The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 13

Dor

"Can I do anything else to help?", Dor asks Kas's Ma. She has been making trips for the last three days now bringing food and medicines since Kas was brought back heavily injured from the big house. Kas's Ma shakes her head, "Thank you my dear for all your help". She reaches up to give a gentle pat on Dor's cheek. "You are a beautiful child. No wonder my Kas loves you so much". Dor fights her tears at the words. No one make her feel as special and loved as Kas. She turns to look at the injured boy sleeping on the bed. 

There is a sound from outside and Mrs. Maris goes out to look. Dor peeps out of the door and sees a distinguished lean middle-aged man getting out of a fancy car. As he starts to walk up to the door, Mrs. Maris raises a hand and stops him mid-way. "What do you want"?, she asks the man rudely. Dor is surprised because Kas's Ma is the most gentle and dignified lady she has ever met. She is always so soft spoken and well mannered. The man looks vaguely familiar and Dor wonders where she has seen him before. "Have you come to check if my boy is dead"?". Kas's Ma asks angrily, her voice raised.

"Agnes, please", the man tells her pleadingly. "Let me make it right. Let me get him to a clinic. I will pay all the costs". He tries to take her hand. Kas's Ma quickly moves away. "I've had him treated at the government hospital", she replies "It's the correct place for your servants, Mr. Bernard", she tells him calmly, having managed to get herself under control.

"Agnes, please let me help", he begs again. Dor watches the dramatic scene disbelievingly. No wonder the man looked familiar. It's the creep Zander's Pa. The bigshot from the big house! What on earth is going on she wonders. Has Kas's Ma threatened them with the police? Is that why he is pleading so much? But a man of his status would hardly be worried about something like this?!.

Her trails of thoughts is disrupted by Kas's Ma's voice. "Please go. Kas is inside. He is very unwell", she whispers in a quiet voice. "I think your family has done enough damage". Her voice starts breaking with her anguish as she adds "My little girl is gone and now my boy has been almost beaten to death. Has your family's thirst for blood not been satiated yet? As soon as Kas's recovered, we will be leaving this place''.

Dor watches amazed as Mr. Bernard grabs Mrs. Maris hands and tells her "Please Agnes, I love you. Let me take care of you and Kas". Do gives a small startled jump when Kas's Ma gives the rich and respected Mr. Bernard a stinging slap across his elegant cheek. "Leave", she tells him firmly "or I am going to give your wife a visit right now". "I don't mind". Mr. Bernard looks completely unoffended by that humiliating slap. Kas's Ma suddenly becomes aware of Dor hovering near the door. "I'll be back shortly," she tells Dor. "Please mind Kas. I won't be long". She walks down the path with Mr. Bernard following her closely.

 Dor slumps down on a small chair near Kas's bed. She rubs her eyes and opens them. Nope. Not a dream at all. She turns and looks and the bandaged bruised beautiful boy who is sleeping soundly, obviously heavily medicated. "Kas", she tells the sleeping form in a whisper, "You wanted a bestseller book. You had a great plot right here in your home itself". The chair creaks complainingly, used only to featherweight Maris family. She quickly gets up and goes to the window, her mind swirling with thoughts. 

A sound alerts her and she sees Kas's Ma come in. "Sorry, you had to witness that", she tells Dor awkwardly. "Did you file a police complaint against Zander, Aunt Maris?",  Dor asks her. "You know that bastard Zander belongs behind bars. I am sure he is responsible for Kaya too". Agnes Maris looks at her surprised. "My dear, why would Zander harm our little Kaya? I know he has been bullying Kas for a long time now", her voice breaks at the confession" It's all my fault. I've been so busy trying to make a living that I compromised and kept quiet on it. But Kaya? Zander has never been near her, ever". 

Dor bites her lip, regretting her words. If Aunt Maris finds out the whole investigation fiasco, she wonders what would happen. Better to wait and discuss it with Kas, she thinks. "Sorry, it's just that I am so angry", she quickly. "Its ok, my dear", Kas's Mas tells her. "I know you love Kas dearly". Later that day, as she goes through the morning 's events, she wonders what else is in store for Kas. She looks at the cake she has been decorating. There are more twists and twirls in Kas's life than in the icing on the cake.