The Maid

Chapter 23

"Bye, thank you for coming, we'll see you soon." Ella yelled out from the front door to my family, who was leaving. Ella walks back to me and grabs ahold of my hands. "Soon you'll be my husband," she then places my hands on her stomach," and a dad." I flashed my biggest and widest smile. Outside I was happy; inside I was clouded and dazed.

I take Ella's hands and give them a small peck. She giggles and walks off, passing Rose holding a large stack of dirty plates. She stumbles a little and I come to help. "Let me give you a hand."

"Thank you Rowland," she hands me a few plates, and I follow after her into the kitchen. I set the plates into the sink and back away for her to do her job. She begins working on the dishes and I leave her to do that.

"Rowland," she called out. I turn around, "yes ma'am." Rose peeks past me and motions for me to close the door. She walks up to me and sighs, "Rowland, I know what you and Ariana have been up too," I freeze for a moment. In shock I open my mouth to protest but she holds up her hand to stop me, "Don't say anything."

"I know it's hard, but really think about what your doing here, okay." Rose pats my shoulder and returns to her work. How she knew about me and Ariana I had no clue. I was curious to know how she had found. "Rose, how did you know about me and Ariana?"

She chuckles a little, " I know about everything that goes on in this house."
I should have known, Rose is like my mother. I leave the kitchen and stride up the stairs to my office. I untie my tie and throw it on my couch and sit at my desk. I log on and wait for it to load.

My eyes drift to my couch and the tie on it. The memory of Ariana on that couch and all the things I did on it, the day replays in my head. Then I hear her voice. Do you really love Ella?

I couldn't help but to ponder on the question. As I think harder the more I found myself questioning everything. I was into my thoughts that I didn't even notice my little niece walk in.

"Uncle? Are you okay" she asked. I snap out of my thoughts,"yeah." She walks behind my desk and comes to sit on my lap. "I can't go to sleep, can you read me a story?" I look at her. She was tired and was on the brinks of sleeping, but of course something kept her up. Carefully I pick her up and carry her to her room. I place her in the bed and looked on the nightstand and find the book. It was called The Pink Princess, the book was covered in pink sparkles and had a princess with a pink dress.

TaQuell pats the bed beside her. I sit next to her and she cuddles up close as I read the story. After a few minutes I finish the story and see that she was still up, but barely awake.

"Quell, you need to go to sleep." I pout and she giggles a little. "Where did Auntie go?" She asked.
"Aunties down stairs." She shakes her head. "The auntie who is nice to me." I was perplexed,Ella was nice to her,Right."What do you mean?"

"I saw her leaving. She had a sad face and she left." Quell explained. Then It had finally clicked. "Oh, I don't know?"

"Well then can I sleep with you then?" Quell looks at me with her big doe eyes.
I smile and carry her to my room. I lay her down and she gets comfortable under the covers. I slide in next to her and move her hair out of my face. I see her eyes begin to shut. "Night quell"

"Night uncle" she replies and sleeps. Shortly after I too drift away into a deep sleep.

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Bright sun light shines into the room waking me up. I yawn and stretch out in the bed. I feel out the bed and find that I'm alone. I peer from my sleepy eyes and see the empty spot next to me.