Sunrise on Cedar Key by Terri Dulong Page B

“Simple and to the point. Also very appropriate since each retreat will end with a Blue Moon ceremony. I was thinking about a logo also, something we could put on our website and letterheads. How about a simple outline sketch of the island with a ball of yarn and needles in the middle?”
    I could visualize it in my mind’s eye. “Oh, I like that a lot. Perfect. And since we’re focusing on the blue moon, how about a small one hovering above the sketch of the island? We’ll get a graphic designer to do something up for us and we’ll have it put on all of our business cards also.”
    â€œGreat idea. Well, we’ve accomplished quite a lot here and we’re on our way. Once the workmen get started with the refurbishing, we can think about going into Gainesville to order the furniture. Now I think we’ve earned ourselves a nice glass of sweet tea.”

7
    A unt Maude and I met with Rachel Ellis the following morning. I’m not sure what I expected, but this girl didn’t look a day over seventeen. Very slim, almost to the point of looking gaunt, she was wearing a faded pair of shorts and a blouse. Thick, mahogany-colored hair was pulled back at the base of her neck and secured with a scrunchie. But when she walked in the kitchen and greeted us, a smile lit up her face, transforming her drabness into borderline pretty.
    â€œHi,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m Rachel Ellis.”
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you,” my aunt told her. “Have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?”
    â€œOh, no, thank you.”
    I let my aunt begin the interview and heard her say, “So you just recently moved to Cedar Key, Ali told me. Where is it that you lived before?”
    â€œDown by Miami.”
    â€œI see. This is such an obscure little island. Do you have family here?”
    â€œOh, no, actually I really don’t know a soul here.”
    I could see it was going to be like pulling teeth to get much information from her. “Are you here alone? Or with a husband?”
    It was then that I noticed she was beginning to squirm in her chair, avoiding eye contact with me.
    â€œNo, I’m, ah ... divorced. But I have a six-year-old son. Max started first grade here last week.”
    â€œOh, how nice,” my aunt said. “Well, I hope you’ll both like it here. Okay, so you have experience cleaning? I need somebody once a week to clean my apartment. I’m not fussy which day, so whatever will be more convenient for you. Then we’ll need you to clean the carriage house in the garden every Monday after the weekend knitting retreats. Would that work out for you?”
    â€œOh, yes, that would be great, and I could do your apartment every Friday. I could drop Max at school and come directly here.”
    I noticed she didn’t answer the question about experience. “Do you have references from previous cleaning jobs that you had?”
    Her squirming now became more noticeable, and she fingered the edge of the tablecloth.
    â€œUm ... well ... No, I’m afraid I don’t. I need to be honest with you. I’ve never actually worked for somebody else doing cleaning. But I’ve taken care of my own house, and I’m an excellent housekeeper. I also learn very fast, and I really, really need this job.”
    My heart went out to her. In this economy many people were desperate for work. Any type of work that supplied some kind of paycheck. I looked at my aunt.
    â€œWell,” she said. “You certainly sound motivated, and that’s an excellent trait to have. If it’s okay with my niece here, I’d like to offer you the position. Why don’t we say you’ll be on a three-month trial basis? Maybe you could begin this Friday cleaning my apartment. We’re going to be having workmen in the carriage house for a while, but then perhaps you could help us with getting everything arranged in