Marcus sat with his head in his hands unable to get any work done. Hurting Cara wasn’t his objective but she was being stubborn and refused him point-blank. Marcus felt insulted and her words pierced his heart more than anyone else’s. Did she think that low of him? Surely he didn’t have the best of reputations, but he couldn’t stoop that low! He would never force her to his bed. He liked her! Why was that so difficult to understand?
The silence all around the house made him fear the worst. Had she left him? He slowly got up and walked out of his studio to check. He saw that she wasn’t there in the kitchen or in the living area. He walked over to his bedroom and found the clothes he had bought for her, neatly folded and kept on a couch. His heart sank with dread as his worst nightmare came true. Cara had left him forever! Where would he now get his inspiration to paint? He was back at square one. All his hopes of being able to recover from his painter’s block were dashed now. Feeling lost, he slumped into the bed. He couldn’t stay here alone. The house was making him claustrophobic. He would wait for her to come back and if she didn’t, he would return to New York, this time forever.
Cara reached home at last and rang the doorbell. After the second ring, a strange woman with bleached hair opened the door. Cara’s mouth hung open. Where were her siblings? “Yes? Who do you want to meet?” asked the woman. Cara shook her head slowly realizing that her siblings might have moved over to aunt Maggie’s house in her absence.
“Sorry for disturbing you.”
She walked around to aunt Maggie’s front door and rang the doorbell. Uncle Joe opened the door with a surprised look on his face. Maybe they hadn’t expected her back so soon. All of a sudden, Adam rushed towards her to hug her. “Cara, you came? I thought you were gone forever.”
“Where will I go?” she asked, hugging him back.
“We all thought you and Marcus would marry and you would live with him forever,” said Vera, getting up from the sofa to hug her. Cara scoffed and rolled her eyes at their innocent thoughts. Only if they knew that the likes of Marcus Donnelly never married girls like her!
“Why would you think that? I only went there to work. So, where’s Aunt Maggie?” She looked around the place and smiled seeing aunt Maggie emerge from the kitchen with a welcoming smile on her face.
“How are you, Aunt Maggie?” She rushed forward to hug her aunt, happy to be home at last.
“I’m fit as a fiddle. What about you, my dear? Mr. Donnelly called to say that you were too sick to travel to and fro.”
“Yeah, I’ve caught the flu but the fever has reduced. So I came back.” Aunt Maggie checked her forehead with concern.
“You overwork a lot, you should rest, my dear.”
“Cara, do you know that Rudy was here yesterday?” asked Liam from the dining table where he was studying.
“Oh, really? What did he want?” Cara was surprised that he had come looking for her. He had never done so before then what changed now? He was throwing her out of work after all!
“He just asked for you and then went away, without a word. Why don’t you call him up and find out?” asked Uncle Joe.
Aunt Maggie looked displeased and led her towards a room. “All that can wait. You need to get well first. You can occupy this room, Cara. The children are sleeping in the one next to you.” Cara looked around the room with awe. She had never had a room all to herself before. Although the room was small, the bed looked comfortable enough and the corner wardrobe and a compact study table made it look just perfect for her.
“It’s awesome, aunt Maggie. I love it!” she exclaimed, clasping her hands and looking around with awe.
“I’m glad you like it, dear. Vera and I have arranged all your clothes in the closet. So just freshen up and come over for dinner.”
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t help you with the shifting.” Aunt Maggie smiled warmly and waved her off.
“There wasn’t much to shift. It was an easy task. Don’t fret over it.”
“I’m indebted to both of you for doing so much for us, Aunt Maggie. The moment I receive some money, I’ll hand it over to you.”
“There’s no rush, Cara. We’re managing right now. You can pay me later,” she said bustling out of the room, leaving her to change out of the dirty clothes. The moment she was left alone, Cara’s thoughts went back to Marcus. Although she was upset with him, yet a nagging concern wouldn’t leave her mind. Was he upset that she went away? Would he come looking for her? Would he let her leave the job forever? Somehow she didn’t want him to release her. Her heart wanted him to pursue her and take her back with him! She knew that it was a hopeless thought. Why would Marcus Donnelly care so much for a maid? Why would he come looking for her when he himself had asked her to get out? Yet, her heart couldn’t stop hoping for the impossible!
