08

Lauren Hart
As the cab inched closer to the destination, anxiety started to grow inside me. I had numerous questions for myself. Will I be okay? Won’t it be awkward living with him? And his grandmother, will she like me? His nephew, what about him?
The cab stopped before his house and my eyes analyzed the peaceful surrounding and the house which seemed to be a fine piece of architecture. Honestly, I was having cold feet. I wanted to run to the place not mentioned on the world map where my boss couldn’t find me to slaughter me into pieces. But he was in trouble and asked me to help him and I gave him my words so I couldn’t back out.
“Miss, are you going to step out or not?” The driver interrupted my thoughts. When I saw his rude face in the rearview mirror I couldn’t help but think-has the politeness from earth flown to some other planet?
Shaking my head in disbelief I took out a $20 note from my handbag and passed it to the driver.
“Miss, give the change.”
I groaned. For heaven’s sake, it was just $20 and he didn’t have the change? My fare was $7 and $20 was the minimum I had.
“Do you accept cards?” I asked.
“Yes, but right now the machine is not working.”
I groaned again. Luck always tries to screw things up for me. Now what? From where should I bring the change? Agghhh! I had no option left but to ask for Mr. Peterson’s help.
“Wait here for a minute.” I stepped out of the cab and took out my suitcases then rushed to his house, dragging my suitcases with me. If I had not been in a hurry I would have admired the beauty of the huge lawn which had almost all the shades of green.
I pressed the doorbell-and as if the person was standing against the door-the door flung open almost instantly bringing me face to face with furious Sean Peterson.
He first looked back then at me and then he came out, shutting the door behind him, and started to whisper yell at me. “Where have you been, Miss Hart? Don’t you know the value of time? I told you to be at my place before noon and now it’s ten minutes past twelve. How can you be so irresponsible? My grandma is already here and she’s asking for you. Now step inside and clear the mess.”
“Uh…okay but first…do you have change?” I waved $20 before his eyes.
“What?”
“I have to pay $7 to the cab driver and-”
“Ugh! I’ll pay. You just go inside.” He snapped and walked past me.
I was mulling over whether to go inside or not when I heard a maddening voice from behind.
“Why are you still standing here?” I whipped my head to see him approaching me.
“Uh, I was waiting for you.”
“Hadn’t I told you to go inside?” He said rudely before opening the door for me.
“Before we go inside. Thank you for paying for my fare, I owe you-”
I was again cut off rudely. “Just step inside, that would be enough, Miss Hart.”
And I did.
“Grandma, this is…” His overly excited grandma cut him off in the middle and rushed to me.
“The woman that lives with you. I had been waiting to meet you, dear.” Her old yet gleaming eyes and the warm welcome I received had put a gentle smile on my lips.
“Hello, Mrs. Peterson. I’m Lauren Hart.”
“What a beautiful name you have. And dear, call me Julia or grandma.”
My eyes flicked to Mr. Peterson who was standing behind his grandma, just shrugged his shoulders and I fought against rolling my eyes.
“Okay then…grandma it is.” I smiled.
She smiled warmly but her smile faded when her eyes landed behind me-on my suitcases to be exact. She frowned. Uh oh!
“Sean told me you’ve gone out for some work but your suitcase says otherwise.”
I gulped and my eyes again flicked to my boss who was now making eye movements obviously to come up with a lie. I frowned, asking him for the answer but he glared at me, making a hard face. How could he put everything on me? Ugh!
“Well…?”
I narrowed my eyes in his direction before coming back to grandma who was waiting eagerly for me to respond. I bit the inside of my cheek and hesitantly answered,
“Uh, well, you see Mr. Peterson has been generous enough to give me a place to stay but I can’t spend my life here so…I had gone for the house search.”
“With bag?” She questioned.
“I thought if I find a suitable place I’d move in then and there, so I carried my suitcase with me.” I laughed nervously.
“Hadn’t Sean informed you that I wanted to meet you? You almost left without meeting me.” She questioned.
