Valley of Dust by Karoleen Vry Brucks Read Free Book Online Page A

everywhere. They were warm and soft like they had just come out of the dryer. Then someone spoke, “Miss, are you all right?” I looked up to see a beautiful older woman in clothes that seemed almost like a business uniform. “Yes, I am, I was just leaving. Excuse me,” I said. “Wait, miss, I was instructed to give you towels and run you a bath. I work here, my name is Carla.” “Thank you, Carla, my name is Selene, I really don’t know where I am and I need to leave.” “If that is what you want, miss, but I was instructed to take care of you and help you. You fainted last night. I have your phone, and you can leave whenever you like, but please, I hope you would reconsider. I have instructed Jacques to make lunch for two and I would love the company,” she said. “I’ll think about it, Carla, thanks,” and with that she was out the door. She had put my phone on the bed and had left the towels there also. I wondered why she offered to draw me a bath like I was royalty. I was glad she hadn’t. This day felt increasingly awkward since I woke up. I decided to take my phone and go to the next room. It was the bathroom, and words could not describe how amazing the tub was. That’s when I decided a bath wouldn’t be such a bad idea. It’s not every day a starving artist gets to enjoy five-star accommodations for free.
    I was heading out of the room when I could smell food in the air. I hoped Carla or the owner didn’t mind me wearing the blue dress. It was too hard to pass a chance to wear something made by a famous designer. The delicious smell was coming from downstairs. Glancing on my way to the food, I hadn’t recognized how beautiful everything was. To my left was that nightmare of a room that had left my heart broken, but for some strange reason it no longer looked like the room that I saw last night. There were workers everywhere; they were knocking down walls, and there was nothing to remind me of that dreaded night. I turned to my right and headed for the smell of the food. I couldn’t believe how loud those construction men were. How on earth did I sleep through that? I must have been really been tired to not notice a whole room demolished in one night, I thought.
    Then I arrived in the kitchen. I loved the sleek granite countertops and matching stainless steel appliances. This was a kitchen made for someone who loved to cook. Right as I was walking in, I passed who I assumed was the chef, Jacques. “Hello, Jacques. My name is Selene.” He smiled a very quick smile toward me and said, “So I guess you’re the second person Ms. Carla was talking about. How do you do, Ms. Selene? I am the chef of this mansion, Jacques Ludger.” “Well, I am sorry to disturb you during cooking, I will be on my way. It was a pleasure meeting you, Jacques,” and with a wave of our hands I decided to head out of the kitchen. The smell of his food was mouth watering; it almost made me want to stay and learn. Beyond the kitchen there was an open door to the outside. I decided to check if Carla was maybe out there. I was correct with my assumptions when I saw her outside waiting for me and smiling. “Miss, come and sit in the garden with me. You look wonderful, by the way. I am glad you liked the dress,” she said. This now seemed awkward; she acknowledged the dress as if it belonged to me. Another thing to make me feel uncomfortable was I never really had many friends, especially girls, and having someone ask me to eat with them and wait for me made me feel a little scared and threatened. I was not used to this kindness. This was nothing like a meal with my family. Meals with them were always hostile. Since I was the middle child, naturally my two sisters would gang up on me and push any blame my way. The anxiety of thinking about that made me even more nervous to spend time with this woman named Carla. Would she be as catty as them ? Carla had a strange air around her, like she truly wanted to spend time with me. I