“Such a disoriented fool.” Emma rolled her eyes at Kaycee who left the kitchen with a plate of joy in hand.
“You know he is our boss, right.” Thelma reminded her, she wasn’t defending him or being sarcastic. Thelma just needed to remind Emma that he was still above them on the job even if they behaved like friends.
“Yeah, I know. And he knows better than to fire me, I mean where would this hotel be if not for my great culinary skills and good brains.” Emma praised herself.
“You work only for the hotel restaurant, remember?” Thelma reminded her with a smile on her lips.
“Yes I know, but I rule this place.” Emma wiggled her brows at Thelma.
"Emma, you are so funny."
"No, I am serious. The hotel needs me."
"How long have you worked here? Ten years?" Thelma tries to be sacarstic.
"Long enough, and you don't want to know the exact year."
"My lord, you are the boss boss!" Thelma exclaimed and made a dramatic bow.
"Yes, and we better get to work, these balls aren't going to make themselves." Emma said and Thelma laughed. They both talked and worked and cleared the pans and leftover ingredients from the stove and countertops. When they were done, Emma served the food in a server for the waiters and waitresses to pick up for their respective customers.
“Thank goodness we are leaving early!” Emma exclaimed to Thelma.
“Early?” Thelma paused from what she was doing and looked at her co-worker.
“You don’t know?” Emma looked at her in disbelief and Thelma shook her head. “Check your watch.” Thelma brushed off the sleeve of her chef garment checking the time 1:35 am. That’s pretty early, she frowned.
“You don’t look happy, why?” Emma asked
“There would be no bus until four.” Thelma sighed feeling confused and worried.
“Aww poor you, now how are you going to get home?” Emma’s concern for the young widow filled her heart. It is quite dangerous for a woman to be walking by herself at this time of the night, especially a woman as beautiful as Thelma Valentine.
“I don’t know how I am going to do it but I can’t stay either, I promised Ella I would be back early. I am sure she is still up, waiting for me..” Thelma’s heart warmed at the thought of her little star staying up just to see her.
“But it’s not safe.” Emma tried to make Thelma reason with her. Emma has always been so supportive towards Thelma and her daughter but Thelma will have to make certain decisions in her life for her daughter and ignore a few rules.
“It’s okay, I can make it safely, and in case there is trouble I got a mace for defense.” She tapped her bag and her brown leather coat making Emma laugh.
“You sure?” Emma asked.
“Yeah, thanks so much Emma you’ve always been there for me.” Thelma smiled at her then put on her leather coat and strapped her bag tightly on her shoulder.
“It’s nothing, Elle. I guess this is it, see you in the evening.” Emma gave Thelma a warm hug before she left.
“Yeah, bye Emma,” Thelma said going out of the building through the back door in the kitchen.
“Bye! But remember not to be late again!” Emma yelled to Thelma.
“I won’t!” Thelma yelled back. Wrapping her white blonde hair with a black scarf she stepped out of the building. The cold air instantly hit her face making her shiver, she rolled the collar of her coat up her neck to shield them from the harsh night breeze and stepped into the quiet street. 
The night was silent as a graveyard, only her footsteps were the comfort of the night. The poor lamps did nothing to brighten the path along the street, and even the street lamps that managed to work flicked now and then which made Thelma slightly jumpy. 
Thelma's heart pounded in anticipation and fear of the unknown. Once in a while, she would glance over her shoulder thinking she was being followed.
“No one is following you, it's all-“ 
clang
A sudden unidentified sound caused Thelma to let out a strangled shriek and she spun around searching frantically for the source, but just a few feet away a small malnourished black cat leaps out of a dumpster kicking empty cans on its way and Thelma immediately sighed in relief. She scolds herself for allowing fear to consume her thoughts making her terrified something bad was going to happen. 
“it’s just a cat Thelma, just a cat. Stop being paranoid.” She repeats to herself and continues her journey home. This time she picked up pace as dread and horror filled her insides with every step she took. 
So far she successfully made it past three streets. “two more streets and I am home.” She encouraged herself and tried thinking good things. She thought about her new life, her paying job, and how happy Ella would be when she saw her arrive home early. A smile made its way on her lips but it pursed by a distance noise almost impossible to hear.
Thelma came to a sudden halt and listened carefully. It was far seconds ago but now it was getting audible. Something about the sound made her freeze for a moment before recovering and speed-walking down the last block on the street as adrenaline rushed through her veins. 
Not long after, loud tires screeched heavily behind her, it swerved so close to where walked. Thelma was so terrified of the close encounter that she had to jump away to save her life but ended up tripping on her foot and falling on the pavement not far enough from the speeding vehicle. 
*********
Back at Thelma's house...
Ariella just finished part of her assignment and was having a cup of hot chocolate since sleep wasn't coming. She lazily turned the pages of her English textbook, getting bored of the stories she found, and then decided to take a short break from school work.
She huffed and pushed the book aside then got up to enter her closet, but the cup in her hand accidentally fell, spilling its contents on the floor. She quickly picked it up before it made more mess and stared at the disaster. Ella was horrified about the stained floor but she was glad none of the choco content touched the carpet or bed else Thelma would be mad.
Ella quickly ran downstairs to dispose and clean the cup, then she went back upstairs to clean all the evidence so Thelma didn't know she took a chocolate beverage in the night. When everything looked normal she went to sit on her bed and stared blankly at the wall. She later glanced at the table clock, waiting expectantly for her mother to open the front door.