Give Me Some Time

1

On a one fine day, a man knocked on the door of the house I'm currently maid in. I opened the door, the man introduced himself.

"Excuse me, I'm Jack Moore. I believe you are Sara?" he lift his hat up and down. He doesn't seem like someone from this village. His clothes shows that he's a wealthy man.

"Yes that's me, how can I help you?" weird. This old man in his 50s seemed to know my name and where I work.

"Get me your employer. There's something I want to discuss."  he tap his finger on his walking stick. I nodded and let him sit in the living room. While I fetch my master, I made some coffee along with biscuits.

My master, Oliver, he had bought me from a slave market. For more by than 7 years, I've been under his house by working as maid.

Oliver came down and walked right into the living room, I served each of them a cup of coffee with their preferred spoon of sugars.

"Sugar, Mr Jack?"  I asked. He nodded and lift two fingers up. I put the cup right in front of him and Oliver flick his fingers, meaning for me to leave the room.

Oliver lives with his wife. They had no child and bought me as I was the cheapest on sale. Both my parent disown me for not marrying the person they had chosen.

Mother and father was very cheapskate. Everytime I asked for food to eat, they gave me leftovers. I had to work in the field for my own moneys, days and nights. I never complained to them, they decided it was me who used up all of their money when I was kid. I start working at the age of 13.

The person of their choice was a famous craftsmen in the village. He was in his late 20s when mother asked me to marry him. I was only 15 then, I refused and ended up in this new home. I'm 24 years old now.

Oliver and his wife wasn't a very good couple. They fought and bicker so much that I had to be their punch bag. If I make a wrong move, the belt will meet my back.

"Sara, come here."  Oliver called me. I realized I was day dreaming, luckily his wife didn't saw me doing nothing. I walk to the living room and look down on the floor.

"Mr Jack here has given you another house. Now go pack your belongings and go with him." Oliver said. I didn't get to look up when Jack open his mouth.

"Lift your head, kid. You don't ever need to bow down to anyone." Jack said. I lift my head in confusion. Jack smiles warmly.
I nodded and walked to my room. I don't have much belongings except for the books I bought. I packed them all in a bag and walked to where Jack is standing.

"Sara, here's the rest of your money for this month." Oliver said and give an envelope to me before closing the door. Jack smiles as he ride his carriage and hold his hand for me as a support.

I held his hand and safely climbed up. He yanked the ropes and the horses start moving.

"Tell me about yourself, kid." he said and look at me for a few second.

"I was bought by Mr. Oliver 8 - 9 years ago. He had gave me a roof and foods while working there. I will be 24 next month." I said while look down again.

Jack clicked his tongue. He lift my chin up so that our eyes meet. "Do you know why I bought you from him?" he asked.
I shake my head and remembered that he already said my name before I mentioned it. The realisation mirror in my eyes. He chuckles.

"You're gonna be my wife. Not for having kids, of course. I need you to do something for me. And it can only happen if you are my wife." he spoke and look on the road.

Marriage? I got sold for not wanting to marry and now I'm sold as someone's wife. The fact that he's in his 50s and I'm in my 20s creeps me out.

"You can ask for a divorce once your task is done. You'll be a free woman with half of my money in your name. Will you agree?" he lift his eyebrow.

"As you wished, Mr Jack. How can I possibly disobey my master's task." I said and look down.

"You're no longer a slave now. We're gonna go to the priest right after we get you new clothes. Before that I need you to know. I have 2 sons and 1 girl. The oldest one, he's 23. I hope you don't mind him. He always give me a headache with his stubbornness. He might yell at you but trust me, deep down he is a good kid." he said. I nodded.

" The other 2 are twins. Mary and Noah. Mary is smart, she'll help you if you manage to get her trust. Noah is more like a kid. If he's not in the house, then he's on his training ground. They are 15." Jack took out a photo from his pocket.

"This must be Mary and Noah. What's your oldest son's name?" I asked while pointing at the photo.

"That's Liam. After my wife Susan died 12 years ago, Liam start behaving uncontrollable. I raised them all with loves but Liam couldn't understand me. I hope you can show him why I decided to marry someone new."
He rubbed Susan's face in the photo. Its clear that he still love Susan and I'm not gonna ask how she died.

"What is my task?" I asked.

"I'll explained it to you when we get home. We're arriving at the boutique now. Please don't make me your master or bow down to everyone else." he said as he climb down the carriage. He hold his hand up for me again. I realized that everyone here seems more fashionable than at the village. I look at the sun that's almost right on my head. The horse ride took 2 hours to get here.

" Hello, how may I help you?" a woman came out of her boutique and look at me up and down before greeting Jack. It's obvious that everyone here look down on me as I'm wearing the maids outfit.

"Please take her measurements and take out the the clothes that fit her. Do it in 30 minutes." Jack take out a watch from his pocket. The woman lead me to the changing room and a few more ladies come to take off my clothes. A few minutes later, they took a whole closet and put it in front of me. Jack is in the waiting room, looking at a brochure.

In under 5 minutes, they gave me a simple but elegant white dress that I assumed will be my wedding dress. It's not overly and it fits perfectly on me. They put me on a chair in front of a vanity and wiped my face clean. They did more work on my face that I don't know what it's called but it took 10 more minutes. Once they done giving me a touch up, they pull me out to where Jack is.

"Mr Moore, here's your bride." the woman point to me. Jack stand up and smiles.

"You look very good. Why don't you smile a bit, I bet you'll look breath taking at the church." he pulls me and lead me to the carriage. This time it's a different one. There's a coachman waiting. We sat in the carriage and took off.

"Who will be at the church?" I asked him.

"My kids and the priest. We're not gonna announce it to everyone so that you can leave whenever you want." he said, burning a cigarette.

"Is there more things I should be aware of?" I asked, looking out the window where I don't recognise the landscapes.

"Rest for now, I'll handle everything." he tap on his walking stick.

I nodded and put my head back. The journey took another 30 45 minutes before we arrive. The big church amazes me. I haven't been here and I'm already liking it. I went to grab my bags but Jack stops me.

"They'll send your bags to our home. Now let's go in. They're waiting." Jack holds my hand and we went in holding hands.