Help Wanted (closed)

[susurrus]

(This one is for PlayfulDevil192 and me)

Wanted: Housekeeper
General cleaning, cooking
Room and board available
Salary negotiable
Contact: Dan Simmons

I added my address and phone number then hit “Send.”

That was the basic gist. The paper could post it in their online want ads as well as print. I’d put it on a couple other online want ad sites just to get more distribution.

My wife passed away three years prior. Breast cancer. It was hard as hell to watch how she fought, only to lose in the end. For a while, it looked like she might beat it, but just when we thought she was in the clear, it roared back up on her with a vengeance.

For that first year, I was lost. I couldn’t bear to move anything she’d touched. It was like I was a man just going through the motions. Fortunately, my boss at work was understanding, having lost two aunts and a grandmother to it. Did some counseling and eventually sprang back from the abyss. Did I miss her? Oh yeah. Could I see myself moving on? It wasn’t going to be easy, but as one year wore on into two, two into three, the sharp edges started to round off.

While I adjusted, my housekeeping skills – meager at best – were completely ignored. Oh, I didn’t let things get too deep, but after a while, it became evident, even to me, that I wasn’t going to dig out of this on my own.

Hence, an ad for help. There had to be somebody out there who needed a job. I made plenty of money, so I could afford it, especially now it was just me.

So, now it was just a matter of waiting.

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

I sighed and rubbed at my temples as my roommates argued. Again. For the second time this week. No amount of blaring music or loud tv was enough to drown them out as I laid there in my bed. It was already debatable on if we would be renewing the lease again this year or not. I made enough to support myself with my work from home job, but it was nice to be able to save money with the rooming situation. But this...this I couldn't take much more of. Marissa and Casey had sworn to me, when I had first broached the subject of rooming with them, that them being exes wouldn't interfere and we'd all still get along. And for the first year and half or so, we had just that. Them getting along and our agreement on who paid what and how we would split things. We even decided on who would make dinner on what nights depending on work schedules.

Then Casey began meeting other girls and bringing them home to fuck. And that of course would set off Marissa who would go out and find a one night stand to bring home to get back at home. And all that, in the end, led to this. Them screaming at each other and blaming their failed relationship on the other.

I groaned and shoved my pillow over my face. Trying to block them out for 20mins before giving up. I sat up on my bed and snatched up my phone. I started browsing available listings on Zillow and other sights when something caught my eye. It was more a job listing than a place listing, so I assumed the poster had added a wrong tag on the post. I read through it quickly.

Help Wanted!
Live in Housekeeper w/ Room and Board
General duties include cooking and cleaning
Salary negotiable
Contact Dan Simmons

Below was a phone number and an address. I jumped as the sound of something breaking out in the living room pulled my attention before the sound of two doors slamming reverberated through the apartment. I rolled my eyes. Great. Another broken dish or lamp...but at least it was quiet now. My eyes went back to the add and the contact information. While I didn't need a second job, I would be away from this current situation and if I put the money from the WFH job, or this one, away into savings, I'd still have money for my own groceries, my phone, and my streaming services. So really...I win here either way. And not only that, but with some decent privacy maybe I can start making time to get laid! I thought to myself as I began writing up a text to Mr. Simmons. I couldn't remember the last time I had, had sex. I couldn't remember the last time I'd even masturbated for release. Mari and Casey had been a mood kill lately.

Text: Good evening, Mr. Simmons. I'd like to set up a time with you to talk about your Help Wanted ad.
-Elizabeth S.

I left my name and a number for him, with my resume attached (just in case) then hit send before setting my phone down and going to clean up whatever mess Marissa left out there.

 

[susurrus]

I had to wait a few days for a response, but when they started coming, they all came at once. Suddenly I was looking at three prospects - all women, no surprise.

When I tried getting back with the first respondent, I got no reply. Even waiting a day for her to get back with me yielded nothing. So I wrote her off and moved on to Prospect Number Two.

We set up a time, but when it came to the actual meeting, she made it as far as the door and ringing the bell, but when I opened the door, it was to the back of a woman hurrying up the street.

There was obviously no sense in trying to get her to come back. Her retreating body language told me it was hopeless.

So, I went to my list and scratched her off.

It left one more...

