Room Service
The following day, which just so happened to be Halloween, Callie was in her room reading with the TV on in the background. Still in her pajamas, which consisted of a gray t-shirt and navy paw-print pajama pants, Callie would glance up from her book at the TV every now and then.
When a news report about a possible mass murder at Marva Jones Middle School came on, Callie put her book down and scoffed at the television. "The world is going to Hell in a hand basket" she said to herself as she turned off the TV and got up to get ready for the rest of the day.
After getting her chores done, and playing a few rounds of Mario Brothers with Holden, Wren and the boys, Callie decided to relax and read some more of her book in the lobby.
Arriving in the lobby with her book in hand, Callie smiled and nodded at Liz in greeting as she passed by the front desk. Liz gave her a smile and sassy wink in return. Callie rolled her eyes jokingly at the transvestite as she walked over and sat down on one of the lobby couches.
Just as she opened her book up to the marked page, Callie heard the sound of angry footsteps descending the lobby stairs. It was Iris; back from dealing with the hotel's latest guests.
"They are treating me like an imbecile" Iris muttered angrily to herself as she approached the front desk. Callie couldn't put her finger on it, but she noticed that there was something different about Iris. "Rough day?" Callie asked from her spot on the couch. "Darlin' you don't know the half of it" Iris sighed as she rested her elbows against the front desk.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened to reveal none other than the Countess and Tristen, who were dressed to go out to a fancy Halloween party. As they passed by the front desk, Elizabeth glanced at Iris, who had begun to rummage nervously through a box of address cards.
Turning around, Iris was met by the Countess and Tristen standing directly in front of her. "O-oh, hey, out for the evening" Iris stuttered as she looked at Elizabeth. "Mr. Drake doesn't appear to be in, if you happen to see Will remind him he is invited to 'Demi's' this evening." Elizabeth said in her usual tone as she observed Iris.
Iris nodded her head as she stared at the Countess, "Will do." Elizabeth gave a small smile as Tristen leaned forward and sniffed at Iris. Liz, who had been watching the interaction, decided to go back to reading her book.
Iris glanced from Elizabeth to Tristen as she spoke next. "Is there…can I…do anything?" Elizabeth looked at Tristen and then back at Iris. Together, the two vampires leaned in close. "You seem nervous" the Countess observed, still wearing a small smile. "You smell different…and you're sweating" Tristen added in his two cents.
"Oh" Iris sighed, "It must be Halloween. It's all the people and the costumes it just…keeps me on edge" she stuttered. The Countess stared at Iris a second longer. "Must be" she stated, seeming to accept Iris's answer. She then turned to Tristen and led him away from Iris.
Stopping a second time on their way to the front entrance, Elizabeth turned to look down at Callie, who had been observing the whole scene while pretending to read her book (much like Liz had been doing). "Staying in tonight Callie darling? I would have thought you would be out enjoying the festivities."
Callie sat her book down and looked up to address the Countess. "I was going to, but I promised Wren and the boys that I would make them some chocolate cupcakes for tonight." At the mention of her beloved children, Elizabeth gave Callie a small smile. "I see" Elizabeth said and placed her left hand gently against Callie's right cheek as she bent down to place a chaste kiss on her forehead.
Even though she didn't show it as often as she did to her other adopted children, Elizabeth did care for Callie and would be deeply upset if anything bad happened to her.
"Make sure they are in bed by six" the Countess said as she stood up and turned with Tristen to go out the hotel doors. "You better save me one of those cupcakes" Tristen called over his shoulder as he was lead out of the hotel by Elizabeth. "No problem!" Callie shouted out towards the hotel enterance; then she picked up her book and began to make her way towards the kitchen. "Might as well get started on those cupcakes now" she thought.
…
As she preheated the oven, and gathered the necessary ingredients, Callie overhead Liz and Iris talking about the guests that were making Iris miserable. "Bitches want Pate', then Pate' they shall have" Liz stated as she slammed a can of wet cat food onto a silver tray.
"Oh man" Iris said as she looked at the disgusting cat food; "I don't understand how cat food can smell worse than cat poop." Liz laughed at that. "Those fancy kids will know we're messing with them" Iris told Liz with worry; "They eat their salad cooked. I mean they're like, 'gourmets' or something."
"They need to believe they're the kind of cool kids who eat Pate' in a shit hotel on Halloween night. They will shallow whatever we put in front of them" Liz scoffed as she used a metal spoon to flatten and mold the cat food into a rounded shape.
Callie smiled at Liz's reasoning as she started to mix together all of the ingredients for the cupcakes into a medium-sized bowl. Normally she was against the tormenting of hotel guests, but because these guests had hurt Iris's feelings, Callie was willing to make an exception.
"You don't miss a thing do you" Iris stated. Liz turned to face the newly-born vampire with a knowing look; "You see everything when the world doesn't see you."
"That is true" thought Callie as she spooned the cake batter into the cupcake pan.
Iris gave a sad smile and a nod at that. "Guilty as charged" she mumbled while staring at the cat food Pate'; "We've worked together over twenty years and, we haven't had this much conversation combined in all that time." Liz let out a small sigh as she helped Iris decorate the Patte' tray with potato chips. "Well, you had your son", "Aw you're being generous with me" Iris exclaimed.
