Chapter Seven

“Wow Mrs. Anderson, this is a lot” The nanny whom I've known to be Sarah seemed perplexed and shocked at how the food I had prepared came out.

Even the chef who stood at a corner is watching me intently as he wouldn't just agree that I've made that food.

“When I said you should trust me, what were you expecting??” I gave her a dotting smile and hers grew.

The chef cleared his throat before the girl's smile died, and she is back in her mean stand.

One thing I've detected through the time the three of us have stood in this kitchen preparing this meal is that Katherine was never the laughing one with the staff, and it came as a surprise when I accomplish just that.

“Now all you have to do for me is take the food to the dining while I clean off this mess,” I said to the both of them.

“No no Mrs. Anderson, I cannot let you do that. It's already a big sin enough that I let you cook and now clean? That's my work” The chef protested.

“Of course I know it's your work but let me do it, at least for today,” I said to him.

He didn't look convinced enough, but he still let me do that as he takes the food away with the nanny trailing behind him.

Cooking was one of those things that brought me joy whenever I felt like my life was drowning like I was tearing apart one by one.

Once I cook I become a greater version of myself and now that I have done this, there is this happiness I'm feeling right now.

I cleaned off the rest of the remnants in the kitchen as the two of them took the food to the dining.

“The kids are back,” The chef said to me as I noticed he wasn't alone.

“Good,” I said.

Also in the hours that I've spent cooking, I found out so much about the kids, their likes, and dislikes, and also got to know their mother wasn't concerned about that.

I know for one that is going to change, but I cannot force that change on them, so I will take it one step at a time.

“Well I will let you two do your thing then” I clean my hands off as I'm done and then one single glance around I'm walking away.

“Mrs. Anderson” I heard the chef call out and turn to me, “you will not eat with them??” He asked, looking sort of concerned.

“One step at a time” I answered with a smile, and then I'm walking away.

I went back to the room feeling more satisfied than I've done been here, I'm going to do everything within my willpower to see that at least those kids take a liking to me and this is one step.

* *

When I woke up, it was already dinner time. The room is black pitch dark and everything is kind of fuzzy.

I heard a sound in the door and groaned, remembering this was what woke me up. I held the blanket and I'm standing up.

I found the chef on the door and his hand is pressed for a second knock.

“Good evening Mrs. Anderson” I rolled my eyes, I cannot get used to being called that.

“To you too, what can I help you with??” I inquired.

“Well umm dinner has been served,” he said.

“Oh. umm, I will eat in my room thanks,” I told him and then turned back into the room.

He held my hand stopping me from taking another step and I turned back and eyed him.

“I'm so sorry I shouldn't have done that,” he said, looking scared.

A chef is a man in his late 50s and also perfect at his job. What could this woman have done that would make this man shit scared??

“It's fine it's fine” I admonished him immediately “but I will eat alone as I said before,” I told him.

He doesn't look convinced enough and wouldn't move even as I turned back.

“Yes??” I question.

“If I need to say” He gave me an eye that he needed permission from me to speak, and I nodded “I don't know if it's the accident cause this isn't you, I think you should eat with the kids, will make a solid difference,” He said and without saying another word he turned back and left.

I stared after him as he walked away, should there be any need for me to do that? I know I'm planning to take my time with the kids and all that but eating with them now and becoming hurt by the hostile behavior?

Instead of asking too many questions, I turned back into the room and determined that I will eat with them tonight.

Walking into the dining, everyone turned their attention toward me. I have a brief smile on my face until I made my way to a seat.

I inhaled deeply, not wanting to let my eyes roam around the table to the kids.

Their father isn't here yet, I think I can eat sharply without him coming to this place with another hostile treatment.

“How was school today??” I turned to Thompson, the first son and the eldest.

“Fine” he answered sharply and takes his eyes away from me.

“That's good, fine is good” I looked at their nanny, and even she is looking back at me.

“Thompson said he had a football game today, and he scored a goal,” she said.

“Oh really? That's outstanding" I cheered him and beamed adorably at him.

“I guess??” He shrugged.

“Why? You scored, that makes it awesome”

“I scored once, I wanted to score more” He seemed downcast as he spoke.

“I think everyone starts winning with one point, right??” I looked at the nanny who nodded “Which means the next time you might get two and yes, the winning streak is on”

“Wow really??” He suddenly looked happy.

“Of course” I smiled at him .

Someone cleared his throat, and we all turn back to see Damien Anderson at the side as he glared at me.