Winston cocked an eyebrow as if he was observing an idiot. I wished I could cock one eyebrow right back at him. “I thought the place was empty,” I said defensively.
“And I thought you wouldn’t be here until nine,” he repeated.
Not that I had to explain myself to him, but I did anyway. “Portia saw Jasper leave and sent me out earlier than anticipated. She wanted me to have plenty time to clean the place.” I glanced around. “She obviously expected it to be in much worse shape.”
He didn’t respond. Instead, he walked to the door and picked up a set of keys that were on the table there. Without a word, he left. Not that he had to tell me goodbye or talk to me at all, but it was rude. Cold even. As if I were not important enough for parting words. Jerk.
Jasper was the opposite—he was nice. He wasn’t rude. At least not like that. He could be hard at times but I understood he was angry with his mother. To others he seemed fun, polite, kind. Why he was friends with Winston, I had no idea. Nothing about Winston whatever-his-last-name-was remotely resembled Jasper. Except of course, their bank accounts.
I shook him and his behavior from my thoughts. Instead, I focused on my daydreams of going to nursing school one day while I cleaned. I focused on how I would get a job and afford to take care of Heidi on my own. How I would make my mother proud as she watched us from the clouds. All those things kept me humming a tune and enjoying the peace while I worked.
I knew those dreams weren’t close. It would take me some time to figure out the details because all I got paid from Portia was a roof over my head, food, and fifty dollars a week. From that I had to take out the gas money to see Heidi. Portia took care of Heidi’s home. That home was the most important thing and all I cared about. But I was only averaging $160 a month in savings. It was going to take years for that to grow into enough money for school tuition, an apartment, and to care for Heidi.
Working nights somewhere was an option I’d been considering. If Portia was okay with my leaving after dinner I could work somewhere a few nights a week. If I could sleep at least three nights a week, I think I could manage it. There weren’t a lot of options for night work, but I had been looking around at what was available. The front desk at a hotel, a service station clerk, waitressing at a restaurant, or hostess at a night club. The night club wardrobe wouldn’t be great, but that job paid the most. With this being a college town there were several places I could work waiting tables. But a hotel would be so much easier.
It was almost noon when I left for the grocery store. The pool house hadn’t taken nearly as long as I thought it would to clean—thanks to Jasper.
OVER THE NEXT WEEK, I only saw glimpses of Jasper coming and going from the house. He was always dressed for work. Portia didn’t say much, but she watched him as her drinking became regular.
I overheard them one evening while I was doing the laundry. He was raising his voice and accusing her of wasting his money. He was going to start giving her an allowance. She hadn’t been happy about that at all.
The next morning she’d woken up and appeared in the kitchen asking for whiskey in her coffee.
When Sunday morning came and there was no notice of guests or another party, I was relieved. I’d be able to attend family day and spend time with Heidi. I had worried all week that I might have to disappoint her again.
I made coffee for Portia—adding the whiskey—then made her a fruit salad using the berries I’d gotten at the store the day before. She never asked for food anymore. I was taking it upon myself to feed her anyway.
She scowled at the fruit, but said nothing as I sat the bowl in front of her. She also didn’t mention the whiskey in her coffee. After the argument over money with Jasper, she hadn’t talked much at all. I could feel her rage boiling under the surface, though. Each day she was getting worse. I was worried that when she exploded, Jasper and I may both be thrown out.
Today, however, I wasn’t going to worry about anything. I took the plate of cookies I had made last night and headed for the back door. When I stepped outside, Jasper was walking from the pool house to the main house. He frowned at the plate of cookies in my hand and at the way I was dressed. This was the only day I wore my own clothing.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied hoping he didn’t ask for details.
“Where?”
“It’s my day off. Sundays that is. I leave for the morning and most of the afternoon.”
He waited as if he wanted more of an explanation. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to tell him more. Portia hadn’t told him about Heidi. There had to be a reason why she didn’t tell him. I knew that Portia paid for Heidi’s care. Now that she was on an allowance and Jasper was taking control of her money, I wasn’t sure how that would be affected. He had to know about Heidi and the expense for her care at some point. I worked to provide her that care. It was part of my salary.
“My mother tends to live above her means. She sees no limit to spending. My father never curbed her and she needs to slow down. It isn’t her money after all. The amount she has been paying you seems ridiculous. Surely you know that. Six thousand dollars a month is not a normal salary for the job you do here, but Portia was adamant that you needed that much. Regardless, I don’t think taking a full day off work on Sunday is fair if you’re paid the same amount as some of the executives I know. Do you think I am being unreasonable? If you need Sunday off, I am fine with that. But we need to discuss a new salary. One that makes sense. I don’t know anyone who pays a live-in housekeeper that kind of money.”
Six thousand dollars? Portia hadn’t told me the cost of Heidi’s care. I never imagined it was that much every month. I loved where Heidi lived. And she loved it there too, but $6000 was insane. I thought it was around $2500 at most. But never $6000. I wanted that place and the care Heidi was being given, but how could I ask the Van Allen’s to pay that? He was right of course. My job and salary wasn’t worth even half that a month.
“I . . .” I had no idea what to say. Words didn’t come. If I took Sunday’s off and he lowered my pay that meant Heidi would have to leave the home. She’d adjusted to her life and was happy. How could I jerk her out and move her somewhere else?
I’d have to work nights to make it work. Not to save for college, but to pay for her to stay at the home. I could not expect Jasper to continue my over-the-top salary because Heidi needed special care.
Jasper was right. It wasn’t fair at all.
“Okay,” I finally said. “What is fair?” I should discuss this with him in more depth, but I didn’t know what else to say.
“I asked around this week after I saw how much you were getting paid a month. The average for your job is $2800 with room and board. Ms. Charlotte was being paid three thousand when she retired and that was after sixteen years of working here. Considering you’ve been paid $6000 for the past six months I would hope you’ve saved up money. I think the fair thing to do here is pay you $2000 for the next six months to even out some of the exorbitant pay you’ve been receiving. This job can be harder at times. I’ll have more parties. There will be more entertaining that you’ll be responsible for. But you have been paid well. I expect you see that. Portia gave you that salary and like anyone else would, you accepted it. Can’t say I blame you. But it was too much. Entirely over the top.”
Two thousand. I’d need to somehow make $4000 more a month to keep Heidi at the home. How would I do that? It seemed impossible. All I could do was nod my head. I couldn’t argue with him. It wasn’t his responsibility to take care of my sister. He didn’t have to give me a job and he owed me nothing. Portia had felt some form of payment was meant for my mother, although I have no idea why. But Jasper knew as little about that as me.
“We are clear then. You are free to take your Sunday’s off. Starting at the first of the month your paycheck will be $2000.”
I nodded again. It was all I could do.
He gave me a tight smile. “Glad we can agree. You handle Portia well. She wants to keep you. That’s not easy to manage because she’s hard to please. I have no fault with your job. You do it well. No complaints. But I would like to add some things to your job description. Starting with having breakfast on the table for me at eight every morning. I’ll leave a list of things I prefer and I take my coffee black and strong. I also want my bedding changed every three days and my sheets should be pressed. I need you to keep my fridge stocked with the items I will also list. Check it daily, and make sure I’m not running low on anything. I am sure I will have a few more things to add. But we can discuss that later. For now, go enjoy your day off,” he said ending our conversation with a friendly smile this time.