She then turned to look Liz in the eyes. "I'm not homophobic" she stated. "I'm not gay" Lis responded. "You see, that's why I stayed away…cause I-I look at you an-and all I see is questions." Liz then turned to face Iris; "Well you can't offend me, ask away" she assured the older woman.
Iris took a breath as she thought about her first question for the transvestite. "Okay…so…how does something like this happen?" she asked. "How does a married man from Topeka wind up as Liz Taylor in the Hotel Cortez" Liz stated with an air of elegance.
As she waited for the cupcakes to finish baking in the oven, Callie listened as Liz told Iris about how she met the Countess, and how she was finally able to embrace her true sense of self that had been kept hidden from the world for so long.
Liz had finished her story around the same time the oven timer went off. Putting on an oven mitt, Callie pulled out the cupcakes and set them on a cooling rack. She then began to make an Irish cream frosting as she waited for the cupcakes to cool. While mixing the frosting, Callie turned her attention back to Iris and Liz.
"You're so brave" Iris told Liz after hearing her story. "No, you are…don't you get it?" Liz stated as she leaned in closer to Iris. "Stop ignoring yourself, especially now, it's time…to stop…taking…shit." Iris started at Liz as she continued to speak. "Scorch the damn earth before you." Liz then paused to take a puff of her cigarette before holding it out to Iris. "How about you start by teaching that hipster couple some manners." Iris looked at the cigarette before accepting it from Liz and taking a hit.
A few minutes later, Callie was headed towards the game room with a tray of her freshly-made cupcakes in hand. As she turned a corner she spotted Holden standing in the middle of the hallway. "Callie!" Holden exclaimed happily as he ran up to his adopted big sister. "Guess what, my mommy is here!" he said, as if forgetting that Callie had seen them both on Devil's Night.
Callie took a breath and set the tray down before looking back at the little vampire. "I know Holden, but why is she here?" Callie asked in a tone mixed with slight annoyance and anxiety. "She wants to know why I haven't grown up like Scarlett, so I took her to Miss Elizabeth". Callie went rigid after hearing that; the last thing the hotel needed was another ghost, vampire, or some other creature of the dead roaming the halls.
Kneeling down in front of Holden, she placed her hands on his shoulders. "Holden, where is your mom now?" "She's with Miss Elizabeth, come on I want you to meet her." Before Callie could respond, Holden had grabbed her hand and began dragging her towards the elevator. Oh this will be interesting Callie thought to herself as she walked into the elevator with Holden, who pressed the button for the penthouse suite.
As Callie and Holden entered the penthouse, they heard a familiar voice coming from the living room. "That dress fits you so well. Always been one of my favorites", Elizabeth complimented from her spot on the white sofa. Alex nodded her head in thanks before her gaze drifted towards the small platform behind the Countess; where Holden and Callie now stood. Elizabeth smiled up at them as she got up from the sofa and walked towards the platform.
"Holden, doesn't your mother look pretty" she asked as she took Holden from Callie and guided him towards Alex. "Give her a little kiss" Elizabeth said as she allowed Holden to go to his mom. Callie remained standing on the platform until Elizabeth motioned her to come over.
Standing next to her mistress, Callie watched as Holden and Alex embraced one another. She was happy that Holden and his mom were together again, but she was also a little concerned about what this reunion would mean for the rest of Holden's family, both biological and adopted.
"Mommy, you're just like me now" Holden observed as he looked onto his mother's eyes. Alex kneeled in front of Holden and starred back at him. "Yes baby, I'm just like you." "Does that mean you'll stay with me forever?"
That was when Elizabeth cut in. "As long as your mommy obeys the rules, she can stay as long as she likes." Elizabeth then addressed Alex while standing behind Holden; "It's very simple, you will care for the children…bathe them, keep them out of harm's way as their new Governess. The old one was terrible for years I should have removed her long ago."
Callie couldn't help but shudder when the Countess mentioned Iris. While it was true that she hadn't been the best caregiver, Iris did make sure the children were fed and not physically harmed.
"Of course" Elizabeth said as she leaned over Holden and placed her finger against his throat, "if you feel this burden is too much to bear–" "No" Alex quickly assured, "It's no burden." "Marvelous, then it's settled" the Countess said with a smile. She then turned and used her right hand to gently guide Callie to stand next to Holden. "Callie will assist you with the caregiving duties, along with maintaining her other responsibilities."
Alex nodded at Elizabeth and then tilted her head down to observe Callie. "Hello Mrs. Lowe, it is a pleasure to meet you" Callie said with a small bow. Alex's expression softened a bit. "Holden told me about you. Thank you for looking after my boy." Not quite sure how to respond, Callie gave a polite smile and nod in return.
Alex then faced the Countess with a look of uncertainty. "John lives in the hotel. I haven't told him anything. If he sees me…" "You'd be amazed at the wondrous possibilities that can begin with a…simple 'Hello'" Elizabeth said while making a slashing motion with her pointer finger. Callie could only guess what she meant by that.
Elizabeth then bent down to speak to Holden. "Now Holden, I believe it's past your bedtime darling." "But we've only had a minute together" Alex protested as she cupped Holden's face in her hands. Elizabeth softly glared at Alex. "You misunderstand Alex. You and Holden will have forever" she clarified with a breathy whisper.