Maybe I'd get a couple more prospects in the coming days, but the time I'd paid for was almost up, and for as long as it took to get the three respondents I had, I was skeptical of getting many more.

Picking up the phone, I called the last number on my list. She was the least qualified of the three, but at that point, I was beyond being picky.

When she picked up on the second ring, I was relieved. The voice on the other end sounded kind of young, but hell, I'd reached the age where anybody younger than forty seemed to be a baby.

The next day was Saturday, but she was good with meeting the next morning. We set the time and I hung up, hoping I wouldn't have to take out another ad...

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

Saturday couldn't possibly come any faster. By Friday night, my patience had sorta snapped with my roommates. I was fed up! I was sick of cleaning up and replacing the broken things, and best believe I was keeping track. I had a list of broken things, the replacements, and their cost! But yelling at them wasn't going to do any good any here. Not while I was angry, and not while they were mad at each other. So when Saturday finally came, I gave them the morning to wake up and have breakfast, take showers, that sorta thing. Using the time to my advantage to lay out my clothes and some make up while I had my coffee. I was too nervous at the moment to eat and I had showered before them.

Just before noon, as I finished getting ready to go, I called them both to the living room. Instructing them to sit down, shut up, and listen. And while pulling my hair up. As they sat there, I placed my hands on my hips and explained things to them as calmly as I could. I would not be renewing the lease. I confronted Marissa about her bad habit of breaking things and gave her the neatly stapled together receipts of all the replacements. She WOULD be paying me back. I left no room for argument there. She could be mad at me all she wanted. They both could. I simply couldn't do this anymore. They had time from now to end of lease to start looking, find a place, and leave...In the meantime, our agreement over the bills still stood and it would till moving day.

I didn't wait for responses. I quickly grabbed my bag, the numerous keychains clinking together with my keys, doubled checked that I had my wallet and phone (plus wireless charger), and grabbed up my EarPods in their cute Hedwig keychain carrier case. Then shuffled out the door. As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it. Taking shuddering breaths as my heart raced. I normally wasn't one to be that confrontational and it shocked me just as much as I was sure it shocked them. Taking a big breath, I put in my EarPods and qued up my Spotify as I hurried out of the building. I had somewhere important to be.

When I arrived at the nice little café, I was early. By 15 minutes. But that was okay though. I ordered myself a latte and a blueberry muffin while I waited. I grabbed my ponytail and held it up against my head for a second before taking a hairclip from my bag and clipping it into place. Letting my hair drape over the clip as I lounged back into the seat. When the waitress brough me my order, I smiled and thanked her softly and browsed idly on my phone to pass the time.

 

[susurrus]

I arrived at our agreed-upon meeting place a few minutes early. I try not to be late for appointments. Accidents happen that cause delays, so I usually try my damnedest to leave the house soon enough that if something unexpected occurs, I still have a fighting chance to get where I'm going on time.

When I walked into the building, I looked around for Elizabeth. She'd given a rough description of herself when we spoke on the phone, but wouldn't you know, there were three different women who could meet the criteria she'd laid out.

So, it became a matter of elimination.

One of the women was with a man, so she was easy to rule out.

Of the remaining two, I couldn't imagine the voice I'd heard on the phone coming from her mouth, so I gambled and stepped over to my choice.

"Elizabeth?" I held out my hand. "I'm Dan. I believe we spoke on the phone?"

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

My blue eyes shot up to the man at the voice. I flashed him a smile and got to my feet. Placing my phone face down on the table for now as I took his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Dan. I'm glad to have this chance to place a face to the voice." I say, my eyes quickly scanning him over as I teased him lightly. He was very handsome for someone older than me. I was in my mid 20's, in fact I'd just turned 24 earlier in the year. "Please sit!" I say quickly, letting his hand go as I motion to the chair across from me. "Can I offer you anything to drink?" I ask, sitting across from him. Ready to signal for the barista if need be.

 

[susurrus]

A flash of blue as the woman before me glanced up from whatever she was doing on her phone. It was accompanied by a smile, then she stood and took my hand.

She was attractive. A head or so shorter than me, but well put together. She reminded me a little of my Sarah when we'd first met. I pegged her as somewhere in her twenties, about the age our daughter would have been, had we had children.

"Thanks. It's good to meet you, too," I said in response to her greeting.

