Chapter four

Later in the night, Lilly said good bye to her mom as she walked her to the gate, “you sure you will be fine without me mama?”

Abigail chuckled, “Lilly, I’m not a baby you know. I will be fine.”

Lilly pouted, “I thought I would be leaving with you every night.”

“It’s alright dear. I remember when I started newly here, I use to live in too. It was after your father told Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood that we want to get married were we allowed to leave every night. I think it’s because they wanted us to start up our family in our own home. It wasn’t just us, my friend Nancy also moved out when she got married but she couldn’t continue the work because her husband got transferred and they had to leave the country.”

“I see. But I will love to be leaving with you to take care of you.”

“Don’t worry, each maid takes days off every weekend, when it gets to your turn, we will leave together. And you will get to stay at home, Saturday and Sunday to return Monday morning. Since it’s just the six of you, it will be getting to your turn soon.”

Lilly sighed, “this will be the first night I’m spending without you mama and outside home too.”

“It’s alright dear, you will be fine,” Abigail caressed her face.

Lilly smiled then hugged her, “I can’t wait to see you again tomorrow.”

“Me too.”

“Mama?”

“Yes dear?”

“Promise me you will buy your medicines.”

Abigail released her from her hug immediately, “what are you saying?”

“I was awake last night mama, and I heard you in pain. So please, go buy it when you have the chance, I won’t be with you every night again to look after you. Please.”

Abigail nodded, trying not to let the tears fall, “I will go. I promise.”

“I love you mama.”

“I love you too dear, good night.”

“Good night mama,” she hugged her again before waving as she walked away. Lilly turned and went back into the house; everywhere was already quiet as everyone prepared to sleep.

When she got to the maids room, she saw Paulina getting ready for bed who looked up at the sound of her entering, “Lillian, you will be the one in charge with Mrs. Lockwood’s room tomorrow, I believe Gina has told you all you need to know.”

“Yes Mrs. Paulina.”

“Good. Sleep well, we will be waking very early in the morning.”

“Yes Mrs. Paulina.” She went straight to her side and got out her nightwear before entering the bathroom for a quick shower.

***

Two months later, Lillian has finally adapted to her work and is now accustomed to her new identity as the Lockwood’s maid. Everything was okay except for her mother’s health which seemed to be getting worse by the day. Every night she wakes up with unbearable pain on her breast, although she never told Lillian but she knows already, for how can she not see the pain in her eyes and the paleness of her face every morning? Besides, she used to hear her cry every night she spends at home.

She had visited a hospital during her weekend off to ask about patients with breast cancer. She came to know that what her mother needs now is a surgery to avoid the cancer affecting her other breast. The worst of all is that her mother is lacking in medication and according to the doctor she met, he said that if Abigail doesn’t have a surgery soon, it will affect her other breast and not just that, the pain she endures can lead to her death.

Lilly has already lost her father, she can’t lose her mother too. Unfortunately, the price for the surgery is not something she can afford at the moment so she can only pray that she can be able to raise the money before it’s too late. She never told her mom about her enquiries for her sickness for she knows her mother, she will do everything she can to stop her from asking her to undergo the surgery.

Waking up to the shrilling scream of someone, Lilly fell out from the bed, she sat up and glared daggers at the person responsible for her fall.

“What the hell is wrong with you Martha?” Patience asked in annoyance.

Martha’s scream has woken every single one of them, as Paulina hasn’t called them yet, they all wanted to steal a little more sleep before she does and now Martha has ruined it for all of them.

“Have you lost it?” Diane asked in a murderous tone.

“Guys, if you know what I just heard, you won’t be angry at me, really,” Martha said, unfazed by their angry expressions.

“Why should we care?” Gina asked, “whatever it is, it’s not enough reason for you to scream us out of bed.”

“Why are you all complaining, shouldn’t you be out of bed by now in the first place?”

“Mrs. Paulina hasn’t called us,” Lilly added and the rest nodded.

“Exactly,” they supported.

“Well, no need biting my head off, she will soon be here so consider it me helping you by waking you up. Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I just overheard Mrs. Lockwood telling Mrs. Paulina that her son will be coming back today. According to her, he only told her last night so there is no time to plan a big party for him.”

“It’s a lie,” Diane was the first to speak.

“Why would I lie?”

“My God, he hasn’t been back home for like ten years now!” Nora exclaimed.

“Everybody knows that but the thing is why is he suddenly coming back?” Patience asked.

“Who knows, maybe to take over the family business? It’s been due to him for a long time now,” Gina said.

Diane exclaimed, “this is an incredible news.”

“See, I told you,” Martha bragged, “Mrs. Paulina will be here soon, there will be work for us ‘cause according to Mrs. Lockwood, they will be a small welcoming party for him.”

“He deserves it. He has been away for ten years. She should throw a ball for him too,” Nora commented and the rest laughed.

The door opened and in walked Paulina, “good you are up girls. There is good news, young master Shane will be joining us today and Mrs. Lockwood wants to throw a little party for him. So get your asses off the bed, let’s get this done. Up you go, chop chop,” she clapped her hands as the girls scurried to get up and dragged who should use the bathroom first. “You all should fit in there, I need every one of you in that kitchen in twenty minutes,” with that said, she left the room.

