After her performance, Cara was about to leave the club when her eyes fell upon Ben Duncan waiting for her in front of the main gates. She gasped with surprise and rushed forward to meet the kind old man.
“What a pleasant surprise, uncle Ben? I thought you’d forgotten me,” said Cara with a warm smile. Uncle Ben gave her a hug and smiled back.
“Did you really expect me to forget my favorite jacket?” He asked fondly. Cara’s eyes widened, since she didn’t have the jacket with her.
“I don’t have it with me, uncle Ben. I didn’t know that you would come over today,” said Cara, looking embarrassed. Uncle Ben laughed at her naivety.
“I’m just kidding, my dear. So are you done for the day?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m going home. Why don’t you come along, uncle Ben? I can return the jacket. It’s too large for me anyway,” said Cara.
“Oh, in that case, I’ll drop you. C’mon,” said Uncle Ben, ushering her towards his car. Soon they were on their way towards her house. Cara had already given him her address, and he drove on.
“Mr. Donnelly called me this morning. He wants me to join back to duty,” said Uncle Ben, making Cara look at him with surprise.
“But he has some weird automated security system at his house,” she informed him.
“He wants me to handle that from now on. I’ll be living there on his premises like before,” said Uncle Ben. Cara saw how happy he looked and wondered why Marcus took such a decision. “I hate living alone. I was so bored with no work,” said Uncle Ben.
“Oh, don’t you have a family?” she asked him with curiosity. Uncle Ben slowly shook his head.
“I had a little girl, Amelia. She committed suicide when the man she loved left her for another woman. She was just eighteen like you. My wife couldn’t bear the pain and she had a fatal heart attack the same day. It’s really tragic that nothing happened to me and I’m left all alone to cope with all of this. You know, every time I see you, I’m reminded of my Amelia, my baby girl,” said Uncle Ben with a sigh. Cara’s eyes filled up with tears for the poor old man. It wasn’t possible to understand what pain and misery a person was hiding inside unless you get to know the person well.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Uncle Ben. I did not know!” she whispered, and Uncle Ben smiled softly.
“It’s been seven years, my dear. I’ve tried to immerse myself in work and forget it all,” he told her. “It all rushed back when I was jobless and lonely at home, but now it seems Mr. Donnelly is planning to stay here at his Southampton beach house for a longer period,” said Uncle Ben.
“Oh, how do you know?” asked Cara curiously.
“He has asked me to find him a good chauffeur as well,” he informed her, making her eyes widen. Why would he need a chauffeur when he preferred to drive himself?
“Oh,” she said, her mind going into overdrive as all plausible reasons started accumulating there.
“We’ve reached. So, do you live in this enormous house with your family? Very nice,” he asked, looking at aunt Maggie and uncle Joe’s house.
“It’s rented, uncle Ben, that too I haven’t been able to pay any rent since my parents died. I live with my three siblings,” she informed him.
“Oh, are they harassing you for money?” he asked with concern.
“No, no, they’re a childless couple and very kind. In fact, they’re adopting my siblings since they’re too young to be under my care,” said Cara.
“That’s very good to hear. If you ever need any help, just call me. I’ll give you my phone number,” said Uncle Ben.
“I don’t have a phone,” she told him.
“I’ll write my number down and give it to you,” he said. They walked over to her place and met her siblings. Uncle Ben looked so happy that he offered to make them dinner. He was an excellent cook, and they devoured the food hungrily.
“Uncle Ben, will you come tomorrow as well?” asked Vera eagerly. Uncle Ben looked touched by her question.
“I can if you want me to,” he promised.
“Of course I do. You make the best food ever,” said little Vera, winning the old man’s heart. After he left, the children couldn’t stop discussing him and his food, and all thoughts of another friend of theirs were completely forgotten.
The next day too, uncle Ben visited them and cooked for them much to Cara’s surprise. He told them he would move over to Marcus Donnelly’s house and wouldn’t be able to visit them for a while. “But you can always come down there to see me. I’ll make special dishes for you,” he told them. The children were eager and looked at their older sibling hopefully.
“Can we please go, Cara?” begged Vera. Cara was actually horrified at the idea of going over to Marcus Donnelly’s house.
“We’ll see about that,” she said, dismissing the topic. After Uncle Ben left, Cara was restless. She was curious to know why Marcus Donnelly asked uncle Ben to join back to his duty tonight. Was Marcus Donnelly arriving tonight? She tried hard to concentrate on the dishes and cleaned up the place, but her mind went back to that stormy night when Marcus visited her.
Yesterday, she had paid all her pending rent with the money Marcus had given her. Uncle Joe needed money for Aunt Maggie’s treatment. She hadn’t been keeping well and her fever had been because of inflammation from Rheumatoid Arthritis. For days, she had tried her best to hide the pain, but not any longer. Cara was a little guilty of having to burden her with the responsibility of her siblings when she left for work. But what other option did she have?
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the knock on the door. It was only when Adam got up from his bed to open the door did she look up. Who could have arrived so late in the night? Uncle Joe and Aunt Maggie usually used the connecting door at the side instead of the main door. So it couldn’t be them.
To her immense shock, Marcus Donnelly walked inside, looking devilishly handsome in a tuxedo. It looked like he arrived straight from some party. Adam looked excited at seeing him and welcomed him to sit on his bed. Marcus’s eyes immediately flew towards her and he held her gaze for a minute.
“I knew you would come back,” whispered Adam, since Liam and Vera had already fallen asleep. Cara was brought out of her daze and wiped her hands dry. “Cara thought you wouldn’t ever remember us because we’re poor,” said Adam, before she would warn him.
“Really? But we’re friends, aren’t we? How can I forget my friends?” asked Marcus, his eyes dancing with amusement, seeing Cara’s reaction to their conversation.
“Exactly,” said Adam. Cara walked up to them and stood in front of Adam with her hands on her waist.
“Go inside and sleep with Liam and Vera,” she ordered him sternly. Adam sighed and got up to do as asked.
“She’s mad now. Watch your words, Marcus,” he whispered into Marcus’s ear, before leaving the room and going inside. Cara looked at her brother in disbelief. How could he talk in this manner with someone like Marcus Donnelly?
“What can I do for you, Mr. Donnelly?” she asked warily.
“Come to my house tomorrow. I want you to work for me every day. It’s a permanent job,” said Marcus like an order.
“I can’t. Aunt Maggie isn’t well and the children would be alone at home,” said Cara.
“Bring them along,” said Marcus, standing up to leave.
“But they have school,” she protested. Marcus strode out without a word. At the door, he stopped mid-stride.
“I’ll wait for my coffee and breakfast at 7 in the morning. Don’t be late,” said Marcus, walking out without waiting for her answer. Cara stood like a statue, not knowing what to do. How would she manage everything so early in the morning?
“We can stay alone here, Cara. We will return home from school and warm the food and eat. It’s just a matter of a few hours. You will come home by 5. Right?” said Adam, walking out to her side. He had heard everything from the next room.
“I have my performance as well,” said Cara with a sigh. She was at her wit’s end and did not know how to manage it all. Adam sighed. His young brain couldn’t find a solution to their problems.
“Go to sleep. We’ll figure it out tomorrow,” she said bravely, but deep inside she knew she couldn’t find a solution to her situation overnight. She tossed and turned on her bed, unable to come out with anything.
It was 5 o’clock in the morning already when she woke up. Should she go to work at Marcus Donnelly’s house, or should she ignore his offer altogether?