The Housekeeper Novels & Stories

she encourages. Adjacent to the kitchen is the mudroom, which has a back door leading to the garden, and a laundry room, where I meet Lacy, the housekeeper. She’s an older woman with crinkly eyes and a warm smile that instantly warms me to her. "Pleased to meet you, Zahra," she says, her voice as comforting as a warm blanket. Her presence adds a homely touch to the otherwise intimidatingly beautiful house.

Finally, I have to ask, "You've told me about parties and the house keeper's responsibility of hiring cleaning people and repairmen for whatever breaks and dealing with hospitality people, how much of these dealing will the house keeper have to do being completely naked?" Kim looked at me before turning to Terri saying, "When we decided to create the position of house keeper we fully intend to fill the position with someone who will be nude just like us. The only exception for the house keeper not being completely nude would be during that time of month when she had her period. During that time panties would be acceptable."

"I have no idea how you can say that with a smile on your face right now." The smile deepened. "Yeah, well, I'm a housekeeper. With the amount of mess I'd have to wipe clean, you have to know how to stay calm in the midst of chaos." She said and I sighed tiredly. "Yes, except we're not dealing with a disgruntled bed or a few broken dishes or a pile of unwashed ones. We're literally stepping into the den of a killer. I don't know how you do not understand that."

After several hours of ultimate pleasure, we headed downstairs. I heard someone moving around the house, and we instantly froze. I was not expecting company. We descended the staircase and turned the corner towards the kitchen. There in the kitchen was a woman I did not recognize. She had red hair tied up in a bun. She was a little taller than me, slender, clad in a summer dress. She turned to face us “Oh, hello, my apologies, I am Mrs. Smith, Mr. Eldridge’s housekeeper." I introduced myself, and Callan.

“Also, don’t stress about anything, okay? The housekeeper will attend to whatever you need.” “The housekeeper?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow. He chuckled. “Yeah. Think of her as your temporary assistant. You ask—she handles. You can call her, and she’ll come up. I’ll send you her number too.” “Her?” The word slipped out before I could stop it. He laughed under his breath. “Relax, she’s been working here since before I bought the house. You’re safe.” I made a small, embarrassed sound. “Sure.”

I said to her. She started, then turned around, her eyes were puffy. “The housekeeper said it is". She yawned and tossed the rag she was holding aside. My housekeeper was a sour old man even I barely saw. But he was efficient, because the house ran smoothly, despite his absence. My mother would have raised hell if it didn't.

He had a good touch for fashion. Although it was a two-story house, he didn’t have a housekeeper. It was a mystery how he could keep it so clean. I would find out next day that he had an old lady, May Marble, doing the cleaning and that that old lady was in fact the housekeeper of his family’s house. He left soon for work and I stood there with Mrs Marble. I was not used to have someone doing the chores for me so I just found it difficult to watch her clean without doing anything. With that said, I started cleaning with her and by the lunch time we were finished.

“Perfect.” “Don’t give me that look. Tee, what was that about? Me finally having a woman in my life?" Immediately we enter the study and the doors shut, I raise the question. “I didn't know she was your housekeeper; I wouldn't have made such a remark. She is very attractive and has a great sense of style and humour as well." “And all these you've discovered in the few minutes you arrived? I need to change the door lock combination." “Don’t you like your new housekeeper?"

Anyway. "Hey, young lady!" I came back to my senses when the Housekeeper raised her voice as she snapped her fingers. She looked like she's in her 60's but she still seem full of energy. The Housekeeper is a senior female servant in the mansion, responsible for oversight of all other female staff. And she is to be respected, of course, because she's higher than we are. She was the one whom Mr. Bertrand called and he only talks to her regarding the performances of the servants. The Housekeeper has the authority to fire someone as well. And no one in this house can ever change her mind, not even Mr.

Catalina Maria. I step back as multiple plates are thrown into the sink. Foamy, soapy water splashes against my face as they dump them in carelessly. The whole basin is full, and someone shoves a pair of gloves into my hands. In the blurry view of my tear-filled eyes, I see numerous housekeepers in the space—like a hive of bees, they are all whispering about me. Louder footsteps storm into the vast kitchen and a strong hand yanks me around to face Madam Louise, the insane head of housekeeping.