I thought for a second to come up with a new lie but a ghost smile appeared on my lips as the devil inside me woke up. Payback time!
“No, grandma, he didn’t,” I said innocently and heard a groan from Mr. Peterson.
“Sean, what is she saying? Why didn’t you inform her?” She questioned him in a firm tone and I stifled my laugh.
“No, grandma it’s not like that…I…” He stumbled in words, glaring at me but his glare wasn’t affecting me because I knew he couldn’t do anything to me as grandma was there.
“Are you implying that she’s lying?” Grandma asked him.
“I did inform her. She might have forgotten.”
“Mr. Peterson, you should have reminded me then.” I retorted back. My eyes glittering with mischief.
“You-” He had almost skinned me alive if grandma hadn’t interfered in between.
“Leave it. Lauren, I’m sorry to say but I’m glad you didn’t find a place as I’d like to spend time with you.” She smiled. Saved!
“Oh, and please meet my grandson, Ryan. Ryan, come over here and greet her.” She turned to look at the child. My smile widened when I saw him making his way towards me.
“Hey, Ryan.” I grinned, glancing down at the cute kid with chubby cheeks and rosy lips.
“Hello, Miss.” He greeted me politely. Aww, how cute.
I kneeled to his eye level. “Hey, buddy, no need to be formal. Call me Lauren, okay?” I said.
“But you’re older and grandma says I must respect elders.”
Damn! Only if I had even an ounce of manners this little kid had, I’d have become my parent’s favorite daughter.
“Okay, Ryan tell me how old are you?” I asked as I grasped his shoulders.
“Five.” Came his short reply.
“Oh, wow then we are the same.” I beamed and he frowned, “How?”
“My mother. She says that I still behave like a five-year-old which means we both are the same, aren’t we? And besides, from right this moment I consider you my friend so, I’ll call you buddy and you call me Lauren if you consider me your friend might I add. So, what say, friends?” I held my hand before him.
He glanced at his grandma who nodded her head, smiling then he glanced back at me and held my hand. “Okay, Lauren.” I couldn’t hold my excitement and squeezed him in a bone-crushing hug.
“Miss Hart, he’s a child. Take it easy.” A firm voice of always grumpy man forced me to release the kid from my embrace.
“It’s okay, Sean. Ryan needs a friend.” Grandma interrupted but I was already on my feet by then.
“So, Lauren-” Before she could say any further, Mr. Peterson interrupted in between.
“Grandma you have a whole week to chat with her but now you need to rest. Come, I’ll show you your room.” He almost ran to pick up her bags and dragged her and Ryan with him inside the room which was around the corner. I stood there awkwardly. He came back within a minute and stood before me, giving me a hard glare.
“What were you trying to do?” He crossed his arms across his well-built chest. “You almost ruined this. You were trying to blame me. Listen, Miss Hart, don’t play evil games here, I’m warning you.” He threatened me by pointing his finger at me.
“And just because of you I got an earful from grandma. Hadn’t I told you to be on time?”
“I…uh, I was stuck in traffic.” I lied smoothly only to get caught.
“You think I’d believe that?” He raised his eyebrows.
I sighed. “Okay, sorry for being late but you see, everything is fine now. I handled the situation very well. So, I can be forgiven.”
“Yeah, I saw how smoothly you made up things in front of her.” Did he just accuse me of lying?
“Mr. Peterson, it was you who lied to her first. And you forced me to lie to her. What is my fault? I was trying to save you which I did.”
“Well thank you. Now let’s get you to your room. Follow me.” He said rudely and started to make his way upstairs. He must be the one thanking me politely instead I had to go through his arrogance.
“Mr. Peterson,” I called him loudly. “Your help is required,” I said pointing at my bags. He grumbled something before marching towards me. I shifted a little away so he could pick up one of the bags.
“Your stay is supposed to be for a week but it seems like you have brought all your wardrobe.” He grumbled.
“It’s only the essential items I brought.” I fired back.
