Chapter 9

Laura I arrived in New York City late in the evening the next day after I quit my job at the restaurant and canceled with everyone I was supposed to pick up groceries for. I started regretting my decision the moment I stepped out of the plane, it was cold, unfamiliar, and everywhere was busy. "Did I overreact?" I asked myself pulling my jacket closer. "Excuse me miss," a man said as he walked past me. I checked the address Tracy gave me again to be sure it was still in my bag, after checking and confirming it was there I scanned the crowd to try to find a friendly face, I spotted a couple who didn't look like they were about to drop dead of exhaustion and I walked up to them. "Excuse me, do you have a minute to spare?" I asked and the lady nodded. "Hi," she said sweetly. "I'm new here and I need directions," I said handing her the paper with the address. "Take a cab over there," she said pointing towards the road. I thanked them and collected the paper I gave them before I headed where she'd pointed. I found a cab in no time and the cabby drove me to my destination. The driver was nice enough to give me directions to the house I was going to before he left. The road leading to the house was surprisingly dark and eerie, I switched on my phone's flashlight and walked very fast as I took the route the driver described. I'd walked for about ten minutes before I found the house, It was a modest-looking brown and white bungalow. I knocked on the door and a woman who looked like she was in her mid-fifties opened the door. "Laura?" She asked and I nodded. "Come on in," she said with a warm smile on her face as she stepped away from the door so I could enter. "Good evening," I greeted as I entered. "Good evening, Tracy told me you were coming," "Thank you for having me," I said, grateful to be out of the cold. "Anything for Tracy, she's like a daughter to me. You can use the open room, I cleaned it up before you got here, that's the kitchen, you can cook something for yourself when you are hungry," she said and I nodded "Thank you for having me, what should I call you?" I asked. "Maria, just Maria," she said and I nodded. "Thank you, Maria," I said wearily. "You are welcome, go and freshen up, I'll make pasta," "You don't have to, I'll be fine," I said. "I insist, go freshen up quickly," she said and I nodded. I took my luggage into the open room and in no time I unpacked my clothes, took a quick shower, and changed into something comfortable. I decided to call Tracy before I returned to the living room. "Hey girl, how are you doing?" She said when she picked up. "I'm good, I found the place, I'm in already," I said. "How is it going with Maria," Tracy asked. "She is nice, but everything is unfamiliar, sincerely I feel like we overreacted," I said and she sighed. "Whether we overreacted or not, just think of it as taking a precaution, I'll come and join you soon," she said, trying to make me see the silver lining in the whole affair. "Are you sure you want to do that?" I asked. "You don't have to come here because of me," I continued and she laughed. "Do you think I'm coming just because of you, No baby, I need a break too," she said smugly. "Okay then, I hope you had dinner already," "Nope, I'm making pasta," "What a coincidence, Maria is making pasta too," I remarked. "That's crazy, I'll call her soon, maybe during dinner, take care of yourself girl," "You too, I'll talk to you later," I said before hanging up. I moved to the dining room, where Maria was already setting the table. I moved closer and helped her do the rest, we ate dinner silently and I did the dishes after dinner silently before I went back to my new room. I had nothing to do so I looked around the room, it was painted blue and white with a queen-sized bed in the middle of the room, to the left was a small cupboard and on it, a side lamp and an alarm clock, the closet was on the other side. The room had blue tiles, the bedspread was also blue and in conclusion, everything looked completely fine, the energy the room was exuding was a cool one and it made me feel at peace. I lay on the bed thinking I would be uncomfortable and would be unable to sleep for a long time since it was my first time in the house, I thought wrong as I fell asleep in less than fifteen minutes. I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed, I checked the clock and I realized it was past ten. I sat up surprised then checked my phone thinking the clock was broken, but the time was correct, it was past ten, for the first time in a very long while I slept in. I went to the bathroom to wash my face then I rushed out hoping to see Maria, but that was not the case, all I found was breakfast and a note. 'Off to work, see you later, make sure to have breakfast.' I said a silent thank you and went back inside to take my bath and change then I came back out to eat breakfast. I had the house all to myself and I got bored quickly, I was not used to being idle, so I checked the house for something to clean with and when I found it, I gave the house a nice and thorough dusting and scrubbing. By the time I finished cleaning I was exhausted, I dropped on the couch in the sitting room and I slept off. I woke up later in the evening but Maria was not back yet, I started preparing dinner and I was halfway done when Maria came in. "Welcome Maria," I greeted from the kitchen. "Laura, I almost didn't recognize my house," she said and I smiled. "I did a little cleaning," "You call this little?" She asked gesturing around the house and I smiled. "Thank you, darling," she said brightly. "You are welcome, go freshen up, I'm almost done with dinner," I said and she nodded. I finished making dinner and as we ate she told me funny stories about Tracy when she was younger, after dinner, I did the dishes and then retired to my room where I started at the ceiling till I fell asleep. This was our routine for a week except on Sunday, I couldn't take not working anymore so I decided to talk to Maria about it. "Maria?" I called settling on the couch. "Yes?" "Um, there is something I'd like your help with," "I'm listening," "Thing is, I've been here for a week now and I'm thankful that you took me in," I said tentatively. "You are welcome, but I think that's not really what this is about," she said, sensing there was something more. "There is something, I'd be glad if you can recommend places I could find a job," I said hoping she understood. "Oh, I see," she said thoughtfully. "Unfortunately, I don't know whether there is a vacancy around or not, however, if you don't mind working as a housekeeper, one of us left recently leaving the position vacant," she continued with a smile. "I'm sure my boss wouldn't mind me bringing you, that is if you don't mind working as a housekeeper," she finished "I don't mind, I'll do anything," I said and she nodded. "You are a good child, but you will do us a favor, whatever you see there tomorrow, whoever you see there, you can't tell anyone about it," she said making my breath catch in my throat.