CHAPTER 28 - Being robbed hurts – not physically, but what it does to your sense of security.

"George isn’t here and hasn’t been for over a year," Ellen replied shakily.

The bruiser in charge looked down at her, obviously not believing her. "In that case, I’m sure you won’t mind if we have a look around."

Heather moved to stand protectively next to Ellen, trying to put his loved ones behind him.

Pointing at Heather the head goon asked, "Who is that homely broad, we've been watching this house for months and haven't seen her until recently."

Ellen spoke over Heather's shoulder, "I needed help with the baby, so I hired an au pair."

He rolled his eyes at Ellen. "Lady, don’t play word games with me. Speak in plain English."

Ellen looked back at the thug, avoiding the sneer that still came through in her voice.

"An au pair is a domestic servant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of a host family. In other words, she’s my housekeeper and babysitter. You imbecile."

He didn’t take kindly to the name calling and moved toward Ellen intending to teach the smart mouthed bitch a lesson.

Heather moved to stand defiantly between the goon, his wife and the baby.

The guy laughed at the piece of fluff that was trying to stop him. He gave Heather a strong backhand upside of her head that knocked Heather to the floor seeing stars. His anger spent; he returned his attention to Ellen.

"Well bitch. Why didn’t you just say so?" His expression conveyed how superior he felt toward his prisoners.

He turned to his partner and directed, "Check the house for any sign of our guy, like male clothes, and the toilets seats left up. If he’s been here, we will find out soon enough."

Once his head cleared Heather played dead, but kept his senses alert. Luckily, he had just finished cleaning the toilets so he knew that they wouldn’t find the telltale sign of an up-toilet seat. This incident traumatized him so deeply, he made a vow to always tinkle siting down in the future.

The leader was standing with his shoes, mere inches from Heather's face. Heather chanced opening his eyes a crack and found himself looking up the guy's pant leg. He was able to make out a dragon-like tattoo on his lower leg, just above the stocking.

For the next 20 minutes or so, they ransacked the house. Heather and Ellen knew that they would find no trace of George. They had purged everything masculine after Fred's visit in case someone searched the house. They had not expected a home invasion however.

Neither of their captors spoke to them again. They left quickly when the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance. Heather was happy when they were gone, until he realized that it would require quite some time to pick up the mess they left behind. Ellen didn’t want to call the police, foolishly believing since they didn’t find anything, they would leave her alone.

Fortunately, a neighbor had witnessed the break-in and called the police. Officers arrived within minutes of their intruders' departure. Both Heather and Ellen were interviewed. They were particularly interested in what Heather had to say when he told them about the tattoo she had seen. As it turned out that tattoo was the trade mark of a local Hispanic gang. Based on the physical descriptions Heather and Ellen provided, the police had a good idea who the intruders were. An All-Points-Bulletin was issued immediately.

Ellen and Heather took the following week off to recover from their ordeal and to let Heather’s black eye to heal. At the end of the week the police arrested the two suspects. They found one of the thugs’ fingerprints in the house and the others DNA where he had pissed in one of toilets and had an overspray. Confronted with the evidence, they both pleaded guilty.

The police warned Ellen and Heather, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be more visitors.

A terrified Ellen called Derrick and explained the situation. She asked if he could stay in her home for a few weeks. Derrick jumped at her invitation.

Ellen could read her husband like an open book. His body language told Ellen that Heather was not pleased by the idea that Derrick was coming to stay in their home. Ellen took Heather aside and got into his grill.

"Honey, Derrick is a very good friend and is doing us a favor being here," she said sternly. "He is my house guest; besides I want him to get to spend time with ‘our’ child."

Ellen paused, to gather her thoughts then went on, "He is her godfather, being Italian he takes that responsibility very seriously. I would appreciate it if you give him the royal treatment while he is here. If he says jump your only response should be how high. I hope I have made myself clear in what my expectations are?"

"Of course, Ellen, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You can rely on me." Fretted George.