Sighing, she changed out of her clothes and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She could still feel the taste of Marcus’s mouth on her lips. The addictive taste of refreshing mint and coffee lingered there but strangely it didn’t repulse her. In fact, she didn’t wish to wash it away. Staring at her flushed face and swollen lips, she blushed thinking whether aunt Maggie noticed her state or not. Maybe she mistook it for fever symptoms! It was better to let her think that way. She could never tell anyone what happened between them at his house. It was better to try to put it all behind and look for a job elsewhere. But it was easier said than done as she couldn’t forget his kisses at all. Maybe she would have to live forever with the memory of the kisses that she shared with him. After getting a taste of heaven it was unlikely that she could ever enjoy being kissed by anyone else. Marcus had branded her for life. Did she make a mistake by leaving him? Cara blinked to keep the thoughts at bay. No, she couldn’t stoop so low and indulge in an illicit affair with someone beyond her league. She had responsibilities towards her siblings.
She walked out of her room and saw the whole family sitting and waiting for her at the dining table. Fixing a fake smile on her face, she sat down to dinner with her family. They discussed everything under the sun, school, the new weird tenants, aunt Maggie’s health. It was good to be back home where she belonged. She would think of looking for a job the next day but first, she needed to call Carlton.
After dinner, she spoke to Carlton and found out that there had been a fight at the club when the regular customers found out that they were replacing her. As a consequence, last night only a handful of tickets were sold and Rudolph Sterling was in a fix. He, therefore, had to think of ways to retain Cara with the least pay possible.
Cara was adamant. Her talent wasn’t up for free. “I’m not going to perform for anything less.”
“You shouldn’t. Let him regret his decision. We all quit since he hasn’t cleared our dues. We’re in Broadway Theater right now. All three of us got through.”
Cara was happy for them. “That’s excellent news indeed, Carl. Congratulations.”
“If you ever wish to join us, just give me a call,” offered Carl.
“I might take you up on that sometime in the future,” she chuckled.
“I want you to.”
After disconnecting the call, Cara popped a pill into her mouth and went to sleep. With the fever returning with full force, she couldn’t even think of calling Rudolph and asking for her pay. She knew that she had to pay Joe Smithfield and his wife for their food and accommodation but she didn’t have anything with her at present. Marcus hadn’t paid her and neither did Rudolph. Although aunt Maggie never asked her for money, she knew that they needed it with four extra mouths to feed.
For the next four days, Cara couldn’t do much. The fever reduced, leaving her too weak to go hunting for work. She dragged her lifeless body around and just helped aunt Maggie but her mind was actually far away. She wondered what Marcus was up to. Had he forgotten about her completely? Why didn’t he come over to check up on her? It was strange that he hadn’t even paid her for her services knowing that she needed money so badly. Did he leave Southampton and go to New York forever?
It was evening already and Cara was just about to help with dinner when the doorbell rang. Uncle Joe opened the door but Cara froze in her tracks seeing a haggard and worried Ben Duncan at her doorstep.
“Uncle Ben?” A feeling of dread clutched at her heart seeing him all of a sudden. Was everything alright?
“You need to come with me, Cara. Pack up some essentials as quickly as possible,” said Uncle Ben in a distraught tone.
“What’s going on, Cara? Who is this man?” asked a worried uncle Joe. Cara introduced uncle Ben to her uncle and aunt.
“Why would I need to pack and go with you? I’ve left the job, uncle Ben.” Cara’s heart started to sink at the thought that maybe something untoward had happened to Marcus.
“This isn’t about the job, Cara. Mr. Donnelly has attempted to take his life. He’s critical. He won’t let me inform his family. He needs you.” Cara stood shocked hearing the news. Her head swooned and she felt sick with worry.
“Give me a minute, please.” She rushed inside to pack up knowing that this time she wouldn’t be able to leave him and return anytime soon.