Endeavor: Penelope's Tale

Chapter Eight

"What are you doing, Mother?" Willie's chest was heaving as he tried to suppress his fury. "Would mind explaining yourself?"

Penny could her the pounding of his heart. It was beating faster than usual but it sounded fine to her. Despite the situation she was in, the throbbing of her head and the emotional turmoil she was having, she couldn't help but feel a cold shiver crawl out from the back of her down to her spine. It was the first time he held her tightly, protectively in his strong arms.

"She killed your grandfather." Marydeth answered without blinking.

"What?" She reacted, surprised by the words coming out of the woman's mouth.

"What are you talking about, Mother?"

"She was with him when he had the attack. She was the only one in there, with him. If only, she had paid more attention to him, did her job well, we could have saved your grandfather."

Yes. She couldn't argue more with Marydeth's explanation. It was exactly the same thought running on her mind the whole time, thus, the source of her guilt.

"You can't blame her. I'm sure she didn't want this to happen either."

"Willie." She placed a hand on his chest. "I agree with her on one thing. If I had paid more attention to his health this morning, we have done something to prevent a heart attack or had medics on standby."

"Penny, don't be too hard on yourself. Grandfather wouldn't want that." He said trying to ease up her guilt.

Tears started to form on her eyes and eventually rolled down her cheeks. She was reminded of the old man's kindness and affection for her by his words. Willie was as kind as his grandfather. And the words he said to her that morning, his wish for her to keep Willie happy and never give him a reason to feel otherwise. She remembered them all.

"Hey, don't cry. Grandfather will be happy wherever he may be right now." He brushed his thumb on her cheeks to dry up the tears.

After a moment, Willie pulled away and stared at her with sad eyes. He was asking her to give him time to mourn for his loss. She nodded without hesitation. How selfish could she be? This was the man whom the old man cherish the most. And it was evident that his love for the old man was just as strong.

But because she was in a situation that compromised the chance of getting into Marydeth's good side, he had to be there to comfort her and protect her from his own mother. He had to set aside his pain for her sake.

"Go." She whispered.

"Thank you." He whispered back before kissing her forehead. With sunken shoulders, he walked toward the door which would lead him to where Mr. Madison's remains rested.

She watched him open the door, his hands were shaking. Before he disappeared from her sight, he gave glanced back at her with unshed tears. She had to cover her mouth just so she can prevent herself from weeping. His face showed her how deep the cut in his heart was when he lost one of the precious person, of not the most.

"You can quit acting now." Marydeth sneered.

Penny looked at the woman with a heavy heart. How could she keep on hating her instead of mourning? Wasn't that the normal reaction if you lost a loved one? But she could only see hatred in the woman's eyes.

"Why do you hate me so much?" She had to ask.

"Because you don't deserve the attention Muriel has been showering you. And you don't deserve my son's devotion."

"Why? Is it because I live in an apartment that's smaller than your room? I don't have a master's degree, a huge amount in the bank or a business I can brag about. Is that it? Or probably because I'm black. Does skin color matter that much?"