CHAPTER FOUR

"It looks like I should be appreciative because I won't be going to jail", she said quietly.

"Smart girl", he answered her.

"Okay. Thank you, Dennis. I am so grateful to you for not reporting me to the police. I promise to be a good maid and an escort to you", she said sarcastically.

"Since I am to be your boss, you use Sir and not my name. We are not from the same class. Do I make myself clear?"

Rose was so angry; she raised her right hand to slap that stupid smile off his face. He saw her hands and smiled the more.

"Don't even think about it. You will so hate yourself and wished you never stood there yesterday. Trust me", he said and stood up.

Rose looked at him with hate-filled eyes brimming with tears. 'He was very kind to me just a moment ago. What happened to that person? Living with him won't be easy. How will I cope with him in one house?'

"Alright, when am I to move into your apartment? And I hope you know that I won't leave my mom's side" she told him

"Actually, I live in my own house. There is a little bungalow behind my building in the same compound. You will be staying there with your mother", he said to her.

"Since I will be working without pay throughout my stay with you, how am I supposed to pay for my mother's drugs?" she asked.

"Just leave your mom out of this. I will take care of her myself. Whatever she needs I will provide. And I will be giving you little money every month for your upkeep", he said and looked away.

She laughed and said "You are funny. I don't understand you at all. You threaten me with jail and now you are telling me you will take care of me. What do you really want, Sir?" she asked.

"Nothing, I have said my piece. I am leaving. When Brendan comes in, tell him I will see him later. I need to rest. I have a headache, thanks to you Sweetheart" he said and bowed mockingly.

Rose bent her head in shame and said "I am sorry for everything"

"Whatever", he answered opening the door, only for him to see Brendan standing there with a dejected face.

Brendan was devastated. How was he going to tell Rose that her mother didn’t make it? He tried all he could for her in the theatre but she did not respond to their treatments. This was going to be very hard for him to do. He was about turning the door handle to open it but it turned in his hand and was opened. He looked up and saw Dennis come out.

When Dennis saw Brendan, he knew immediately that something was wrong. He closed the door behind him and pushed Brendan away before Rose saw him.

“Please tell me Rose’s mother is okay”, he begged, but Brendan just shook his head. Dennis took him to the reception and sat down.

“How are you going to tell her that her mother is dead? You told me yourself that she has no one and has suffered enough, why this?” Dennis asked.

“I don’t know what to do. We tried all we could for her but it seems that she just couldn’t take it anymore. A lot of women have done this operation but they all came out of the theatre alive. She just gave up the ghost. I guess she was tired of life”, sighed Brendan.

“You have to tell her immediately then. There is no easier way to tell her. I will be on my way now. Tell her to forget about the burial arrangements. I will take care of that. And there is no point in keeping her in the morgue, accumulating more expenses. We will bury her tomorrow. Let me be on my way now”, he said as he stood up.

Dennis knew his friend so much. And he can never waste his money on a girl he knows he won’t have anything serious with. He knew his friend was already falling for Rose. At least, this will be her consolation. She won’t be alone.

“Won’t you be with me when I tell her about her mother?” he asked.

“You know me and tears. I don’t do them”, he said as he left in haste. Brendan has caught him. Brendan knows about his feelings. There was no way he could hide anything from Brendan. He was a wizard.

Brendan knew Dennis was running away. He just smiled sadly and went to his office. When he entered, he saw Rose sleeping and snoring softly. He touched her shoulder and she woke up with a start.

When Rose saw Brendan face, she knew her mother did not make. She just burst into tears.

“Rose, I am so sorry. We tried all we could, but our best wasn’t good enough. I guess it was time for her to meet her Maker. Please, just have that thought in your heart. She is resting in God’s arms and smiling. She is no longer in pain. She is happier there”, he said

“I know she is happier there, but it is so painful. I am now alone, no one to laugh and talk with. My fiancé cheated on me with my best friend. I lost my job this morning and my Landlord called me to come and pack my things if I don’t have the money with me. What am I going to do?” she asked in despair.

“Rose ...”

“How am I going to bury her now? I even forgot that. Oh my”, interrupted Rose before she burst into tears again.

“Rose, please calm down.  Dennis said he was going to do all that. He said the burial will be tomorrow. So don’t let that bother you”, he said.

“Why will he do that? I thought we had already talked about how I was going to pay him back the money I took from him”, she said and bent her head

“You don’t need to be shy. He told me everything, but what is this talk about you repaying him?”

“He said I was going to be his maid and an escort for a year. He also said he will be the one to take care of my upkeep. And I will be leaving in his house. I had no other option than to say yes. But I know he hates me so why will he still offer to bury my mum for me?” she asked.

“Just forget about everything. Let him do the spending. Then after the burial, you can ask him all the questions you want to ask him. I am so sorry about your mother. Do you have a place to stay today?” he asked.

“No. I don’t mind leaving all what we have in that house. I just need my clothes. All what we have are just too old. My mom’s clothes are too old as well. I would have given them out. I don’t have many clothes. Can I stay at your place today? Then, move over to Dennis’ place tomorrow”, she said.

“No problem. You can stay in the guest bedroom. The only issue here is my place is kind of dirty. I don’t stay there much because of my job, but you will see a place to lay your head”, he told her.

“Thank you so much. You have been a tremendous help to me for the past three months. I don’t know how to thank you enough but God will bless you and He will give you a good wife with great kids. Your life will be the opposite of mine. You will have unending joy in your life. Thank you so much”’ she said in tears.

“Thank you as well”, he answered and continued “let’s go and collect your clothes then I will drop you at my place so that you can rest a bit”

“I would really love that. Thank you”,

On their way out of the office, they met Dennis in the walkway, coming towards them in long strides.

“Did you forget anything here?” asked Brendan.

“No. I have arranged everything for the burial tomorrow. I bought a space at that cemetery close by. Everything is ready. We will be there tomorrow at 10am”, he answered Brendan.

“Uhm, thanks for that. I don’t really know why you went through all that trouble but thank you all the same. I am sure we will talk about the payments later”, she said.

“I am sorry for your loss. I don’t really know her but I am sure that she must have been a good woman. I am truly sorry. And another thing, since I know that you don’t have a place to stay, can I take you over to my place? At least, you will get to know the place. With that you won’t have to think about where you will stay”, he said to her.

“Doctor Brendan has already offered to let me stay at his place. We were in fact on our way to my place so that we can take my clothes, since that is the only thing useful there, before we saw you”, she answered and looked down missing the look Dennis gave Brendan.