My Precious

FOUR

It was a month after Grace found the baby and still no one claimed her yet. She had become a part of the orphanage home just as they had said she would. Grace had also become a constant visitor and a benefactor to the orphanage home. She felt more alive and it was great. All these, didn't make anything change at her office. It was still the same story of filling in for everybody.

A junior staff dropped another stack of files on her desk. Grace looked at the stack and heaved as she continued with her previous engagement. Few minutes later, the office became noisy. Grace looked around wondering what caused the noise. She saw Mr. Abba standing at the centre of the big office, with him was a young man. Just his features alone explained why the noise came up. He was a ravishing man with the right body build. Broad chest, tall, brownish gold in complexion. Grace was agape.

"Grace, Grace!" Mr. Abba yelled and it did well in bringing her from that lost world.

"I said get Mr. Michael settled. He's our new part-time worker." He said.

"Yes sir."

They had earlier cleared out a desk next to Grace the previous day, she didn't ask why, she had intentions of turning it to her extra desk since she always had extra work.

"She's our best girl." Mr. Abba said and even though he intended for it to be in whispers, everyone still heard. Theresa, one of her colleagues hissed loud enough. She didn't like the fact Mr. Abba acknowledged Grace instead of her. She was glad he used her do errands too.

"Michael." He said and extended his hands for an handshake. Grace smiled timidly.

"Grace." She said and pushed her glasses to balance well as she took his hands. His grip was firm and her hands were melting in his already.

"Uh-"

"Oh. Sorry." She let go of his hands. Finally. He smiled.

"So, you wanna tell me how things are done around here?" He said in a lighter spirit.
"I mean, I'm just part-time, I'm hoping my desk would not get filled up like yours." He joked, Grace laughed at it.

"What? No. No. Just one of us tables get filled up. Like this." She said pointing to her table.

"Really? The " our best girl" table right? " he laughed.

" Well. Let's say yes to that."

"Hmm-hmm." Theresa interrupted.

"I'm Theresa. Welcome." She said extending her hands for an handshake as she deliberately pushed her hands past Grace's face to reach him at his end. He took her hands.

"Thank you, ma?" He wasn't sure if those formalities would be needed.

"Grace, the coffee machine broke down yesterday. Why don't you go across the street and get me some?" She said in a bossy manner.

As much as Grace would love her to get off her face is as much as she would love to be liked by her. She smiled sweetly.

"Why not?" She said and stood up from her chair and left the office.

At the end of the day's work, Grace left for the orphanage home, she missed baby and all she wanted at all times is to have her in her hands and pat her back gently, letting her know she's not alone in the world.

"That is my ball!" A little boy shrieked at the older boys who had captured his ball. "Give it back." He cried.

" What if we don't? What are you going to do? Report us to Sister Rosemary?" One of the older boys who seem to be the leader of the little gang said and the rest laughed. He pushed the little boy to the ground and walk past him.

Grace ran to him and stood him up. She had been watching the whole thing but didn't interrupt, she knew what it could be for the little boy at night. More of it and maybe worst, they could beat him.

She sighed as she walked back to the Nun's office, she didn't want this kind of life for the baby, she doesn't deserve it. It briefly took Grace down the memory lane, she remembered her first week in the orphanage home, she was just nine. She was still sulking from the fact that her aunty abandoned her when three older girls in her room came claiming territory. It was their rule for newbies to worship those they had met there. She remembered how she was severally beaten and punished by older girls and how her meals were snatched from her. She remembered the day her only friend was adopted and how heartbroken she was. She knew the pain. She always cursed her parents for leaving her all by herself, she cursed her aunty who abandoned her. She carried this hate in her heart but it gave her nothing.

She greeted the Nun as she got to her office.

"Grace, what is the matter? You look saddened." She asked in concern.

Grace was silent for a while, she looked at the baby who had fallen asleep from the nice walk they had. She had no worries, no challenge and no pain but with time she would grow to know the world is not a place filled with rainbows and unicorns and then who would be there to protect her? Who would be there to be her canopy? Who would be there to wipe the tears that would come down her face freely? Who would be there to tell her it's going to be alright?

"Grace!" The Nun called Grace who had zoned out from the present.
Grace jerked at the call of her name, she looked at the Nun and looked at the baby again.

"Mother Clara, Can I keep the baby?"

Ooohhhh! Ever kind Grace.
I bet we all saw this coming? 😊

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