Novels by Louise

My eyes widened when Joey finished speaking and then continued to speak. Bash and Roni came back into the kitchen, holding a few more dishes that were used during the dinner. I now could not take my eyes off them after hearing what Joey had just said. I tried to imagine them dating each other or at least having anything else more than a friendship. “Joey, that’s enough,” Bash said sounding irritated when he found her still adding a few more drops of vodka in her cup. “Could I have another sip, please,” Roni said as she reached out for the cup. I watched in surprise as Roni drank some of the weird combination in Joey’s cup and did not even cringe. It was as if she regularly did this. “Are you sure you don’t want even a sip?” Joey offered me the cup as she handed it to me. I shrugged and slowly walked closer to her and took the cup. I took a sip and surprisingly it did not taste weird. “So, how does it taste?” Bash asked before I could even swallow it. “It tastes good,” I answer

“Uhm…” I froze. “Oh please don’t act shocked or anything.” she laughed. She pulled out more dishwashing liquid and handed it to me. “No, I am genuinely confused.” I sighed“Why though? Weren’t the two of you sticking your tongues down each other’s throats or something?” she asked as she laughed a bit.“When?” I questioned“When you went to the bathroom,” she replied “Oh no! We did not. He only escorted me and then we returned to the dining room.” I responded. “Really? So, he was not lying?” she asked “Yeah, we did not kiss or anything like that,” I answered “Dammit! Now your sister owes me like fifty bucks or probably even more.” she groaned. “Anyway, let’s go back to the kitchen. We will continue this conversation later.” We walked back to the kitchen with me feeling so confused. So that is what the two of them were probably betting on. We walked back to the kitchen to find Roni and Bash giggling about something. “Are we interrupting something?” Jo asked as she started lau

We all froze. Roni and I slowly turned to look at our father wondering how he was going to answer that question. He looked at Roni and then at me and then gave a slight nod as if we were supposed to know what it meant. “Uhm… my better half.” he started to speak with his voice shaking a bit. It definitely still pained him. I knew it did. We were all hurt by her sudden death but I felt like everything was rushed over and we did not get enough time to feel the pain or the grief. “My better half passed away not too long ago.” my father finally replied as I saw one tear drop escape his eye and trickle down his cheek. He casually wiped it away and then smiled weakly after that. “I am so sorry. I apologize for asking.” Joey gasped. “I am sorry for your loss,” Bash said. “I am sorry.” Katie also finally spoke. She also looked genuinely shocked about what she had just heard. So, I wondered how close Katie and my father were if my father could not even break the news to her about losin

He had long reached the dining room while I was still stood by the bathroom door trying to understand what he meant by that. I eventually found my way back to the dining room with everyone’s eyes on me - including Bash. “Are you okay?” Katie asked “Yep, I am good.” I replied and quickly grabbed a plate to serve myself. Katie and my father were still flirting with each other and making all these weird noises while I continued to stare at Bash trying to read his face. “Give me my fifty.” Jo whispered to Roni who sighed. “Fifty for what?” I questioned “None of your business.” Roni answered quickly. “I will give it to you later.” She answered as she turned her head to Joey. I served myself some food and then worriedly and slowly walked to my seat next to Bash. He pulled out the chair for me and patted it gently signalling me to sit down. “Thank you.” I whispered“Yep, you owe me like another fifty.” Jo laughed while looking at Roni. “Most probably.” Roni replied.“What’s going o

“Bash, did you call Joey?” Katie questioned“Yeah!” he replied. “Okay, well, come to the table.” she replied. He reached out his hand and helped pull up Roni from the couch. “Thank you.” she smiled. He then turned to me and reached out his hands to help me stand up. I hesitatedly reached out and touched his warm and soft hands before being lunged out of the couch as well. So, was he kind? Then, why did he look at me like that when I simply asked about his career? Meanwhile, I do not think Roni liked the sudden bond and connection I had with her friend Bash, which made me really wonder if they were just friends. But I told myself that Katie’s other son was going to come down the stairs and I will bond with him -even if he was a 10 year old spoilt kid who only dreams of video games. We all hurried for seats at the dining table and Bash hurried around the table and pulled out a chair. “For you, my lady.” he said while looking at Roni. “Thank you.” she said with a smile as she sat

“I have missed you!” she screamed. “Tori, come and take this.” my father said as he handed me the ice cream. Of course, I was the one stuck to looking like the servant because everyone else was having a little family and friendship reunion while I did not know anyone.“Hey hey!” Katie walked out of the house wearing an apron. I really wondered if all that chunky huge building was actually their house or was she renting it out or did they only stay in a portion of it. “Come right this way,” she said with a smile spread widely on her face. “We brought this.” I said with zero expressions as I handed the ice cream container to her before entering the house. “Oh, sweetie! You did not have to.” she smiled but still accepted it. I walked into the house, unsure if I should take off my sandals or leave them by the door. So, I did my famous strategy of pretending to fidget with them by the door until someone sees my struggle and then tells me what to do. “Oh no, you can keep them on,” B

