"Where in the hell have you been?"
The whispers that were not heard, but within the confines of her own mind. Transmitted much like they were being thrown at her, she shook it off. She wasn't going to get angry. She was here with a purpose and she was going to set this straight. Not everyone had been able to gain contact with her on Saturday. Higher people holding the misfortune of needing to see her face come Monday. The weekend having been taken away as someone else had to hold her position. The fact that someone had been gunning for it in the first place, it didn't elude to any surprise that they allowed this person that opportunity.
Rachel was the most responsible person here, that's how she ended up nearly running the place herself. It wasn't her job, but she knew everything like the back of her hand. It was her home away from home. Right down to hating it when visitors came over or strangers who were the families of the deceased. No better than a repeated holiday function. There were enough times that someone had believed she was one of those there for the funerals or wakes.
"Guess he's ready to see you, huh?" The meek voice came, uncertain of how to act after she turned her own line of sight back towards Rachel. The eye roll that would be triggered from this was barely held back. She caught herself in it, as she headed for whatever this was going to turn into. Outside of this, there wasn't an added eyelash batted, no stiffness in her step, or fear to be noted. She was simply put, Rachel on any given day. A calmness about her that fell in tune with this place. It was peaceful and the way it should be as far as she was ever concerned. It was how she made sure to assist it all in being. From what fabrics needed to go, old furniture that needed to be changed out, to the ease and layout of the building. It was one of the first things she pointed out to them before she was hired, and during the interview. Rachel had a better sense of how everything needed to be, and was better prepared and educated than anyone else. This is a business, and when there are other places across the city that could be handling these affairs for people, you had to create a suitable environment.
The fuming jolly fat man seated behind the desk, he had a limp. It was better for him to be sitting there instead of trying to stand toe to toe with her. He was only slightly taller than her. It wouldn't matter either way. The questionable thought on if his glasses were going to begin to steam up was her own. That was a good sign. An expectant look was thrown at him as she sat in the seat opposite of him. Back straight, shoulders back, hands in her lap. She was nothing but professional and well mannered.
The door to the room seemingly closed on its own, but she knew better, even without looking. It was the woman that was standing out there. The meek one she knew day in and out. She couldn't even call them friends. Rachel didn't appreciate her sense of humor in the slightest and they weren't much on speaking terms. How easily that moved into most areas of her life with people. If they weren't going to understand or be able to do more than call her pretty, why try? There wasn't much there but empty head space that she didn't need to bother with. Didn't want to either.
As he sat there expecting her to speak, to answer his question, it was apparent that her response to him was only creating more of an issue. The way his own rage began to boil, he was going to end up giving himself a heart attack at this rate. There was a thought on how amusing that might be to see. Watch it live in action and watch him suffer for acting like this or even handing her position to some idiot that could barely handle their own. She could understand the need, but wouldn't it have been better to handle the issue yourself or to find a real replacement? It wouldn't take much to take his job. With or without him on the floor clenching his chest, reaching helplessly towards her, in need of help.
Forcing the change that she knew how to do, she pushed at it. Slowly, as if the car she was in just ran out of gas. Putting it in neutral, opening that door and having to attempt to push the large metal cage with everything you have. Because there was that wall. Anger was like that and she couldn't just let them see what she was for themselves. She didn't want to stop time and do this. It needed to be done in real time. Head canting to the side slightly, she stared, forcing his anger back. Pushing that car and trying to get it out of the road. The struggle became easier, like a downhill slope, but the pressure still there.
There was a look of confusion on his chubby old face. His features, there was a train of thought he meant to throw at her, but it was stopped in it all. He didn't know what she was doing, but he also didn't know what to say. His mouth hung open, but only the smallest amount. Until she was able to force something else outside of the calmness. Relief.
"I was abducted. It was by an old college buddy, meaning to be a joke. Something went wrong and I was accidentally locked away for a week without my phone, food, or water. I'd appreciate it if you kept this between us. I would hate for that to get around here, that someone got the drop on me, because it won't happen again." The words were spoken with a boldness, but still maintaining a soft spoken voice. She meant business, and she knew exactly what he was able to think and feel. There was an upper hand here that she only wished she could have been able to use against whatever had taken the jump on her. Even if she hadn't been her at the time.
That red in his face had drained, to a much paler version of him that she was used to. Perspiration at his brow needing to be wiped with a handkerchief. "Of course, Rachel."
That was what she wanted to hear. But Rachel being Rachel was going to bring it on home. Because this manipulating emotions, it didn't last forever. Whatever feeling she gave, pushed, made real for this person, it wouldn't last constantly. There would be repercussions and questions. She had to make an impression here and now.
"I expect my position back, and you can use the time I was gone as personal time. I know I've accrued more than enough of it here."
"Rachel-"
"And if you don't-" She raised his own fear. The change in calm and relief was a quick response. There was a slight change in his eyes, a widening that would never go unnoticed by her.
"And if you don't, I'll make sure that your wife knows about that woman you cheated on her with last summer. I do believe that you've been dodging a divorce for the sake of your own personal debts and gambling issues. I'll not only tell, but prove it. Clear?"
