between all the furniture to run a race. A door on the far wall beckons me, so I open it, revealing a walk-in closet. My suitcases and bags are sitting in the middle of a closet the size of my old apartment bedroom. Everything I own will take up one rung of the closet and one drawer in the dresser. A tear runs down my cheek.

  I think I’m way out of my league here, but damn, I want to make this work so bad! This is my way out, my way to set myself up for a good life. But I don’t know anything about how these people live. What if I eat my dinner with my salad fork? Shit. Maybe I should have just stayed home.

  CHAPTER 3

  Not wanting to keep Minnie waiting, I hustle to the kitchen and find her sitting at one of two long tables. Seeing me, she points to a side table with coffee, tea, and a plate of cookies.

  “Help yourself, dear, there’s always something out on the snack table. Do you like the rooms?” she asks as I help myself to tea and a cookie.

  “I can’t get over them. Are you sure they’re just for me, on my own? No roommate?”

  “Oh no, all yours. There are eight suites on the two floors. One is mine since Dwyn sleeps in her grotto.”

  “Her grotto?”

  “Yes, now let’s go over a few things before your meeting with Madam Mia. There are eight ladies living and working here. We dislike drama. So far, we’ve been very lucky and all our ladies have gotten along. The one before you was a bit of a diva but it worked out. But you don’t seem to be so I think it will work out fine.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them.” Never having had real friends, I’m leery but also excited to get to know my fellow employees.

  “They will be down for lunch. Most sleep in pretty late after a working night. Now, let’s go over the house rules.” She hands me a printed sheet of paper with a list of rules, times for meals, and a laundry schedule. “I’m not a maid or a short-order cook; if you miss a mealtime you can make a sandwich in the kitchen but clean up after yourself. I’m the only one who runs the stove or oven. Also, I don’t work at a laundry mat. I’m here to help if you need me. I’m always around, but I have a house to run, employees to manage, and food to make. These are your responsibilities.”

  “Sounds fair.”

  “You’re responsible for cleaning the room when the client leaves. We never book back-to-back appointments. One appointment per day, never any more. As far as the bedding goes we wash it in a separate washing machine. You’ll see what I mean when you go on your tour. Everyone has four sets of sheets with matching blankets. When you take one off you put a set on. More than once a lady has forgotten, and the client has had to wait. It can be quite embarrassing.”

  “I understand, I like things clean.” I’ve always enjoyed cleaning, mainly because after work it was the only thing I had to do. Usually, I would turn the television on for background noise and clean.

  “Good, I like to hear that. We eat most meals as a family, that’s very important to us. Most clients don’t arrive until seven or eight in the evening so there is time to have dinner together.” Minnie goes through the rest of the rules concerning the house with me. She says the client rules will be covered by Madam Mia later today.

  “Do you have any questions?”

  Sheepishly I ask, “Just one, but I’m sure I’ll have more as the time goes by. For now, are all the people here… umm, paranormal?”

  Minnie looks at me with a blank expression, then a smile spreads across her face, and she chuckles “Meaning are you the only human here?”

  “Yes, I’m sorry, I didn’t know how to ask. I guess I shouldn’t have asked; it’s very personal.”

  “It’s okay, dear, of course it’s alright to ask your questions. Yes, everyone here is paranormal. Just remember we live in a world of humans and some paranormal individuals don’t like to share their true identity.”

  “Yes, I know. I learned that when I was young. Will I know who my clients are?”

  “I believe so, that’s a question for Mia, lunch will be in an hour. Why don’t you go start unpacking.” Minnie stands, picking up her clipboard and coffee cup.

  “Alright. Unless you need help with lunch, then I can just unpack later.”

  “Oh, aren’t you sweet? No, no, I’ve got it. You go ahead.” Minnie turns and briskly heads to what I guess is the kitchen door.

  I would love a tour.

  “After lunch I’ll have one of the ladies give you a tour.” Minnie calls over her shoulder before disappearing.

  Shit, did I say that out loud?

  Walking back to my room I think about Minnie and how I phrased my question.

  Paranormal? How could I have sounded so dumb. Really. I have to be more aware of what I’m saying. This place is so fancy it stands to reason everyone here is just as fancy. The only thing is, how do I learn to be fancy?

  Unpacking my belongings takes me a total of twenty minutes. When I’m done, I peer into the vast closet. It looks sad with my few occupied hangers being the only things in there. I take my suitcases out from under my bed and place them against the far back wall.

  There, that makes it look a little fuller. Somewhat. Maybe I’ll buy some new clothes with my first paycheck.

  I decide to go to the sitting area outside my room to wait for lunch. That way I’m not sitting in this empty room on my own. Plopping down in one of the winged back chairs, I take my time to really look around. The amount of time and effort put into the woodwork here is impressive. Everything about this place is impressive. I can’t think of a building back home that had half the beauty.

  I’m pulled from my thoughts as the door opposite mine opens, and a short, green-skinned girl emerges. I can’t help but stare; I’ve never seen anyone with green skin before. Snow-white, short hair cut in a cute bob style, smaller boobs, and enormous thighs. She’s beautiful.

  “Oh, hi!” The green girl enthusiastically steps forward with her hand out for me to shake. “I’m Clara.”

  I put my hand out and she shakes it; but I don’t say anything, not out of rudeness but because my brain is trying to process green skin.

  “I’m guessing you’ve never seen a gremlin before.” Clara laughs as she spins around in a circle. “I love gremlin virgins. What’s your name, cutie?”

