“Yes, yes, yes.” Lily Thompson arrived breathlessly in front of Mrs. Brown. After glancing at his face, she focused on the document bag in his hand, which contained the insurance papers.
She was too late. She had missed many important details in the insurance documents, especially the compensation issues.
After organizing her thoughts, Lily Thompson asked, “About the insurance… if my mom has an accident, will you compensate?”
“In theory, we do provide compensation, but it depends on the nature of the accident. We compensate based on the severity of the injuries.”
“What if my mom falls and twists her back and ends up in the hospital? Will there be compensation?”
“Yes.”
“What about a car accident?”
“Yes.”
“What if she dies in an accident?” Lily Thompson asked nervously, stuttering as she spoke, not realizing how inappropriate her question was.
Mrs. Brown frowned slightly, looking at the young girl in front of him. Her expression was innocent, but there was a calculating look in her eyes. He smoothed out his frown and smiled. “You can ask your mother about that; she knows very well.”
“It’s not appropriate to ask her such things… I don’t know how to bring it up…”
“You know it’s inappropriate for you as her daughter to ask such questions, so why are you asking me? This insurance was prepared by Miss Dawson for your mother to ensure her quality of life in the future, so she won’t have to worry about medical expenses or work hard anymore. This insurance money belongs to her. Even though you’re her daughter, you shouldn’t be asking about this or thinking about it…” As he continued speaking, Mrs. Brown’s tone grew heavier and his expression more serious. His eyes behind his glasses seemed to pierce through her true intentions.
Lily Thompson stumbled back in fear, breaking out in a cold sweat. She didn’t dare to continue asking and didn’t even look at him again.
“I won’t ask anymore.” With that said, Lily Thompson turned and hurried away as if fleeing.
She returned to the hospital room where the caregiver had also come back.
Lily Thompson’s personality was tough at home but timid outside. She had been scared when facing Mrs. Brown but now returned to the room full of anger towards Ms. Protich.
With dissatisfaction in her voice, she said, “Mom, how seriously ill are you? You even have money to hire a caregiver.”
She looked at her mom from head to toe; she seemed fine with no missing limbs and could get out of bed and walk around. It seemed like she could be discharged anytime, yet she was still hospitalized with a caregiver.
Ms. Protich noticed Lily Thompson’s bad mood and didn’t want to engage with her.
The caregiver sensed the tension between mother and daughter and quickly explained, “I wasn’t hired by your mom; someone else paid for me. Your mom fainted and slept all afternoon yesterday; it was quite dangerous.”
Lily Thompson muttered, “Why didn’t anyone tell me yesterday?”
“Alright then, what were you doing outside just now? You come back and start yelling at me. If you don’t want to stay here, then go home; I don’t need you to visit me.”
“It was nothing; I just made a phone call.” Lily Thompson dared not tell her mom about her conversation with Mrs. Brown.
“Mom, why did your boss suddenly buy such a big insurance policy for you? Now that you have money, do you still need to work there?”
The answer at that time was to continue working because Ms. Protich didn’t believe Winifred Dawson had died. As long as she hadn’t been dismissed by Winifred Dawson herself, she would continue taking care of the house daily. Most of the pension would be saved with only a small portion used as salary. When Winifred Dawson returned, she would give it back because she believed in earning what she deserved.
Ms. Protich didn’t answer directly but as her daughter knew her well enough to understand her future plans.
“I’ve never met your boss before; where did she go? How long will this trip last?”
“I don’t know; she’s busy. I’ll continue working for her afterward.”
“Oh.” Lily Thompson lay on a chair by the window where she could bask in the sun. It was hot in August; after a while under the scorching sun, she couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled the curtains closed before playing on her phone while occasionally glancing at Ms. Protich, finding her mom boring.
Ms. Protich asked, “How is your painting going lately?”
“Pretty good.”
“Do you take photos of your paintings? I’d like to see how you’re doing and whether you’re learning well.”
Lily Thompson’s hand froze mid-scroll: “Who takes photos for no reason? My paintings are ugly right now; I don’t want to take pictures. Besides, painting is slow work; creating a good piece requires meticulous effort. When I finish a perfect one, I’ll take a photo for you.”
Hearing this explanation, Ms. Protich didn’t ask further questions.
Every time they talked or met up, her mom would repeatedly ask how she was doing lately if she was eating well and then remind her not to waste money and behave sensibly.
She had heard it so many times that it became annoying like an earworm drilling into her mind repeatedly until it felt like calluses were forming in her ears from hearing it too much. This time without those questions felt strange for Lily Thompson.
She wanted to ask about the insurance issue but remembered Mrs. Brown’s warning which made her too scared to inquire further.
Lily Thompson said: “Mom when are you getting discharged?”
“This afternoon.”
“Can I go with you? I’ll sleep with you tonight.” She had never visited her mom’s workplace before; that big villa intrigued her for a long time now.
“No.” Ms. Protich refused without hesitation.
Lily Thompson widened her eyes standing up: “Why not?”
“It’s inconvenient now.”
Lily Thompson pressed on: “What’s inconvenient? Your boss isn’t around anyway plus didn’t you say before that I could visit anytime as long as I followed you?”
“Not now; I have other places to go.” She herself couldn’t return being confined by Leland Burns so there was no freedom or time left for taking Lily Thompson along.
“Where are you going…”
Ms. Protich impatiently glanced at Lily Thompson who kept talking non-stop since arriving making more noise than cicadas outside which annoyed even more during this time needing rest due illness recovery period.
“Stop asking! I can’t take you recently anyway so if there’s nothing else then go back home practice your painting properly don’t cause trouble!”
Wasn’t this basically telling her off? Angered beyond words Lily Thompson huffed: “Fine! I’m leaving! I hate you!”