“Spit, spit, spit… Take those words back. We’re about to leave, don’t say such unlucky things. You must come back safe and sound. When you return, I’ll prepare some new dishes for you to try.”
“If you love cooking so much, you could open a small restaurant. It would definitely be popular. You could call it ‘Mom’s Restaurant’ or ‘Mom’s Taste’.”
Mrs. Protich was excellent at cooking and loved experimenting with various cuisines. She said that cooking for others gave her a sense of accomplishment, especially when people genuinely praised her food.
She had thought about starting a food business before. She couldn’t afford to open a restaurant, so she considered pushing a food cart. But before she could prepare for it, she saw the job posting from Leland Burns and decided to give it a try. To her surprise, she got the job.
Leland Burns chose her because he had carefully reviewed her resume and saw a resemblance to his mother in her. Mrs. Protich was also very good at cleaning and maintaining the house, which gave him peace of mind. He often thought that if someone had helped his mother back then, things might have been different.
Mrs. Protich said, “I don’t need to cook for others; cooking for you alone makes me very happy. So you must come back healthy.”
Mrs. Protich had said these words many times, but no matter how many times, Winifred Dawson never agreed. She only assured her that she wouldn’t encounter any danger.
“You take good care of yourself at home. I’ll send you money every month. Don’t worry about the yard; there are employees for that. I’ll also hire cleaners for the house…”
“Why hire cleaners!” Mrs. Protich interrupted before Winifred Dawson could finish speaking. “If you hire cleaners, what will I do? I took this job to do these tasks. If you hire others to do everything, are you trying to get rid of me?”
Winifred Dawson was momentarily speechless: “I won’t get rid of you.” She didn’t really know how to make others happy; she just wanted Mrs. Protich to be as comfortable as possible and live well, but Mrs. Protich wasn’t pleased.
She didn’t understand why Mrs. Protich wasn’t happy about resting and not working.
Mrs. Protich just wanted peace of mind, earning money for the work she did. If she did nothing, she would feel uneasy.
“I just want you to take it easy and keep an eye on things at home for me.”
“I will definitely keep an eye on things for you, and I’m already very relaxed now. You pay me so much; if I did nothing, I would feel uncomfortable.”
Winifred Dawson listened: “When you’re bored alone, bring your daughter over to stay with you. It’s good to have company and live well.”
“Yes, I understand.”
As they spoke, the car arrived with its lights shining brightly in the distance and getting closer until they illuminated Winifred Dawson’s face. She took a deep breath and grabbed the handle of the suitcase from Mrs. Protich: “I’m leaving.”
Mrs. Protich felt like crying again; she really couldn’t bear to see Winifred Dawson go.
The atmosphere of parting always carried sadness. For the first time, Winifred Dawson experienced familial affection from someone else and felt reluctant to leave.
But she had no choice but to go; if she stayed, Leland Burns would capture her and lock her up, and she might never see Mrs. Protich again or worse, Mrs. Protich might get involved.
Winifred Dawson took two steps forward but suddenly turned back and ran towards Mrs. Protich, hugging her tightly: “Can you call me Winifred Dawson?”
With a choked voice, Mrs. Protich said: “Winifred Dawson.”
“Take care of yourself; I’m leaving.” With that, Winifred Dawson pulled her suitcase and left with large strides without looking back once. She couldn’t help but think that if she had met Mrs. Protich earlier and understood what love meant sooner, things might have been different. Maybe she would have helped Leland Burns save his mother; maybe there wouldn’t have been any connection between her and Leland Burns; maybe her father Gregory Dawson wouldn’t have died; maybe Mrs. Roberts would still be around… And perhaps she would have had a decent future with Garrison Reeves.
Now one wrong move set everything in stone with no room for regret.
Mrs. Protich stood in the shadows watching Winifred Dawson walk step by step towards the car with the suitcase in tow under the car’s headlights which stretched her shadow long.
Mrs. Protich didn’t move as she watched Winifred Dawson’s figure disappear into the darkness after boarding the car which then drove away until it was out of sight before she finally looked away.
With Winifred gone, the house felt strangely large and empty both physically and emotionally.
Even though she hadn’t rested all night, Mrs. Protich wasn’t tired either; there were still some pancakes left in the kitchen along with some imperfectly shaped cookies and dried fruits.
These were enough for her for a day but having shared meals with Winifred Dawson for only a few days made it hard to adjust now that she was gone; instinctively taking an extra bowl and chopsticks or heating up an extra glass of milk only to remember after calling out “Miss Dawson” that there would be no response anymore because she’d already left.
Feeling desolate on the sofa while eating cookies alone early in morning before six o’clock made cleaning up afterward feel laborious today as breaking a cup while washing dishes led not only cuts on hands but also unease despite not being superstitious about breaking things early in morning usually indicating bad luck ahead somehow making everything seem off-kilter since Winifred left causing constant anxiety over something major happening soon possibly due psychological effects or perhaps because of what Winifred said before leaving about not coming back safely despite assuring otherwise repeatedly promising return after two-three months once hottest days passed latest by late autumn without any incidents expected yet unexpected events always struck suddenly beyond control…
Later on finding out this parting truly marked their final goodbye…
…
News about Winifred Dawson leaving at five reached Leland Burns by nine making him instinctively anxious almost unable restrain urge dispatch people retrieve her immediately since she’d already escaped once now doing so again during critical times risking alerting enemies causing disadvantage hence temporarily letting go despite investigator reports claiming mere travel plans questioning timing considering cunning nature likened slippery loach slipping away unnoticed easily…