Intimate Affairs [ON HOLD]

X I I

One week.

I'd made it one week in Luc's home and I still hadn't had the strength to get out of bed on my own. Mason had come over whenever he could go monitor progress, but all I seemed to accomplish was sitting up on my own. 

Earlier I'd exerted myself when I tried to plan a sneak attack on who I thought was Valentine about to walk in. I hadn't realized the toll it took on me until I'd fallen into a deep sleep soon after Luc left me to my own devices. 

It was either him or Mason that came to check up on me in the middle of the night or periodically throughout the day to see if I needed to use the bathroom or to bring me anything to eat. Luc hadn't visited nearly as much as Mason though. Luc had a job to manage, which I understood. 

Mason had a lot of free time because he was currently on vacation. Most people spent their free time on a beach or traveling, but Mason sacrificed that to stay and nurse me back to health. 

But I knew that wouldn't be for long because he had to be back on the job soon. 

I had to admit that I enjoyed the attention of both men, but sometimes I wanted to be alone. I wanted to have time to my own thoughts. 

By week two I'd been able to move again on my own without any assistance. Mason had notes that little small act of progress and assured me that it wouldn't be long now until I was finally healed. I was still sore in random places, more so than others. However, I could finally take a full on bath without having to use a loofa in the bed. 

And it felt great to be clean again.

My hair was freshly washed and my skin didn't feel so grimy. I wore a pair of underwear and another long men's t-shirt that smelt faintly like Luc. 

It was easier to fall asleep now and even easier to stay in bed all day without having to worry about my next meal or job application. I snuggled comfortably against the pillows and within the sheets before sleeping again. 

But that was short-lived when a woman nudged me not so gently from my dream. "Wake up. Time for breakfast."

I'd slept all night and it was morning based on the time from clock and the light flitting through the window. I'd expected Luc or Mason to be the ones to wake me up, not this woman. 

She had short dark curls, and chocolate brown skin sporting bright red lipstick. "Who are you?"

She turned on a brilliant smile upon introducing herself. "Dorothea, nice to meet you."

He name had automatically clicked. "Oh! The housekeeper."

"Housekeeper?" She hissed with a frown. "I know that ungrateful little boy did not tell you I was the housekeeper. This'll be the last time I do him any favors."

Suddenly very confused, I apologized. "I'm sorry."

"No, child. Let's go. Your breakfast will get cold." She moved around the bed to help me maneuver off the bed. I placed my hands on her shoulders before she heaved and lifted me to my feet. 

I hooked my arm around her neck as she snakes her arm around my waist. I admired her strength because where I couldn't support myself, she certainly held on to me with a steel grip. 

Using one hand to open the door while the other continued to hold onto me, Dorothea opened the bedroom door and that's when the smell rushed into my nostrils. 

Food. 

Home-cooked food. Sure, Mason and Luc had given me delicious meals on most nights, but they'd been take out. I could tell. Right now I was about to indulge in a good ole wholesome meal. My family didn't like to dine out often, only on special occasions for birthday parties but on a regular day my grandmother or aunt cooked. That was my favorite part of the day to look forward to especially after school when cafeteria lunches were less than savory.