"How did you?"
"Are we clear?" She didn't bother to wait for his response, as she stood up from her seat. A false sweetness about her as she smiled. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you. I'll be checking in the back what I need to do for tomorrow and make sure that everything is put together." Her steps towards the door just as sure of herself as they were when she stepped through it. The girl on the other side, no longer there, but gossiping in another room. One she would make sure to walk right past as she made her way to do just as she had said she would.
Normal duties, business as usual. A wake was going on, for the deceased. Francesca Deluise. It was an accident and it took everyone by surprise. Another case of what happens when you text and drive. She had been younger than Rachel, and watching all these relatives in place, crying over the loss of young life. She was pretty, it was easy to see. Raven hair against pale skin. A bright flowing dress with light makeup, she was lucky she was able to handle an open casket. The boy that had been with her, he was another story and one that had already been set up for cremation.
But someone snuck through the fold. This wasn't exactly a private affair. There were no signs for only family and whatever friends had known her from school. This was something else. She could feel it. At first, she had taken it as nothing. A stray but random feeling that people get when conversing with each other. Attraction that sparked specific feelings. But it didn't stop. It grew, more and more as he made his way to view her body.
He was older than her, bothered by the loss. It was all too apparent. But the feelings that were coming off of him, it made her sick to her stomach. These weren't the kind of things anyone should think about the deceased. She didn't want to go into his head, to find out specific questions, this was bad enough. It spilled through her and she couldn't turn it off. Only wish she could pour bleach into her own body. To clear out whatever he was emitting because all she could feel was disgust over it. She wanted no part of it, even though she knew full well it wasn't her own feelings. It was him.
Rachel needed to free herself of this place. A momentary getaway before she threw up after this experience. A stray catch of the visitors list, she knew his name, and would be able to look into who he was later. If that was in fact his real name and address. Still able to excuse herself, someone else took over. Everything was done, other than to watch over and make sure nothing was needed. To stay out of the way for the most part. There was enough paperwork left there for her to do. This entire week would be problematic, having to fix all that went wrong while she was gone.
The funeral home was a little more out of the way. It was a necessity given how they did have a furnace and did their own cremations. Not the sort of thing that all homes did. It allowed for a base of operations that needed that minor seclusion. This didn't keep her from driving just enough to a little coffee shop. It was the closest they had. A restaurant or diner would have taken longer and she needed more than a gas station was going to do her for.
The order was in her head, even as some guy rushed past her to get in line. Chivalry was dead. Whatever. None of this mattered. She knew what she wanted and she wasn't here to make friends. That didn't stop all of this from taking five extra minutes too long for a wait in line because someone had to flirt with the woman at the counter. Great. Couldn't just hand over a number and move along. The guy that all but ran her over getting inside, he took a coffee and the last chocolate chocolate chip muffin. There was nothing here that she wanted outside of the muffin. Yes, it was fair and he had every right. She wasn't going to be able to argue her way out of this. She could manipulate him, but she wasn't looking to be that person. This wasn't the type of thing she could do every single time she didn't get what she wanted. She was doing her best to live the most normal life she could given the circumstances. Not sit around living in a house playing housewife.That seemed like it would be cruel to both her and Devin.
As the woman explained the situation to her, she looked back at the man who was pulling napkins out to take with him. She continued to watch as he moved away, eyes narrowing as her own emotions flooded her. Out of the blue, as he was passing a table and chairs, his face turned with a smack. It caused him to walk right into the table, coffee spilling over him as the bag fell to the floor.
She wanted to laugh, but held it back. Turning back and clearing her throat, ordering tea and marble brownie she didn't want. It was so late in the day, there wasn't much more she could do. Paying for it and taking her purchase, she walked past him as he continued to clean himself up, dazed and confused. It only made her want to laugh more. A moment in time that she allowed herself as soon as she made it to her car. Putting everything down, a hand covering her mouth. The slow escalation of sound that poured through.
A sip of tea, she put the key in the ignition and turned it. "At least I know that works." It was one of those actions she had thought up time and time again but wasn't sure if she could actually do it. There were actions she committed playing with time itself. The type that no one would know or realize because she could just make sure it never happened again. It was freeing, to allow herself these luxuries that people couldn't do normally.
There was a pause. The car stayed put, no movement outside of the air coming on, and the light hum of the engine. The radio was left alone for the sake of enjoying the silence. The man probably didn't deserve that. Then again, what did she know. She wasn't checking out everyone heads and searching their thoughts. She didn't want to know. There was no drive or care to be within the depths of anyone's minds. She didn't want to feel what they did either, but she couldn't help that, for whatever reason. She understood the need for the meditation. It was hated, but necessary. Times like these could have been much worse off if she hadn't. A piece of the chocolate side of the brownie was popped into her mouth as she chewed thoughtfully and pulled her seat belt over her.
If only there was nothing to feel. It was one of those sides to life she had been attempting to take hold of for too many years.