The next day Derrick showed up while Ellen was out. Heather invited him in and told him to make himself at home. Derrick dropped his bags inside the front door. Heather carried his bags to the quest room while Derrick watched TV. Heather had moved his day to day clothes out of the room, as he would be sleeping on the couch for the duration of his stay. To George's disgust Derrick being in the quest bedroom, meant he had access to all of Heathers work outfits.

With Derrick living there, Ellen and Heather returned to work. It was more convenient to leave Ariel with Derrick home rather than taking her to the child care. Heather was concerned about leaving Aerial alone with the big tough Seal. Much to Heather's delight, he found that Derrick had things well in hand every day when he got home from his half day as a bookkeeper. Most days they were on the floor playing or he had Ariel in her stroller either going or coming from a walk.

For the next month, Heather found that he had to wait on Derrick hand and foot as well as his cooking and cleaning for his family.

Once Heather was home to take over responsibility for the baby, Derrick drank beer like a skid row bum. Heather was still new to the culinary world and was still experimenting. Derrick being the jerk he was, felt no compunction in criticizing the meals served. Ellen put a quick stop to that. Every time Derrick complained about what Heather had prepared, she sent him out to bring home takeout.

One night, Derrick went looking for another beer and couldn’t find any. He raised his voice at Heather because there was no beer in the house. Ellen was an amused observer and sat back to see how this played out.

George's first reaction was to tell this SOB where to go. He saw Ellen at the end of the dinner table picking at her ice cream so he bit his tongue and, in a passive almost submissive voice, apologized profusely and promised to never let it happen again. Ellen watched the interchange and smiled at her husband and silently mouthed, "I'm sorry," and had a 'please forgive me' expression on her face.

After that, Heather made repeated runs to the liquor store to restock the beer supply. Heather fed Derrick, picked up after him, made his bed, and did his laundry. Heather managed to do it all with a smile on his face. In the evenings, as Heather was busy cleaning and cooking, Ellen and Derrick would often go off to secluded corners and spent time in private conversations. Heather smiled and tried not to disturb them as he went about his housekeeping duties. His services went largely unappreciated, as far as he could tell.

Derrick finally moved out when Ellen had a new security system put in the house. Which was not a minute to soon in George's opinion. George swore that the words ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ were not part of Derrick's lexicon. As his car pulled away, Heather breathed a sigh of relief, that lasted only as long as it took Derrick’s car to clear the driveway. Ellen called Heather into her bedroom. He was afraid that he had done something wrong.

He couldn’t have been more wrong as he walked in to her bedroom Ellen stood there in a scarlet baby doll nighty. She thanked Heather profusely, saying she knew Derrick could be a bit of a Neanderthal at times and she appreciated the way Heather handled each situation with grace.

"How about you sleep here tonight?" She helped Heather get totally undressed and raised the covers and said, "Come to bed."

Heather, a bit bewildered, asked if he might borrow one of her nightgowns.

Ellen smiled in an enticing way and said, "Whatever for? I am asking George to spend the night, not Heather. Do you think you are up to it dear?"

His voice sounded as tense as a guitar string that was strung too tight, as he answered, "I will make every effort to get there."

"That’s all I can ask. Come on get in."

They renewed their wedding vows that night, if not by words then by deeds. As far as George was concerned, it was a night to remember and made up for every indignity, he endured during Derricks visit.

@ @ @ @

It took a while for the police report on the home invasion to find its way to Fred’s desk. He immediately called Ellen and set up a private meeting with her. Later the next day, secluded in Ellen’s conference room, Fred told her in his professional opinion she needed to do something to take the crosshairs off her. He laid out his idea.

Fred was still positive Ellen was under scrutiny by cartel agents. He, well actually they, decided Ellen need to make a grand gesture to get them off her trail.

After listening to his plan Ellen made an emotionally informed decision, one that was best for her and Ariel. Ellen wasn’t happy with the solution; she was afraid it would devastate her husband. The decision came down to doing what was best for her and her child, even if it hurt George.