I'm usually pretty obtuse when it comes to women, but I swear she gave me an appraising once-over as we stood there, getting initial acquaintances taken care of. The thought was surprising, but pleasantly so. It'd been a while since a woman had been interested enough to check me out.

Of course, it could have also been that she was looking for indications I might be an axe murderer, so maybe I shouldn't read too much into it.

As we sat, she offered a drink. I told her, "I'm not much of a coffee guy, but I hear they do pretty decent smoothies here, so sure."

Elizabeth flagged an employee and I ordered. When the girl left to take care of my drink, I felt the need to say, "Thanks for agreeing to meet me here. I wasn't thinking, and invited the last prospect to my home. She made it to the door, but chickened out before I could answer it. After I thought about it, it made sense. Neutral, public territory for a first meet was better."

I was a little nervous. Granted, I wasn't the one interviewing for a job, but it had been a while since I'd been somewhere with a woman who wasn't my wife. And this one was quite a bit younger than I was. All sorts of horror stories flooded into my head: if anything should happen to her after this meeting it'd be "Last time I saw her, she was with some older guy."

Crap. I had to stop thinking about it . Nothing was going to happen to her. We weren't in a cop drama on TV.

"Thanks for answering my ad. I hope we can come to some kind of agreement here."

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

As I watched him space out for a moment, I could tell a thousand different thoughts had to be running through his head. I couldn't help but laugh as I guessed at what those thoughts were. But I wouldn't say anything on it. No need to make him more nervous. "Well...the other woman's loss is surely to be my gain." I comment, laughing a little at the idea of the poor woman running from the home before even setting foot inside. No doubt her headspace had been the same as his was now.

I looked up as the woman came back with his ordered and asked for a refile of my drink. Waiting till she walked off before looking back to Dan as I nodded. "I hope so," I murmur in agreement. Letting myself sag in my chair with some exhaustion. But only for a quick second. I straightened my posture once more and told myself I would nap when I got back to the apartment. Though I already wasn't looking forward to whatever awaited me there. Was it bad that I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, they would both be out by the time I got back?

 

[susurrus]

"I hope so," she replied to my own hopeful sentiment.

Then however, there was a brief but detectable change in her posture and demeanor. Like I've said, I'm normally not so perceptive, but I'd have been blind to have not noticed.

"Forgive me for asking, and feel free to tell me it's none of my business, being as we've known each other for less than fifteen minutes, but is everything alright?"

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

I winced a bit. So he had caught that, huh? I mentally cursed, but audibly I sighed and laughed a bit. "Just....roommate drama that I am eager to be away from and done with." I sum up for him. While I don't give any personal detail, I've still told the truth and avoided a long winded rant. I gave a small smile, thanking the barista when she came back with my refile. I blow softly on the coffee and take a careful sip before saying, "I don't think I was thinking clearly enough when I agreed to move in with those two..."

 

[susurrus]

For a moment, she sat, shocked. I should have just left it alone, my being a stranger and all, but the question was out there. I'd noticed and now she needed to decide how much of the story to divulge.

When she started, I almost laughed. Roommates. I remember being as exasperated and at times, furious, with the guys I'd lived with in college. Through the weariness, I could hear the rage and frustration.

After she'd finished and ended with, "I don't think I was thinking clearly when I moved in with those two," I did smile.

"Trust me, I get it. Sharing space with somebody else is a trial. You don't know how many times I walked in on my college roommate with his pants down... literally. I won't elaborate. Just wait till you have a spouse. It's a whole different level."

I took a sip from my glass. It was good, but I'd have to take my time with it. Whatever they'd mixed in was mighty sweet.

"Thanks for sharing your pain. Hopefully talking about it helps a little.

"Anyhow... job. The resume you sent was a little sparse as to experience with what I'm asking for, but I wasn't actually expecting a professional housekeeper to answer my ad. Really, I just need somebody to keep up. After my wife died, it was all up to me. I haven't let the place turn into a total pigsty, but I'm sure if you saw it, it would scream: bachelor!

"One of the biggies is that I'm getting tired of my own cooking. I'm not a bad cook, and once Sarah was gone, I swore I wouldn't succumb to frozen dinners and takeout. Not entirely, anyhow, but my culinary repertoire is pretty limited."

