Page 8 of Sweet Little Thing

“I don’t recall asking you what you thought, Mother. Neither did my father. But then, of course, you were busy at the club,fucking the Tennis Pro. You didn’t pay strict attention to the will or to Dad’s last-minute changes. So, while you’re wasting your breath, telling me what I can and can’t do, remember this is mine. All of it. Every square inch. Dad didn’t care what happened to his unfaithful wife at his death. He had time to change his mind but didn’t because the man couldn’t trust you.”

I retreated. This wasn’t my business. But wow, it also wasn’t what I expected to hear from a son. Jasper was cold and angry. If she’d been having an affair on his father, I understood his hurt and vindictiveness. Especially since his father had died of a sudden heart attack. But the complete emotional detachment in his voice was shocking when he spoke. He seemed so easygoing, carefree, and uninterested in responsibility.

“I’m not going to defend myself to you. I’m sorry for what I did. There were things in our marriage you knew nothing about. You’re my child. I want you to succeed. That’s what this is about. All I’m trying to say.”

He laughed, an unreal, evil cackle. I couldn’t see his face, but the sound made me shiver.

“You worry about your tea parties, tennis matches, and shopping expeditions. I’ll handle everything else. Do not give me advice. You’re not a person I’d take it from.”

Silence, then footsteps. “Jasper, please!” Portia called out, a door slamming in the distance, and I knew he’d walked away. I stood hidden, unmoving, until I heard Portia shift and enter the house with a sigh. I waited five more minutes before proceeding to the entrance I always took near the kitchen. I didn’t know what this family had been like before Alfred Van Allan suffered a massive heart attack and died two days later. But I knew they were completely dysfunctional now, and I realized I felt sorry for Portia, although she didn’t sound like she’d made wise decisions. Jasper had obviously been raised to be the man he had become. For that, I had sympathy, though the two had created him, asfor myself, I’d been raised by a woman who luckily put her kids first, above all else, even a social life, because I never once saw her date.

“I’d forget all you heard. Wasn’t your business.” The deep drawl I now recognized suddenly came from behind me. I was beginning to think he stalked me to catch me at the very worst moments so he could set me in my place. In his stuck-up, entitled, conceited world, I was a minion he could look down on.

I snapped. “I’m aware of that. It wasn’t on purpose. I was just getting back.”

He shrugged his left shoulder, sat down on a lounger, laid back, and put his hands behind his head. “But you listened. You could’ve walked away.”

He was right; I could’ve. I started to argue that they were blocking my entrance, but it even sounded lame to me. So, I left, I didn’t have to explain myself, and I wasn’t going to try.

“He won’t keep you, she hired you, which makes him detest you, no matter how appealing you may be.”That was a fear I was trying not to focus on, but after hearing what I’d just heard, Winston may be right. If Jasper fired me, we’d be out on the streets. How was I to keep Heidi fed and housed? I couldn’t leave her to go work a job. Not alone, she couldn’t be left alone.

My head began to pound, and I hurried inside. I couldn’t lose this job. This place was all I had. It was keeping Heidi protected. If my mother was friends with Portia and Portia owed her something, whatever that connection was, I knew Jasper wouldn’t care. He hated his mother, that much was obvious, he wouldn’t feel obligated to help Heidi. Throwing us out would make him happy. Another way of avenging his father, by overturning his mother’s decision.

“You’re late,” Portia said as I walked into the house. Actually, I was early, but their talk outside had stalled me. I couldn’t tell her I’d overheard them.

“I’m sorry. Traffic was bad.”

She glared at me. “I did you a favor by letting you go today. The least you could do was return on time. I don’t need this from you. You’re the help. The help. Do your damn job and stop acting so fucking disobedient and entitled.” She slammed her glass down on the table, and the drink spilled onto the floor. “Clean that up, then get to your duties.”

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Portia stalked from the room, and I hurried to clean up her mess. I understood she was hurting from what her son said, the bitterness and anger that often spewed from Portia’s mouth had its beginnings in what she’d done, her infidelity had caused her son to hate her. Portia’s life was unhappy. She’d slept with another man. In return, she was thrown to the mercy of her son. For a woman like Portia, who lived in luxury, I imagine that was tough. That didn’t make her harsh treatment of me acceptable, but I understood her guilt, if guilt was the reason she did it. That or she felt trapped, just like I felt trapped.

“She’s a bitch, isn’t she?” That was Jasper’s voice. “You don’t have to answer that. I know what you’re thinking. Can’t figure out why you’re working for her when you could work so many other places. That face of yours would open doors.”

I finished wiping and stood to face him. “I hope I never have to use my face to get myself a job. This one is just fine, it covers my needs, and my feelings aren’t easily hurt.”

Jasper studied me, which made me nervous as I waited for him to respond. It seemed longer than the seconds it took. “Then you want, need this job?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Want and need it.”

He shrugged and sighed, saying, “Fine, she’s hard to deal with, but if you can handle her, then you’ll do. You handled last night like a fucking champ. I was impressed.”

Portia never complimented me. I wasn’t sure if a thank you wasappropriate, so I replied, “I was doing my job.”

He chuckled, “Yeah, I guess you were.” Jasper then strolled through the back door towards the pool house, stopping to speak to Winston, who laughed. I watched. Intently observed. All I’d seen was Winston’s serious face. His elitist, annoyed inobservance. I hadn’t seen Winston smile. His face, which was stunning with a scowl, became breathtaking with a smile. Shaking my head, I quit admiring him and went to the kitchen for my list—the things the day held for me. Staring at Winston wasn’t one of them.

Chapter

Seven

Beulah

By the next morning, no one remained except Jasper in the pool house. The others left last night. I’d seen their expensive cars drive away. I wasn’t sure if they would return or if Jasper would move into his bedroom. I knew today I would have to clean the pool house. Yesterday, he’d told me not to worry about it but to come back after nine in the morning and give it my attention. He also left a grocery list.

At eight-thirty, he exited the pool house. He was dressed in a suit with his messy blond hair brushed, and I admit he was excessively attractive. But he didn’t look like a CEO. More like a model meant for a Times Square billboard. He was dressed as if he was going to work. I wasn’t sure if they had offices in Savannah. Apparently, something was here.

Heels clicked on the marble. I knew Portia was approaching. She was up earlier than usual again. I finished cleaning the glass doors just as she entered the room: “They’re all gone. You needto get out there now and clean that den of filth. Make it spotless and give him no reason to complain because he’ll look for something. Offer nothing. Like a military barracks. Now Beulah, rush, rush, rush!” She then waved her hand and made me feel like an unwanted animal being shooed away.

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