Chapter 7 Requests Obtained

In England, the weather is one of the common topics to most, especially to the locals. It can also be used as a casual topic to start a conversation with a stranger. 

In a distant view, there is a tall handsome man approaching a beautiful lady on a wheelchair. The man got close to her and they seemed to be in a conversation. The woman stemmed to be saying something while looking up, appreciating the clear blue skies.

It’s sunny and Marianne should be enjoying the warmth of the sun, but here she is mad at herself for being impulsive and not acting ladylike. How could she let herself be in this disgusting predicament? She caught sight of the dog owner who is leaving the park with his dog on a lead. She can't help but feel sorry that she made his job harder. “I’m so bad,” she thought.

Francois stares at Marianne, checks the mess she is in then takes out his phone. 

             “Lana, could you bring a dress for Mrs Davidson and bring another wheelchair...” Francois didn’t finish what he was saying because Marianne pulls his sleeves then said

             “Please, I don’t want to go, I don’t really want to go,” she pleaded like a child.

He didn’t say anything but just looked at her while his hand is still on the phone.

             

             “Please... I should have said it from the start that I’ve no intention of going. I meant to tell you but I kept postponing it then I’ve forgotten about it. When the time arrived I thought that it should be alright but it’s not alright! I’m not alright!” said Marianne then bursting into tears.

               “Everyone is dictating me on what to do, what should I be eating, my clothes, when to go to sleep and to wake up, everything I do is being decided! I’ve not made a single decision ever since I left the hospital! Yes, the only decision that I did is to discharge myself at the hospital!” cried Marianne.

               “I know that what I did is very stupid, I shouldn’t have purposely ran into that dog’s mess to get dirty, but I promise that I won’t do something like that ever again. I just felt like I couldn't breathe,” said a sniffling Marianne.

Francois just watched her then spoke to the other line “Lana, bring those things that I said and make sure to be here within fifteen minutes,” he said then put away the phone.

Marianne heard what he said on the phone and it frustrates her. 

                

              “Great! I still have to go! Grr... this man!”

She thought Francois would at least listen to her.  She forgot that this man is heartless! Of course, his dedication and loyalty is what he is made of!  

She wipes her tears and suddenly it reminds her how emotionally she had been. She was caught on this that her reactions are being intense. How she burst into tears and spilling her pains to Francois without holding back. 

             

            “Is it because of Francois? Or is it just the hormones reaction of being a woman? I think I might be just a bit depressed,” she thought. She spots her soiled dress and feels more sorry to herself. How did I let myself get into this state!? How could I? I was a dignified person before. Why be in this woman’s body with all this unprecedented emotions that are surfacing?

             “If there is something that troubles you, you should tell me beforehand. Contact Lana if you can’t reach me,” Francois said which broke Marianne’s thoughts.

              Marianne didn’t say anything but feeling aggrieved and hating Francois.

After a while of silence, Lana came pushing a wheelchair and on top of it is a big box.

             “It must be the dress,” Marianne suspects and is annoyed by it.

            “Lana will drive you back,” said Francois to Marianne who just received a shock. She couldn’t believe she is actually getting away from this? He saw him speak with Lana then he left. 

            “Oh, I didn’t even get to say thank you... and I hated him earlier too…" Marianne thought, feeling so uncomfortable.

             “We should get you to change Mrs. Davidson, then I’ll take you back home,” Lana said smilingly.

      

             “Oh!” is all she can say. Why didn’t Francois explain it properly. Why made me assume that I’m still going with him? Ugh! I’m so embarrassed saying all those stuff! She looks at Lana and wonders if she heard her say those words to Francois while she is on the other line. Thinking that she did, the redder her face becomes.

             “I didn’t say anything to him after that, why did I not even say “thank you” right then,” Marianne thought sadly. It’s like she is making a lot of mistakes today and it is making her to feel down.

After she gets changed at one of the changing areas near the toilets, Lana is driving her back to the castle. Marianne keeps looking at Lana’s direction while she is driving. 

             

               “Is there anything that I can help you with, Mrs Davidson?” asked Lana.

               “Please call me Marianne,” she said.

               “I’m just wondering if Francois’ had been sleeping at the office in the past days.”

              “Yes, he had been. Danny had been in charge of his laundry. Oh Danny is his new secretary, another secretary I meant, I’m not fired haha, thank God for that!” Lana said, chuckling.

Marianne has a curious face looking at Lana, “Oh, so he has two secretaries?”

               “Mr. Davidson is workaholic, he works nonstop. Oh but he is very efficient too!  He gains approval and respect from the managers and all the staff are very impressed with him. Originally, I was his only secretary but because of the amount of work that he does, he hired another one. I, on the other hand, felt so grateful as I couldn’t keep up with him. And I wouldn't be surprised if he will have three secretaries,” said Lana proudly chatting about her boss, then added “ Oh, sorry I got carried away.”

Marianne smiled “I’m glad that he is okay, I’m truly glad that he is being treated well.”

               “Lana, may I call you that?” she asked, and a “yes, of course” coming from a smiling Lana while concentrating on her drive.

              “Could you please do me a favor and ask Francois to give me a call when he is not busy, it’s just that there is something I must say to him,” she said.