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

His situation reminded me a little of Marissa's dad when we had been younger. Mari and I were only 10 when her mom had died. She'd been on the way home from work with take out for our sleepover...when a drunk driver had decided that night was a good night for driving. She hadn't even made it to the hospital. The Doctors at least said she went instantly. No time for pain. It wasn't much of a comfort that night, but thinking on it now...I'm glad she hadn't suffered. Mari's mom had been a wonderful woman and the only motherly figure I'd ever known seeing as how my own mother chose to never be apart of my life. I didn't even know her. I shook my head, bringing myself from my thoughts. That was a whole different story though and not at all related to what he had said.

"I'm sorry to hear about your wife...I know what it's like to loose someone you love and care about." I reached across the table to gently squeeze his hand. "I'm a pretty decent cook, and I can help get the place organized and stay that way." I say, mostly teasing him at the end of it. "Seriously though, what I do for a living is a Work From Home sorta thing so I run on my own schedule. I've got plenty of hours to spare when I'm not working to get the place cleaned up one room at a time."

 

[susurrus]

I liked Elizabeth's empathy. When she reached over and placed her hand on mine, then gave a gentle squeeze, the simple gesture sent a thrill through me. It was the first time since Sarah's passing that anyone had touched me with any kind of tenderness. Of course, a part of that was because, aside from work and necessary forays into the world, for food and the like, I'd become something of a hermit. I certainly hadn't been out trying to date. Emotionally, I just couldn't. This young woman's touch told me that maybe I was ready to move on, or at least fo try.

"Thank you," I replied. Strangely, I felt my cock stiffening. What Elizabeth had done wasn't sexual, but I was certainly reacting like it was.

'God,' I thought, 'you need to start jerking off again, if an innocent gesture like this is getting you all horned up.'

Regardless, I didn't want her to move her hand, though she did after only a few seconds.

It hadn't been much of an interview, but I was prepared to offer Elizabeth the job, mainly because I didn't want to have to wait anymore. Besides, with one simple gesture, she'd awakened something in me I thought had gone indefinitely dormant.

"If you really want the job, it's yours," I told her. "Will you also be wanting to take me up on the room and board thing I mentioned in the ad? I have to admit, when I put that in, I was expecting someone more along the line of Alice from The Brady Bunch, but the offer still stands. It sounds like you're ready to get out of your current situation anyway."

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

I tried to not seem eager as he still offered up that room and board offer. I really was more than ready to get away from Marissa and Casey and Mari's bad habit of throwing something when she was angry. It always meant a broke dish, a broken lamp, one of Casey's PS controllers...whatever was unfortunate enough to be in her path of rage.

I arch my brow and giggle at the mention of his Brady Bunch reference and for a moment I murmur out, "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!" but then quickly cover my mouth as I start laughing. I blush, feeling a little like a dork. Still laughing, but reigning myself in with a quick clearing of my throat and a murmured "Sorry", I say, "If that's okay, of course." I lift my cup and take another long sip of my coffee before setting it delicately down onto the little saucer plate again.

 

[susurrus]

When Elizabeth caught the "Brady Bunch" reference, I smiled. I hadn't really expected someone her age to get it. Of course, when she caught herself, embarrassed for having caught the reference, I laughed.

"The Brady boys could only dream of an 'Alice' like you," I chuckled. "I take it you'll take the job? and the room?"

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

Again I try to not seem as eager as I was at the moment by nodding my head. Blushing at his complement, which I was also sure was slightly flirty? Though I couldn't be sure. I was rusty in the dating department. After Marissa and Casey...I figured that sort of thing was easier to avoid. "Yes, please.

 

[susurrus]

I was trying to be neutral about how pretty I found Elizabeth - she was practically young enough to be my daughter, after all - but the Brady thing just came out. Her blush told me she got the compliment, but her sheepishness just made her cuter, if that was possible.

Fortunately she took my comment as a compliment, because she just as easily could have seen it as inappropriate and creepy. She wasn't trying to escape, though, so that was a good sign. She also was accepting my offer of the job, which was a further positive.

"Do you want to see the place, then? My car's outside, or did you drive yourself?"

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

"Oh I uh...I came by bus actually." I said, finishing off my coffee. Now, in a normal situation...most girls wouldn't be accepting a ride with someone they just met. But I guess I wasn't a normal girl cause I wasn't hesitating. "So sure, I'd love a ride to see the place." I tell him, smiling. Grabbing my phone up off the table. I still don't bother to check it.