“Only essential in two bags? You should have brought two more.” He mocked as he picked up both the bags.
“You don’t have to pick both of them.”
“Just walk, Miss Hart.”
He grumbled and led me to the room upstairs and dropped the bags at the foot of the bed. “Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
“If you need anything call me, my room is beside yours at the right. Just do not disturb for no reason.” He said firmly. “I’m heading out for some work-”
“Wait, you can’t leave me alone with her,” I said quickly, fearing being alone with his grandma who might ask questions I may not have answers to.
“Miss Hart, the introduction is done and it went well. She won’t ask questions to which you don’t have answers besides you are free to make up answers. Just let me know what you have said to her.”
“But-”
“Relax, will you? Now make yourself comfortable and you’re free to explore the house. I’ll be back soon.” Saying that he left me standing there, worried.
Slumping on the bed I bounced my knees, thinking about the questions grandma might ask. When I had forced my brain enough to run a marathon of questions and had stressed enough, I decided to unpack my things which I did only after washing my face to calm myself down. I took my time placing my belongings where I wanted them to be.
After almost one hour, I was done with arranging and placing my belongings in the proper places. I thought of resting a bit but then I thought why not explore the house? He did permit me and honestly, it’d be easy and less awkward to do it on my own without him being with me.
I made my way out and decided to tour around the same floor first, so I padded my way to the right, passing through his room-not even looking in its direction- I found another room which I decided against opening it as it would be a breach of privacy. I then went to the left of my room and found a huge lounge which was equipped with modern furnishings, indoor plants, and decor pieces. The two sides of the wall were made of complete glass, giving the look of greenery of the lawn. Beautiful and serene.
Then I descended the stairs just to hear the noises in the kitchen. Frowning, I marched inside the kitchen to find grandma doing something on the stove and Ryan standing silently near her, looking up at her. Grandma’s eyes landed on me and she smiled.
“You need something? I was warming milk for Ryan.”
“You should have called me, grandma. Let me help you.” I said politely.
“Oh, no need. I can do it.” She waved her hand but I took the pan from her hands, warmed the milk, and poured it into the glass.
“Here, drink it, buddy.”
“Thank you, Lauren.”
“You are welcome, buddy,” I said to him and faced her. “Grandma, you want to eat something? I’ll cook for you,” I said to her.
“Thank you, dear, but I’m good.” She said, patting my back lightly.
“Then coffee? Tea? Or something else?” I asked. I was trying to delay her questioning session which I was sure she was going to do it anyway.
“I’ll make coffee,” I said and before she could deny it again I started rummaging through the cabinet to find the coffee jar. God, where it is?
“Can’t find it? Are you still not familiar with this place?” I felt her scrutinizing gaze on me. I didn’t dare look up and muttered.
“No, it’s not like that. The cook might have kept it somewhere else.” I said as I turned and started checking other drawers. “Found it.”
“How do you like your coffee?” I asked her as I placed the jar on the counter, still not looking at her. I was literally shaking.
“Milk with one teaspoon sugar.” I nodded my head and prepared the coffee. I prepared one for myself too.
“Let’s sit and talk and, Lauren. I’d like to know you more.” She said and marched out of the kitchen, taking her coffee mug with her.
Well shit!
I stood rooted in my place contemplating whether to go out or stay in. Well, the former was not an option at all. I had to face her; answer her questions about me and most probably about her grandson and my boss.
I’d already lied a lot to her and now I was heading to make up some more lies. How did I become a professional liar?
I didn’t want to lie to her anymore but I had to do it as my job was at stake. I was feeling horrible but I had no choice. I just prayed for her not to ask intense and sharp questions for me to lie more.
Sean Peterson what else will you make me do? I mentally groaned.
“Lauren, can you please put this glass in the sink? I can’t reach there.” I was jerked back to reality when I heard Ryan’s voice. I placed his glass in the sink and ruffled his hair. I picked up my coffee mug and held his tiny hand in mine.
“Come buddy, let’s go get grilled.”