  Shaking my head slightly in hopes of being able to contribute to the conversation, I nervously say, “Ah, I’m Hailee. Nice to meet you.” I put my hand out. Again.

  Laughing again, Clara says, “I feel like we’ve done this before.”

  Feeling mortifyingly embarrassed I quickly draw my hand back. “I’m sorry, Clara, I’ve just never…”

  “Seen green skin, no worries, cutie, it happens. Do you want to touch it?” She jets her arm forward. “Go ahead, that way it will be more real.”

  Peering up from her arm now in front of my face, I quickly look into her eyes to make sure it’s alright.

  “Really, go ahead.” She shakes her arm a little, drawing my gaze back to it.

  I’m not sure I really want to touch her skin, but I don’t want to appear even ruder than I already have. So, I place my hand on her forearm and ran my hand down to her wrist.

  “Very soft,” I speak in a hushed tone.

  “Thanks.” She draws her arm away, running her other hand where mine had just touched. “Dwyn knows all the best skin conditioners. I’m guessing from her being in the water so much. It’s almost time for lunch; I’m starving, let’s go.” She turns and walks toward the stairs.

  Quickly, I follow her, not wanting to be late on my first day.

  “Have you had a tour yet? I’ll give you one after food if you want,” Clara offers when I step up next to her.

  “Thank you. That would be great.”

  Two doors down at the other side of the hallway open as we reach the top of the stairs. Looking over I see two ladies step out, I can’t make out their features due to the sunlight behind them. I can only see that one is taller and skinny, the other shorter and more of the plus athletic build size.

  “Hey, wait up,” one of them calls as Clara is stepping down the first step. She steps back up to the landing and waits next to me as the other two come into view.

  “I’m glad you’re shorter, like me. Some of these girls…” She rolls her eyes.

  Looking back down the hall, the tall one must be an Egyptian goddess. Tall and regal, she has large eyes and perfect lips. Her hair is white at the base with black dreadlocks that end at her chin. She almost struts when she walks, and the orange jumpsuit she’s wearing is a perfect match for her dark, luscious skin. For the life of me, I can’t think of what she might be.

  The other one is just a touch shorter than the goddess; she has bright strawberry blond hair that’s in long ringlets, it reminds me of the spiral perms of the eighties. Her movements are fluid, almost like I’m watching her in a pool. She has long legs. She’s not skinny but not bigger, the largest things on her are her hair and her boobs. Which are like perfect round globes. Voluptuous is the word that comes to my mind.

  “You must be Hailee.” The blonde asks as she puts forth her hand. “I’m Dwyn, nice to meet you.”

  “Hello, nice to meet you too. I like your name.”

  “Thanks, it means wave. Super creative for a mermaid, huh.” She shakes her head.

  “Wow, you’re a mermaid? And you can walk on land?” I know my mouth’s open and I’m staring but I’ve never met a mermaid.

  “Sure can. But I have to get in the water every other day or so. Otherwise, I cramp up. This is Loa.” She puts her hand on Loa’s shoulder.

  “You’re beautiful, I mean not that all of you aren’t, you are. But, I…” I close my mouth not wanting to insult anyone anymore.

  “We understand, blah, blah, blah she’s pretty,” Clara says in a sarcastic voice that even I, who just met her, picks up on, and everyone laughs.

  “Greetings, Hailee. Welcome.” Loa’s voice matches her looks, and I instantly think she should narrate something.

  “Hi,” is all I can get out.

  “Unless we want peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we better get moving,” Clara announces as she heads downstairs.

  “Eww, no, thank you,” Dwyn declares as Loa makes a face.

  “I like peanut butter and jelly. I lived on them for a month once.” I snap my mouth closed before I can say more about my mundane, embarrassing life. None of the ladies comment or even look at me.

  Whew, maybe they didn’t hear.

  When we arrive at the dining room, there are already two other ladies sitting at the table. One with cardinal red skin, straight black hair, and black pupils. The lady sitting right next to her has shoulder-length brown hair with blonde highlights and a cute button nose. She has a sports jersey on.

  “Daisey.” Clara points to the red lady. “Lydia, this is Hailee,” she introduces the two of us as she takes a seat on the other side of Daisey.

  Sitting across the table from them, I say my hello’s and do everything in my power not to stare at Daisey.

  What in the world is Daisey? And Lydia looks like me, a human. But, from what I’ve been told I’m the only one.

  “Girls, it’s nice to see you. How’s everyone feeling?” Minnie calls out, She enters the room with a large tray and sets it down on the end of the table, but before anyone could answer her, she was gone. Then back quickly with another large tray. I’m thrilled when it comes around and I see it’s cheeseburgers with fries and a salad on the other tray. I was a little worried about what we would eat with all our differences.

  “Did everyone meet Hailee?” Minnie asks as she makes herself a plate.

  Everyone nods and says yes. We talk about all sorts of things at the table. I was most interested in how their nights were. I’ve turned tricks before, when I’ve needed money for rent or mom’s medications. But only with the undesirable pack members, and it was always a wham bam here’s your money. Never anything more. Never. So, hearing these ladies talk favorably about their clients is a new thing for me. I’m having a hard time processing that they actually have fun with their clients. Daisey and Dwyn have regulars and Dwyn’s is teaching her to swim but they’re naked while she teaches him. If he thinks he’s done well in lessons, then they have sex, if not, then he has to wait till next time. That idea blows my mind. I have loads of questions, but I don’t want to ask them and seem like the new girl. Shit, I don’t even know what Daisey and Lydia are; how am I going to understand how the clients are.