 

[susurrus]

Suddenly, it occurred to me how this might look. I wondered how many people were watching us and noting everything that was happening. Would a squad car come screaming into the lot before I could even get my key in the ignition? It's a very suspicious world we live in, and rightly so. However, the world has never been a safe place, we just know about more of the dark shit than we used to. It's how the criminals get by with so much: people either assume things are on the up-and-up, or the bystanders don't want to get involved, for reasons of their own.

I guided Elizabeth to my car, making sure everyone could see both of us at all times. As well, I don't own a van or an SUV with the windows all blacked out, so any suspicious eyes wouldn't have that to grab hold of.

Holding her door, I let Elizabeth get seated then got in and started up. No flashing lights blocked out exit, so I pulled out and headed for home.

"I hope you like the place. It's kind of secluded, not many neighbors nearby." I hesitated. "Crap. That didn't sound ominous at all, did it?"

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

Gathering our things, and finishing off coffees, I paid for the drinks (and my muffin) and head followed him out to the car. I didn't comment on how he seemed to be keeping us in sight of bystanders at all times. I was trying to not laugh. My laughter died in my throat as he held the car door open for me. I was floored! Outside of my dad, no one had ever done that for me...except for the last guy I 'dated' and even then it was all part of the act for his attempt to get into my pants by the end of the date.

I got in the car and get buckled as the door closed. I very very quickly took a peek at my phone. Missed texts and a few calls. Mostly from Marissa. A couple from Casey. But the only voice mail I quickly listened to was from my dad. It was a reminder about coming to see him for dinner this week. I smiled at the voice mail and saved it before shoving it back into my bag as the car started. This time...I did laugh. I couldn't help it! "You have watched one too many crime shows!"

 

[susurrus]

I was glad she looked at my paranoia like she did. She didn't feel threatened in any way. Good.

"It's just, in this day and age, as an adult male, you need to be aware of how things look, especially when dealing with women. Too damn many whackos and perverts out there, and the media loves giving them their fifteen minutes in the spotlight. Mucks it up for the rest of us.

"Anyhow, yes, the nearest neighbor's a half block away, and he's on location for his job four to six days out of the week. There's a pool. Sarah was a swimmer in college and liked the idea of having water that close, even though after three strokes you're from one end to the other.

"No pets. Used to have a dog, but we lost him a few months before Sarah left."

By this time, we were getting close. The coffee shop we'd met at wasn't far from the house, yet it was too far to reasonably walk.

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

A pool? I practically lit up! I loved swimming! I loved spending time out in the sun during the summer for as long as I could bear the heat! I was sad to hear about their dog though. It was awful timing for him too. And for his Sarah. "I'm sorry to hear that...I can't believe fate would be so cruel..." I frowned. My hands resting in my lap as I laid back against the seat, my head turned to watch the world go by us on the drive.

 

[susurrus]

"Thanks," I said in response to her comment about Pete. "It was tough, but he was fourteen. He'd had a good life. Would have been nice to have him around after, though.

"Anyhow... we're here."

I shut off the car in front of the house and got out.

The house was a modestly large affair. Older, turn-of-the-century construction. It'd taken a few bucks and a lot of elbow grease - not necessarily my own - to get parts of it livable when we moved in. I can be handy on some things, not so much on others. Had to pay plenty of experts to take care of parts of the renovation. Nevertheless, eventually everything we felt needing updating got it, and the house-as-a-constant-project was over.

I waited for Elizabeth, then led her to the front door.

"Ready?" I asked as I turned the key in the lock and grabbed the knob.

 

[PlayfulDevil192]

As we pulled up to the house I gasped in awe. The Victorian styled house was gorgeous! "Oh wow!" Unbuckling my seat belt, I got out of the car and followed him up to the door. Still staring up at the house and its beauty. "Oh it's glorious!" I complemented. I couldn't wait to see the rest of it! I was almost bouncing with some excitement on the balls of my feet. "O-Oh. Yeah, I'm ready!"

 

[susurrus]

Elizabeth's excitement about the house made me smile. It reminded me of Sarah's reaction when she first saw it, and at that time it was quite a bit shabbier than it now looked.

Opening the door, I stepped aside and let Elizabeth precede me.