Cara stood dumbfounded by Marcus’s presence in the villa. Was he the one getting married? She hadn’t expected to be working at his wedding! He too seemed equally surprised to see her.
“We’re finally here,” said Maria, fanning herself with her handkerchief, as she huffed and puffed into the house, carrying a mountain load of stuff. Cara looked down and followed her shyly into the house, too embarrassed to be here amidst Marcus’s family.
“She needed work, and we needed help, granny. So I brought her along,” said Maria.
“Fine, she’s your responsibility, Maria. You have to assign her work,” said granny.
“Yes, yes, leave it all to me,” said Maria. Then turning to Cara she pointed towards the kitchen.
“Arrange all these things inside the pantry. I’ll join you in a minute after freshening up,” said Maria. Cara nodded meekly and staggered with the stuff towards the kitchen.
“Let me help you,” said Marcus gruffly to her immense discomfort. Cara shook her head vehemently, not even looking up, and rushed towards the kitchen with stuff that weighed almost as much as her.
“Here, let me carry them for you,” he said and simply took them all from her, his rough hand brushing with hers in the process. He strode off towards the pantry as if they didn’t weigh a thing, leaving Cara to gape at him. Why was he helping her? Why was he being nice to her? Didn’t he hate her? Didn’t he think low of her?
She meekly followed him into the pantry and started working immediately without looking at him. She was a maid here working at his wedding and she needed the money badly. With the work at the cafe not there, she needed this work.
“Marcus, what are you doing here? The girls are looking for you. Run,” chuckled Maria, walking into the pantry. Marcus’s jaws dropped, and he cast a glance at Cara.
“Which girls? Please, no jokes on this, Maria,” he grumbled.
“Oh, come on. I’m just teasing you. Sienna’s friends are all here. Look for a girlfriend. You’re twenty-six already,” said Maria, pushing him away. He rolled his eyes at Maria and, with one last look at a disinterested Cara, he walked away.
Cara concentrated on her work. She didn’t want to even think of Marcus Donnelly. Just three more days she needed to survive in this house, drowned in her work. Then she would have money and could buy food again for her little family.
Maria didn’t give her a moment of respite and she slogged hard, completing the tasks she gave her.
Marcus impatiently waited for Cara to emerge from the kitchen, but she didn’t. He wanted to talk to her; to apologize to her and tell her he had been a fool to have misjudged her. He wanted to beg her for forgiveness, but it seemed as if she didn’t know him at all. Her aloofness surprised him a lot and made him feel guiltier. His niece Alexia was keen on fishing and he just couldn’t disappoint her.
It was lunchtime when he returned and by the time he freshened up and went downstairs for lunch, everyone was at the table. Maria, Cara, and Pam, who was the caretaker’s wife, served the lunch that they had prepared.
The food was exceptionally delicious and everyone started devouring it all. Maria laughed and joked with everyone freely and so did Pam, but Cara was shy and quiet and didn’t look up even once as she quietly did her job.
“Can’t you serve properly?” seethed Alyssa, one of Sienna’s friends. Cara’s hand trembled under Marcus’s piercing gaze fixed upon her and the soup spilled a little on Alyssa’s expensive dress.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I’ll clean it up,” she said meekly, looking up at Maria in case she yelled at her.
“It’s just a spill, Alyssa. Why can’t you go to the washroom and clean it up?” said Marcus with a frown.
“I didn’t ask you for your opinion, Marcus,” replied Alyssa.
“You’re unnecessarily creating a scene here,” said Marcus with a shrug.
“Enough Marc. Alyssa is our guest. Cara should apologize and clean the stain she has spilled,” said his mom sternly. Marcus grumbled and got up from the table, walking away furiously. “Marc, what’s wrong with you?” said his mom after him but he didn’t listen.
She glared at Cara angrily as if all this was her fault. Cara cleaned Alyssa’s dress and disappeared from the table. She would rather hide and clean the kitchen than serve.
She was surprised that Marcus tried to support her. Why? Didn’t he hate her? Didn’t he consider her to be a sl*t? Why was he being nice to her?
