Maid For Him

Chapter 22

Reese***

I couldn't get my mind off my mother. It was Saturday morning and I was getting ready to go to work. As much as Rickel begged me to stay over last night, I couldn't. It just didn't feel right.

"Hmmmm so you spent two nights with Mr. Sexy Body. How was it?" She winked at me.

When I didn't reply she grabbed me and spun me around to face her. "What's wrong Reese?"

I held back the tears as best as I could. "I'm good. Just an issue with my mom. She's in the hospital."

"Oh my gosh! What happened to her?"

"She .....uhm...fell down a flight of stairs."

She hugged me. "It's going to be alright darling. Maybe you shouldn't go to work today?"

I shook my head. "I can't stay at home and mope all day. I need to keep my mind busy."

Gaby squinted her eyes at me. "You sure it's not because you want to see Rickel?"

I hissed my teeth. "If I wanted to see him so badly I would have moved in with him from the first time he offered."

"He offered??" She was beyond shocked. "Why the hell are you still sleeping on my couch then? The man is in love with you. Wake up sister!"

"Love? Rickel knows nothing about love."

"Keep saying that girl." She said. "I can't wait for the day Aaron asks me to move in with him."

The queeziness was starting to develop in my stomach. For a second I had forgotten that she was dating my ex. 

"I-I have to go now. Don't want to be late." I grabbed my bag and ran out of there.

"But Reese I want you to meet Aaron." I heard her say just as I locked the door behind me.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Everything is upside down. I can't wait for things to start getting back on track.

Half an hour later I was walking into Rickel's house feeling dreary as ever. From where I stood the house seemed spotless.

"It's very clean, isn't it?" Rickel beemed at me. "My back is aching. House cleaning is so hard."

He was really confusing me. "Why would you clean? That's my job."

He smiled. "Because you won't be able to. You'll be busy all day. We will be leaving in a few minutes."

"Leaving for where?" I questioned.

"It's a surprise. No questions."

I folded my hand across my chest. "If I'm leaving the house, I need to know where I'm going. What if I don't trust you?"

"I'm going to get my things. I'll see you in a few minutes."

My mother is in the hospital and I know I should be sad but I couldn't help feeling excited. I absolutely loved surprises. Maybe he's taking me to have breakfast.....or to a water park? It's been ages since I've gone out and enjoyed myself.

I sat on the couch, plugged in my earphones and tried to relax. I didn't want to get my hopes up just in case it's something I won't enjoy.

"Ready?" He called out. He had a small knapsack in one hand and a rather large envelope in the other.

I followed him to his car. When I got in he handed me a piece of cloth. "What's this for?"

"To blindfold you." He answered. "I don't want you peeking."

Was I going to willingly let this guy kidnap me?

"Ok...." I let him tie it over my eyes. "No fast driving please. I'll get queasy since my eyes will be closed."

"Your wish is my command Miss Rivera." His arousing voice made me relax as he started to drive.

I tried to picture the road in my head. We rounded a few corners and stopped at a gas station. Was he taking me somewhere out of the area?

After leaving the gas station, he purposefully drove in circles and I lost my sense of direction after that.

I felt like I was driving around in a closed, dark box.

"Can you at least play a song? This darkness is killing me."

Rickel laughed. "What kind of songs do you fancy?"

"Fancy? Who uses that word anymore. You're so old. You must have been around in the caveman days." I laughed at my own joke.

"Who laughs last.....you know the rest." Rickel said, his voice sounding like he was warning me.

"What's that suppose to mean? I'm taking off the blindfold this minute."

Rickel grabbed my hands and held them in place. "If you remove it, we have to turn back. Don't you want to see where I'm taking you?"

Damn my inquisitive mind!

"Fine." I conceded.

He turned the radio on and let Celine Dion's voice fill the car.

More than twenty minutes had passed and we were still driving. This place was damn far.

The car slowed down and my heart started beating faster.

"It's almost time for the blindfold to go." Rickel sounded excited.

He parked the car and got out.

"Watch your head and your step." He held one of my arm and the small of my back as he guided me out of the car.

I felt so clumsy walking around, not knowing where and how to step. My heart broke for all the blind people in the world.

There was a lot of noise around me and I was almost sure I heard a plane take off. We weren't at an airport. We couldn't be!

The ground beneath my feet was smooth like it was freshly polished and the ace made me shiver so I hugged my body to preserve the heat.

Rickel untied the blindfold slowly and when it was finally off, I was afraid to open my eyes. I knew I was at the airport but why did he bring me here?

"Come on. Open your eyes."

I did and he handed me my ticket.

Round trip to San Juan international Airport, Puerto Rico.

"You booked me a flight to Puerto Rico? Why?" I asked.

Rickel shook his head. "Isn't it obvious? I'm taking you to see your mom in the hospital."

I was still in shock. I haven't seen my family in two years.

"Crap! Now we have to turn back. I didn't bring my passport."

"Really Reese? You honestly think I would forget that?" He handed me my passport.

"Where the hell did you get this?!"

He smirked. "I have my connections."

"What? So you have violated my privacy? How dare you!"

"Calm down Reese. I told Gaby I was taking you on a trip abroad. She was the one who gave it to me."

I calmed down.

Rickel did all this so I could see my mother. How was I ever going to repay him?

"Thank you." My voice broke and I threw my arms around his neck. "I'll pay you back I promise."

"No need to." He whispered. "Consider it a gift."

I was awestruck. What I did next caught both Rickel and me by surprise.