Throughout the whole time, Lilly has been in shock, Shane is coming back! The sweet boy who treated her like a sister is coming back. He is really coming back and she is going to see him again after thirteen years. How will he look now? The last time she saw him, he was fifteen and she was just five. Now after the years, he will be twenty eight, will he still recognize her? Will he still treat her like his sister?

Hell no, she is not a young girl who only play around while her parents are busy, she is now a grown girl and a maid in his house. She is to serve him now not play with him.

Without her knowing, her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, Shane is coming back. Why is she reacting like this?

“Lilly what are you waiting for? There is no time,” Nora’s voice dragged her out of her thought into the present and she hurriedly stood up from the floor to join them in the bathroom. But deep inside her heart, she knew today will be really different from the rest of the days she had spent there as a maid.

The household was busy as everyone rushed to get one or two things done. Margaret didn’t want to go to the office but a very important meeting had to call her out. However she made a mental note to be back right before her son would.

The house was arranged and many meals were prepared, mostly Shane’s favorite foods. As the oldest staff, Paulina knows all that he loves for she has been around from when he was just three years old. Abigail didn’t have the time to discuss with her daughter as they all rushed to get everything ready before Margaret would be back. They all knew how angry she would be if they couldn’t get the house ready.

Finally, it was time for the highly awaited young master to be back, Margaret wasn’t back from the office and Paulina figured she might have gone to the airport to pick up Shane. Just as they were starting to get worried, the gate opened and Margaret’s car drove in. 

“Outside everyone,” Paulina shooed and they all went outside as they watched Margaret’s car slowly come to a stop in front of them. Her chauffeur first climbed out and opened the door for her, she stepped out, her gaze scanning the faces of her servants before she turned to the young man getting out from the other side of the car.

He walked around the car to stand beside her, his hair was darker than the night sky and it was side parted on the left side. He had a long face like his mother, his eyes, pale gray like hers too. His nose perfectly pointed and a thin line for his lips and he was tall. His mother who was considered tall was a head shorter beside him. The black blazer he was putting on with a red shirt underneath was as dark as his hair. His red pants enhanced his strong long legs.

A mere looking at him took the breaths of the young maidens away. His gray orbs fell on their faces one after another until it settles on Lilly’s. He let his gaze linger on her small face for a little longer before shifting to Paulina’s. He smiled then, showing perfect set of white teeth, “Paulina,” his deep voice resonated around them.

“Master Shane, it’s good to have you back,” she curtsied.

“I hope it would be good to be back too,” he looked at his mother as he said this but she said nothing.

“Paulina, set the table. He is quite famished,” Margaret ordered.

“Yes ma’am,” she curtsied then turned to her followers, signaling with her eyes to them to greet Shane.

“Welcome home sir,” Diane was the first to say with a shy blush, making Margaret frown when she saw that but she said nothing. Her son is quite eye catchy to the ladies so it’s understandable if a little blush is seen here and there.

“Welcome home sir,” the rest said together.

“Paulina, introduce them,” Margaret commanded.

“Yes. Master Shane, this is Diane, Patience, Nora, Gina, Martha and Lillian,” she pointed at each of them as she mentioned their names.

Shane’s eyes settled on each of them when introduced and once again, his gaze lingered on Lillian’s face a little longer than the rest.

Lillian could feel his gaze on her, she was already having a hard time calming her fast beating heart at the sight of him, now with him staring at her like he was trying to remember her, her heart was like a thousand drums drumming in her chest. She tried her possible best not to look him in the eyes, the eyes she remembered quite well and often thought about. He looked so different now than how she remembers, he looked taller, more mature and much more handsome. Even his very face takes her breath away, just what is wrong with her? She has never reacted in front of a man like this before.

“Welcome home Master Shane,” Abigail greeted. She had noticed the longer look he gave her daughter and she wondered why, it can’t be that he recognized her, she was only five when he saw her last.

Shane smiled when he saw her, “Abigail. I’m sorry I never had the chance to show my condolences on your loss.”

“It’s okay, I understand.”

Shane had a question at the tip of his tongue but at the end, he didn’t ask, they will be plenty of times to ask her later.

“Master Shane,” Julia and Rebecca also greeted. They were among the maids who were around when he was still there.

Shane gifted them a smile too and a small greetings.

“Alright, let us go in. I will want him to have a little rest before the guests will start arriving. Paulina, everything is ready right?” Margaret inquired. ]

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good. Let’s go in son,” with that, they both went into the house while the male servants brought in his luggage and the maids placed them in his room.

Shane sat in the living room, waiting for them to be done before he finally went upstairs. Like he expected, his mother cleaned up his old room, not like he is complaining, he preferred it to a new one after all. He placed his hand on the doorknob and pushed open the door only to freeze when he saw the young girl standing inside and staring into the space.

Lillian wasn’t among the maids that cleaned the room in the morning, after such a long time; she finally entered this room once more. Happy memories had come rushing into her mind that she didn’t realize that Nora and Martha who came in with her had already left. When she sensed a strong not so familiar presence around, she turned only to stop short at the tall man standing with the door closed behind him, his gray eyes searching her face for something.

“Sir, the...the room is ready,” she forced herself to say without stuttering.

“Lillian?” He titled his head to the right as he asked, his pale gray eyes sparkling in the bright room.