               “Oh, I think he is going to see you later today, well unless there’s an emergency meeting but I doubt it.  He finished all the urgent work last night so he can relax a little bit, but of course there is still a lot for him to do,” explained Lana.

Marianne felt her heartbeat quickening upon hearing what Lana had said, “I can’t believe I’m getting excited just because I heard him coming?” she thought with dismay.

Lana dropped her off and they bid their goodbyes. One of the maids helps her inside. Annie is out for today as she said “I’m taking my day off today!” 

After going inside, Mrs. Smith takes over and leads her outside then they go to an alleyway with tall trees towering above them. They reach a house made out of wood. Mrs. Smith unlocks the door and brings her inside. The room looks cozy. There’s a fireplace and Mrs. Smith started lighting it. A small television on the right with settees that surround it. Marianne looks to her left and sees a small kitchen, she wheels towards it then sees chairs and a table, an old wooden door which must be where the toilet is and then stairs that lead to the first floor.

She wheels herself back and sees the mesmerizing sight of the fire.  

            

           “Mrs Smith, why am I here?” Marianne asked her.

          

Mrs Smith looked puzzled then said “Ah, I forgot that you’ve lost your memories. You normally come here almost everyday. It’s like a routine that we don’t have to ask you about where you want to go.”

             “And could you explain to me what I do here?” Marianne  asked.

            “Sometimes you paint, you draw, read books or watch the tele. All your stuff is in those cupboards,” explained Mrs Smith.

She looked at Marianne with a bit of compassion and made a long sigh then said:

              “Look it must be hard for you that you can’t remember any of these. This place is where you had spent your days when you were young and after your parents had passed away. 

Your mother didn’t like living in the castle. This is where you stayed since you were born, but when you started going to nursery, your father convinced your mum that you should live in the castle as you will be starting to have your own friends. You all moved into the castle but your mum still spent her time here during the day. I guess the big spaces aren't for her. You called this place “Marianne Cottage”.

Marianne is silent after hearing these. 

Mrs Smith is watching her then said,

              “You might have lost your memories but you seem calmer than before, I’ve not seen you lost your temper yet since you came back from the hospital, I thought it’s because of Miss Annie but here you are alone with me without Miss Annie and I’ve not received any of those slashing remarks from you, well I hope that I won’t.”  Mrs. Smith smiled which is like the first time that Marianne saw her smile. 

               “I feel sad to them as a family but what’s up with Marianne, she sounds like a bitch,” she thought.

               “The only thing that I noticed is your lack of decency as a lady, I heard you speak some vulgar words and used slang words which is not what you are taught, I wonder if it’s Miss Annie’s influence, I think that you should still mind your manners even if you’re in Miss Annie’s company. If not, your Aunt Florence might sack her and I know that you are fond of her,” said Mrs. Smith with a warning and a concerned voice. 

Marianne looked at her and thought “Oh so she really isn’t against me, she wouldn’t have warned me against my aunt. But really, I have to change my way of talking. I'm supposed to be a lady who is born and sharpened with all the etiquette that there is. 

I think being in a wheelchair is a blessing! It camouflages my incompetency. 

I couldn't even imagine myself walking with high heeled shoes!”

A maid arrives at the door which brought the two into the present.

          “Mr. Francois had just arrived,” she announced.

  

“What!?” Marianne said a bit loudly, she didn’t expect him to be here so soon. Mrs Smith looks at her with disapproving eyes because of her loud voice.

        

            “At least I’ve not made any slashing remarks at you,” Marianne said to her which made the plump woman shake her head.

Marianne, being pushed by Mrs Smith is back in the alleyway then to the grounds of the castle then inside the castle through the hallways and passed the ball hall then a wide hallway for a couple of minutes to emerge at the doorway of a huge room, it’s used to be a “cigar room” in the olden days for men, but now it’s for everyone. Marianne had finally reached her destination and saw Francois looking at the papers. She is in a rush to see him for she knows how busy he is and would leave soon. She is cursing silently how long it took to reach to where he is. "What if he went back?" She can understand why Marianne’s mother would just want to live in the cottage. It's easier to traverse.

           “You're here!” Marianne said as she wheeled herself in, she had asked Mrs Smith to leave.

            “Yes, I arrived seven minutes ago,” he said, which made Marianne smile at his “exact time”.

           “Are you working later?  Would you be sleeping at the office?”

            “No, and yes,” he said, which made Marianne want to roll her eyes at him for such short replies.

           “So, you’re not working and you’re going back to sleep in the office but it’s Sunday tomorrow. Don’t tell me that you will be working on Sundays too?”

            “My parents want to see me tomorrow,” he said.

            “Oh, can’t you bring me to meet your parents? Also, why don’t you sleep with me here then we can both go there tomorrow?” Marianne said, then she realised what she just said!

"Oh my Gosh!! Damn this stupid stupid stupid mouth! What on earth did I just say to him!?

Oh God... Please let me just vanish..." she thought.

Marianne's face becomes red like a tomato. Francois looks at her for a while and said:

           “If that's what you want, I’ll sleep with you then we can go to my parents tomorrow.”