Everyone had eaten and Cara just washed the dishes and cleaned the table. “Serve us, girl,” ordered Pam as she and Maria sat down to eat.
“Let her bring her food as well. We’ll eat together,” said Maria. After eating, she cleaned the house with Maria while Pam went back to the outhouse. There was a huge load of laundry to be done as well and Cara had no time to even catch her breath.
A storm was brewing outside and she rushed to close the doors and windows with Maria. The sound of a helicopter indicated that a new guest was arriving.
“Nico is here,” said Lucas as he sat with his bride. Cara had realized from Maria’s conversations that it was Lucas and Sienna’s wedding. She more or less had a rough idea about the guests as well since it was all Pam and Maria talked about.
She served drinks to everyone but Marcus’s mom declined the drink. It was only when Maria handed her the same drink did she accept it. Cara felt a little hurt by her behavior. It was clear that she didn’t like Cara at all. Cara was a little apprehensive seeing her behavior towards her. Did Marcus’s mom know of her past?
She went back to the laundry room to fold the clothes that had been washed and dried. She could hear the thunder and lightning as a steady drizzle started outside. She sat down on the floor of the laundry room and thought about her siblings. Vera was very scared of storms and always hid her face in her lap out of fear. What was she doing now? Were they bothering Aunt Maggie?
“Oh, there you are. I had been searching for you,” said Marcus’s gruff voice from the doorway. Cara looked up and jumped to her feet. Would he yell at her for sitting idle and not working?
“I’m sorry, sir, I got carried away. I’ll fold these clothes in a moment. Please don’t complain to aunt Maria. She’ll get angry with me. I need this job,” she said, her eyes wide with apprehension. She quickly fumbled with the clothes, hurrying with her job while Marcus stood there watching her with a brooding look on his face.
“Why don’t you rest a while, Cara? I’m sure that you’re exhausted,” he said, noting the dark circles under her eyes.
“No, no, I’m fine. Thank you,” she said, turning away from him. He walked into the laundry room.
“I’ll help you with it,” he offered, but Cara panicked. Why was he hell-bent on helping her? What if his mom saw him again? She would hate her all the more.
“No, Mr. Donnelly, it’s my job. Let me do it please,” she begged.
“I actually wanted to talk to you,” started Marcus when Maria stormed into the laundry room and was startled to see Marcus.
“Marcus, your brother is looking for you. What are you doing here? Go,” said Maria, turning her attention to Cara. “You still haven’t finished the work, Cara?” she asked, looking displeased.
Marcus sighed and walked out of the laundry room to see what Lucas wanted now.
The moment he left, Maria looked at her. “Stay away from Marcus, Cara. He plays with women and leaves them without giving them a single glance. You have the responsibility of your siblings. Don’t fall into his trap,” warned Maria.
“Don’t worry, aunt Maria. I’m not interested in him. I know my position,” she assured her.
“Good, you’re a sensible girl. I trust you. Now run to granny’s room. Her feet are aching and she wants you to give her a massage,” said Maria. Cara nodded and rushed to granny’s room.
“Cara, can you give me a rub? My feet are killing me,” said granny with a smile as she lay down on her bed to rest.
“Sure, ma’am,” she said meekly, sitting on the floor to massage her feet.
“Why are you sitting on the floor, dear? Sit on the bed if that makes you comfortable.” Her kindness overwhelmed Cara, and she smiled and sat on the bed, and massaged her feet.
“Where exactly is it hurting, ma’am?” she asked softly.
“Call me granny, dear. It’s painful near the heel the most.” After ten minutes, granny fell asleep while Cara continued to massage her. After nearly an hour, she tiptoed out of the room. It was pouring heavily outside and everyone was busy watching a movie. Even Maria was busy watching them. Cara slowly walked to the back of the house and sat on the covered patio to watch the rain.
“Oh, here you are. I have been looking for you everywhere,” said Marcus as he came to stand beside her.
“Why? I want nothing to do with you, sir. Please leave me alone for 3 days,” she murmured without even glancing at him.
He sat down beside her. “I’m sorry, Cara,” he breathed.