Troubled Heart

CHAPTER 1

Abby stood outside the tall iron gates, clutching her backpack tightly.

The house ahead was like something out of a dream. It was big and beautiful, with huge windows that sparkled in the sunlight. The garden was filled with bright flowers, and a small fountain trickled softly in the middle. Abby stared at it, her heart pounding.

In her hand was the crumpled flyer she’d picked up from the diner two days ago.

“Housekeeper needed. Room and board provided. Apply in person.”

It had sounded like the perfect opportunity. But now, standing in front of this massive house, Abby felt so small. She took a deep breath and opened the smaller gate, stepping onto the stone path.

The walk to the front door felt endless. Everything around her was perfect—the neatly trimmed bushes, the clean walkway, the smell of fresh flowers. Abby tugged at the strap of her backpack, hoping she looked more confident than she felt.

When she reached the door, she hesitated. What if they looked at her and laughed? What if they told her she wasn’t good enough? She shook her head. You’ve got this, she told herself and pressed the doorbell.

The chime echoed inside the house, and Abby waited. After a few moments, the door creaked open, and a man appeared.

He was tall and serious-looking, with dark hair streaked with gray at the sides. His blue eyes were sharp, and his shirt was crisp, with the sleeves rolled up. He looked like someone who had his whole life together, unlike Abby.

“Yes?” he said, his deep voice calm but a little cold.

Abby froze for a second, then quickly held up the flyer. “I’m here about the housekeeping job,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

The man took the flyer and glanced at it before looking back at her. “You’re younger than I expected,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

Abby felt her cheeks get hot. “I know, sir,” she said quickly, “but I work really hard. I can do whatever you need.”

He studied her for a moment, not saying anything. Then he stepped aside and opened the door wider. “Come in,” he said.

Abby walked in, her old sneakers squeaking on the shiny floors. She looked around and couldn’t believe her eyes. The entryway was massive, with a sparkling chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. A grand staircase curved up to the second floor, and everything smelled fresh and clean, like flowers and wood polish.

“This way,” the man said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Abby followed him down a long hallway. The walls were lined with paintings—big ones in gold frames. One showed a woman in a flowing dress with kind eyes and dark hair. Abby wondered who she was but didn’t dare ask.

They reached a cozy room filled with bookshelves and big leather chairs. The man pointed to one of them. “Sit,” he said.

Abby sat on the edge of the chair, gripping her hands tightly in her lap.

“I’m Mr. Edward,” the man said as he sat across from her. “And your name is?”

“Abby,” she replied quickly.

“Abby,” he repeated slowly, like he was thinking about something. “Do you have any experience working in houses like this?”

“No, sir,” she said honestly. “But I’ve done a lot of cleaning. I grew up in a group home, and I was always helping with chores. I can mop floors, clean windows, do laundry—anything you need.”

“The group home?” Mr. Edward asked, tilting his head slightly.

Abby nodded, lowering her eyes. She didn’t like talking about it.

Mr. Edward stayed quiet for a moment. Then he leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. “This job isn’t just cleaning,” he said. “You’ll need to keep everything organized, run errands, and handle whatever comes up. It’s a lot of work. Do you think you can handle it?”

“Yes, sir,” Abby said quickly, sitting up straighter. “I’ll work really hard, I promise.”

For the first time, Mr. Edward’s face softened a little. “We’ll start with a one-week trial,” he said. “If you do well, the job is yours.”

Abby’s heart soared. “Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.”

“You’ll stay in the guesthouse,” he added as he stood up. “Be here at six tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”

“I won’t,” Abby said, standing up too.

Mr. Edward walked her to the door, and as she stepped outside, Abby looked back at the big house one more time. It was still overwhelming, but now it felt like a chance—a real chance to build something better for herself.

This isn’t just a job, she thought as she walked down the path. This could be the start of something new.