Give Me Some Time

12

*Knock 2x*
The sound at the door alerted Margaret. She put the breakfast on the table and ran to open the door.

"May I help you?" she asked. A skinny woman with worn out clothes was standing right out the door, she looked inside for a glance but Margaret covered with her body. The woman stared at Margaret.

"I'm searching for Brianna Blanchet. Is she here?" she asked.

"I'm sorry but nobody here named Brianna. Maybe you got the wrong house." Margaret said and slowly closed the door. But it was held by the woman's hand.

"Don't lie, this is the girl. Some people saw her past by this town. I mean, she was younger but now it's been like 10 years?" she pointed a photograph to Margaret, its a photo of me when I was 13.

"The only girl here is Miss Mary Moore. I'm sorry but I have more things to do. Have a good day." Margaret looked at the picture and replied, closing the door and locked it. Behind the door, I was hiding. I stood there with a paper and a pen, writing every words of what Margaret just spoke.

" You wanna explain yourself, darling? "she asked. Her arms crossed.

"That's... My mother. I don't know how she got here with that ancient photo. But I can promise you, its not good if she found out I'm here. And please don't tell anyone else." I pleaded with both hands together. Margaret sighed and walked past to continue her work.

"You were lying to me about your real name? What else did you lied about?" she spoke coldly. My heart beats faster as the kids are nearby.

"Please I will tell you everything, but don't let the kids know." I kneeled, which shocked Margaret.

"Fine, get up, dear. The kids gonna see you." she held my shoulders. I stood back and kissed Margaret on her cheeks. Then I put what's left on the kitchen to the dining room.

"I'm nervous, Sara." Mary said once she saw me seated.

"Why?" I asked with a fork of eggs into my mouth.

"We're gonna graduate in two weeks, but I still haven't think of any good speeches for the photo album." she lifted a book of motivational speeches.

It's been three years since Jack left us. There's no news about Liam even though we've tried renting a boat to get to the neighbour's islands.

" You're 18 now, there must be something you really wish to let people know. How about you Noah?" I turn my attention to him.

"Yeah, relax Mary. How about this. 'With great minds comes great responsibility.'  Noah said, his arms waving to the air.

" I'm not some comical characters! Shut up. You're useless. " Mary kicked Noah's feet under the table. They start bickering and soon they left for school.

Margaret sat at the empty seat next to me.  "How about now?"

"Promise you won't flip the table or tell them?" I asked. She nodded.

"My birth name was Brianna Blanchet, my father was French and my mom was probably Russian or something. They met and came here. But living in a foreign country was hard for them, I had to work for what I eat, and around 13, she sold me and I've been working as a maid since. So for that 10 years, I've learnt a bit about working in business. My last master, Oliver, he and Jack made a deal which I don't know why it's me he needed. And I changed my name into Sara Walker when I first got in the market. Jack said I needed to help Liam with handling the business." I closed my eyes, afraid of what Margaret's gonna say.

"So that's why you're so beautiful. Thank you dear for telling me. My body may look old but my soul is still young. I remember when I first work here, Susan and Jack were the liveliest couple, and yet here I am, without my other half. Don't worry, I won't tell anybody. " she held my cheek, a silent tear dropped from my eye. We broke in laughter and she went back to do her work while I went into Jack's office.

In half an hour, Joseph and his brothers will come, it's been quite the routine. As business partners, they let me do the paperwork while they handle the other things. With their death, we had more money but I still cut the budget so our saving won't be empty. Luckily, Noah and Mary understood and never spend too much.

My thoughts were disturbed by knocks on the door. "Come in."

"Good morning, how are you feeling?" Joseph asked, the other two followed and took a seat.

"I'm good, how are you guys?"

"All good. So what's the plan?" Joseph asked and the meeting goes for another few hours.

I walked them downstairs and to the door. "Thanks for coming by, next time let me go to your place, Don't burden yourself."

"Only Jack used horse carriage, everyone else had change into motorised carriage. Much more faster." Harvey laughed. Since the funeral, all he does is get on my nerve. Sebastian elbowed him. He rarely talk but involved in everything his brothers do.

"Ah, I see your land has turn into a garden, may we go take a look?" Joseph asked as he saw it. I nodded and lead the way.

"So Mary and Noah had kept everything clean, I had the maid installed a roof so that we can sit there in the middle, and if it rain heavily, we can pull that lever down. It acted as foldable walls. I wanted to expand the garden more, probably grow my own fruits and vegetables, a little farm perhaps. " I halted. At the table, Mary had drawn a beautiful painting of our family tree. It was dusty as nobody really come.

" What's stopping you? " Harvey asked. I've learnt that he was an expert in body language. Business is his side income.

"Maybe I will start it, slowly, it'll cut a little cost by growing our own foods." I smiled at Joseph, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"Jack's friend is my friend. Jack's wife is my... Friend. I'll send some helping hand. You are so clever with handling things. I think this is it for today, I'm exhausted." he stretched his arms up. We said goodbye and I use my handkerchief to wiped the dust off the table. How could I miss a man who I've only met for two days?

With leftover soil, I called the maid to fetch several seeded fruits, vegetables, cinnamon powder and a knife. In every empty poly bag, I put the seed under some soils, lightly watered it and sprinkled some cinnamon on the soils.

"There you go. Please grow up well." I throw my gloves into a basket and walked back to the house.

"It's a hot day, right?" I asked Margaret. She laughed.

"And yet my madam still wanted to do her gardening." she said, I pouted. She handed a cup of iced tea. I gladly took it.

"Did you know, a bag of tea also can enhance your plants and your under eyes?"

"What?" she asked.

"If you made a warm tea, once you finish drinking it, put the tea bag under your eyes. But for plants, cut the top of and sprinkle them all over the soil." I finished by gulping down the tea.

"My madam is such a genius."

"I'm serious! Just try it and tell me later. I'm gonna shower." I left her alone in the living room. The kids came home and they didn't bat an eye to Margaret, it's like she's a family too, comfortable with her.

"Guess what?" Noah asked at dinner.

"What?"

"I got accepted into the knights academy!" he shouted. The three of us squeaked and jumping around.

"That's so nice! I'm so proud of you." I told, holding both of his hand.

"Wait, you're hot. Did you catch a cold?" Mary asked.

"What? No." I push her hand away from my forehead. She glared.

"Fine.. I was gardening at noon." I pouted.

"You did? I'm gonna see it tomorrow! Let's have tea time there. Like we promised." she said. Noah smiled brightly like he too wanted it.

"Sure, now off to bed you too." I pushed them too the stairs. After several goodnight hugs, I'm finally left alone in my room.