7. Her Return

My head is filled with different thoughts during the drive to the Thompson mansion. One of the most recurring one is what I would do if Mrs Jenkins and the twins want nothing to do with me again after I ran away from them the last time I was here.

Even though Theodore is the only one with the authority to terminate my employment for the next year according to the contract, running away from my job probably didn't do well for my professional image in Mrs Jenkins eyes. And as for the twins, they are seven and have probably forgotten everything about me by now.

Just this morning, I was convinced I'd never see the twins again and that the next time I see Mrs Jenkins would be to briefly tell her I'm resigning, but things have changed drastically since then.

Now I am returning to work for the man who broke my heart and who was a major player in my parent's death and everything that subsequently happened, as a corporate spy. Yet what I am most worried about is his children hating me.

The weight of my new role settles heavily on my shoulders and I let out a deep sigh.

Just then, the Thompson mansion comes into view and soon, the car is pulling up into its driveway.

“Thank you,” I say to the driver as I alight, but he merely grunts in response and drives off. I guess punctuality must be a big deal to him and he is still upset about me keeping him waiting. Just two days into my job and apparently, I have a knack for pissing off all members of the Thompson household, staff included.

“Yay,” I say sarcastically under my breath.

As I walk to the door, my mind drifts back to my encounter with Theodore this morning. Not the uncomfortable memory of our bodies pressed against each other. In fact, I mentally shove that part away, pretending it never happened.

Instead, I think about his anger and dismissive attitude after I called him out for his infidelity. The Theodore I knew would never cheat, or get angry at being called out for it. It is a sobering reminder that the Theodore I knew is gone, replaced by a ruthless and cunning individual.

With that thought, I knock on the large doors.

After a few moments of waiting, the door is opened by Mrs Jenkins, her expression a mixture of surprise and warmth. “Nova dear, how do you do?”

I smile sheepishly, feeling a twinge of guilt as I hear the familiar warmth in her voice. “I apologize. For leaving so abruptly last night. There is no justification for my lack of professionalism and…I just hope you can forgive me,” I say with my head bowed.

Mrs Jenkins laughs her old, crackling laugh and opens the door wider. “Don’t worry lass. All that matters is that you're here now. I know two young children who haven't stopped talking about you since yesterday,” she says with a twinkle in her eyes.

My heart swells with unexpected joy at the thought of the twins missing me. “Shall we?” Mrs Jenkins asks as she invites me in.

“The twins are up in their room,” she says as we walk deeper into the house. On noticing my confused face, she quickly gives me direction to both rooms and I go to the stairs. I quietly make my way up, feeling the excitement build in my chest with each step.

Following Mrs Jenkins’ directions, I soon reach the door that has the name ‘Emile’ spelt on it in cute letters. I knock softly, waiting with my heart in my throat for a reply. When I get no response from either Emile's room or the next room with ‘Ethan’ spelt across the door, my brows furrow in confusion as I wonder where they are.

After a moment of silence, the corner of my lips lifts and I walk down the hallway quickly, eager to see if they are where I think they are. My suspicions are confirmed when I slowly open the door to my own room and the twins are seated on my bed with my violin sandwiched in between them.

Ethan throws his little hands up in mild annoyance. “Nova is a violinist, Emile! She's the only one who can play “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” on that thing.”

His sister doesn't listen to him though. Instead, she runs her hand over the strings, enthusiastically plucking at them and filling the room with discordant music…or rather, noise.

“If you make so much noise…” Ethan starts in a whisper, but when another rough note sounds from the violin, he abandons whispering and speaks clearly to be heard above the sound. “If you make so much noise, Mrs Jenkins will find us and scold us for entering Miss Nova's room without her permission.”

“I'm sure I can make it play if I can figure out the right string to touch,” Emile says with her face scrunched up in concentration as she continues to touch strings at random.

The interaction between the children makes me laugh under my breath and I open the door wider, announcing my presence. “I guess that's one way to learn how to play the violin.”

The twin's eyes widen as they turn to face me. One second they are sitting on the bed staring at me with big, innocent eyes, and the next they are a blur of excitement as they run into my waiting arms.

“You came back!” Emile exclaims with barely contained happiness.

“I told you she would,” her twin responds with a smug smile, but the grip he has on me is so tight, it is almost as if he's convincing himself that I am not a ghost.

I smile widely, squeezing them both in a tight embrace. “Of course I did! Who else will help Mrs Jenkins find her reading glasses?”

The twins burst into loud, innocent laughter that bounces throughout the room and fills my heart with joy.

As I hold them close, I feel a sense of belonging. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm exactly where I need to be.