“My my, this looks cosy.” Dominic faked a chuckle. I broke eye contact with Joshua and hurried to the kitchen and reached out for a bowl. Because Dominic is much taller than me and has a certain order for how his things should be organised, he placed all the bowls towards the back, causing one of them to slip out of my hands and fall to the ground. “HOMER!” Dominic yelled at me while I stared at the broken pieces of glass right at my feet. “I am so sorry.” I hurried off to get the broom and dustpan. “It was an accident.” Joshua sighed as he came out of the bathroom to peep at what happened. Dominic, on the other hand, did not look too pleased. He had already worn his grumpy face by then and was starting to growl. “I am so so sorry, sir.” I apologised as I started to sweep up the mess. “Why are you so clumsy?!” Dominic asked angrily“Look, these things happen.” Joshua started to defend me“Joshua, it’s okay. You don’t need to speak up for me.” I quickly snapped at him“I am only

“I am sorry sir, for lying earlier. Emma Scorsone is a good friend of mine.” I finally answered “Then why do the records say that she is your sister?” he asked. I felt like everything was just getting worse and worse and going against me. Anything I said would just make everything much worse. I imagined if I had just settled for telling the truth from the start, I would not be in such a messy situation. “I don’t know. Maybe when she was arriving, she must have said something about being my sister to Wilbur and Stanley. I am not sure.” I twisted some few words around hoping it would not come back to haunt me. “Okay,” he said I remained standing above him for some more time. “Can I help you with something?” he asked “I just wanted to know where else the cameras are,” I said worriedly “They are only in the kitchen, living room, dining room and like the corridors. I am thinking of installing at least one or two in here,” he replied “So, there is none in the room I sleep in?” I as

“Homer, who is Emma Scorsone?” he asked again, only his face was starting to get a bit more serious.I knew I was definitely getting into more trouble by pretending to not know who he was talking about. “Uhm…” I still wondered what I was going to say“You know, this could end quicker if you just told the truth.” he sighed “I don’t know who Emma Scorsone is, sir?” I lied quickly “Really?” he queried I nodded. I wondered how he discovered the name and why he was asking me about her. Did the Stanley or Wilbur tell him about Emma coming over? I assumed he had surveillance cameras around the house but he would have probably asked who I was with and not the name. So, I decided that Stanley or Wilbur most probably told him about her. “Finish cleaning up the dishes and then we will come and have a talk,” he said and walked out of the kitchen. I gulped nervously. I had no way out. In times like that, I wished I did not live with him because I would have probably ran off and pretended to

“What a day!” the sound of Dominic’s voice scared me from a deep sleep. “Homer, you can’t be sleeping on the couch!”I slowly opened my eyes and rubbed them to find an angry Dominic standing above me. “There is a room for you to do all the sleeping you want to do,” he said. “I am really sorry, sir.” I stood up and apologised. He walked away, clearly irritated while I debated if I should go and take a nap, or just shower and get out of my maid uniform and call it an early night. “I am so exhausted!” Dominic groaned “How was it?” I asked “It was actually really lovely. I enjoyed it. We went to an art gallery. Her younger sister just actually just opened an art gallery so we saw a few pieces, might buy a few for my house and then we went for lunch to this Japanese restaurant. I was not really a fan of the sushi. I have better sushi but she enjoyed it and then after all that, we went to the park and walked.” he answered “So, it was a date?” I asked “No, no. Not a date. I am not th

As soon as Dominic’s car disappeared, Emma’s car showed up, all before Stan and Wilbur could close the gate. So, Dominic must have passed Emma. “Ma’am, you’re lost. You might want to make a U-turn.” Wilbur said“No, I am not lost. I believe I am at the right place,” she answered. Emma was the last person Stanley and Wilbur wanted to fight with. Even if they were just doing their job, she would still manage to find a way to fight them. “Do you know anyone here?” Stanley asked “I am here to see my sister, Harper Holmes.” She answered “HOLMES!” Wilbur called my name. I walked out of the house nervously. I did not know what Stan or Wilbur could do now that Dominic was not around and Rebecca had stopped showing up. I did not know if Dominic had left either of them in charge. “Yes?” I replied as soon as I reached them. “Well, don’t you look adorable in your little uniform,” Emma said excitedly “Is this your sister?” Wilbur asked. I mean technically she was not my sister but if I s

“I am sorry sir,” I blushed as I asked him to repeat what he had just said “I was saying that we need to come up with a plan for your sleepwear,” he repeated while his eyes traced all over my body once again“Why?” I looked down at my outfit as I felt my cheeks heat up. He kept quiet and continued to look at me. “Because…” he finally shrugged “Because what?” I questioned, “Did Sadie say something?” “No, no.” he laughed “Okay, the both of you guys need to stop with your weird competition or whatever it is.” I wondered what he meant. Did Sadie also ask if I had said something to him? I mean, most definitely if he was saying that we need to stop with our competition. I did not want to ask him what he meant by the competition because he would start talking about that and forget the whole conversation about sleepwear. “So, why are we coming up with a plan for my sleepwear?” I dared to ask again“I don’t know. I just guess we should come up with one.” he shrugged “Then what if I ref