Page 9 of Lorna's Savior
“Yep.” Lorna laughed. When they returned to the kitchen, Annie, the maid, and Lori, the cook were standing there in their nightclothes and bathrobes. “I’m sorry to wake you.” She made her way to the coffee pot and poured four cups. She turned back, then sighed at their confused looks.
“Look, I had a wonderful day, and an even more terrific night. I came home to find Mother gone. I think I should tell you some things I’ve been doing, but let me go get something first.” She disappeared and returned in minutes.
“As you know, Mother’s gone for the next three months, but what I don’t think you know, is that I’ve been looking at apartments for the last six months. I’ve been looking at them after work, or going to the library on Saturdays. This was so Mother didn’t know what I was up to. The one I really, really like is available. I can move in tomorrow. Because of my absolutely perfect day and night, I was too keyed up to sleep. I went to the garage to look for empty boxes. Hours from now, I’ll be moving into my new apartment. I’m done living with my tyrant of a mother. I’m twenty-seven and it’s ridiculous that she won’t allow me to move out. With her gone, she has no say in the matter.” She paused to look at their faces, and grinned when they smiled at her.
She loved them even more when Murphy looked at her, and said, “There are boxes above the garage. I’ll get them.”
“I’ll help you,” Annie said.
“And I’ll make us all a big breakfast,” Lori grinned.
“Before you do that,” Lorna held up her hand to stop them. “Mother left instructions for me to give you, along with the pay I’m supposed to divide between the three of you for your wages. However, I’d like to propose something else.”
“Which is?” Murphy frowned at her.
“I know you all have families, and you only stay here to pacify Mother.” Lorna opened the envelope and pulled three stacks of bills. “Each stack is ten thousand dollars. Take one and go home. Mother’s gone, I’ll be gone no later than Sunday. Why should you stay in an empty house? Go home to your families. And guys...” Lorna paused until they all looked at her. “If I may make a suggestion, find different jobs. Don’t come back here where you’re underappreciated and underpaid. Let Mother fend for herself.” When they said nothing, Lorna only shrugged.
“Okay, then. Murphy, if you could get those boxes, I’d appreciate it.”
“What are you taking with you?” Annie asked. “Let me get dressed and I’ll join you in your room.”
“Okay, but I’m only taking my clothes and personal items in my bedroom.”
“What about furniture?” Murphy asked.
“I’m not going to have mother throw a hissy fit when she finds out I removed things from this house. Other than what I bought with my own money, which is my clothes and toiletries. Over the last year, I’ve been purchasing items to furnish an apartment, and I put them in a storage unit until this day came.”
The others looked at her in shock, then burst out laughing.
“Always knew you had a good head on your shoulders,” Lori said as she hugged her. “After I dress, and cook us a meal, I’ll help you pack, then let me call my boys and have them come with their trucks to take your furniture to your new place.”
“Thank you,” Lorna said as she hugged each of them. It took three hours to get everything packed, breakfast eaten, their vehicles loaded, and for Lorna to hear back from her new landlord. By three o’clock that afternoon, Lorna was all moved in, and her mother’s staff had stayed to help unpack her things. Murphy and Lori’s sons had unwrapped the plastic off all the furniture and set it up, while Annie and her daughters had unpacked her clothes, and toiletries, in addition to unpacking all the household items from storage, things like the towels, linens, and rugs.
Lori had commandeered the kitchen. She unpacked the dishes and cookware. When she disappeared for two hours, then reappeared, everyone looked at her in concern. “Where did you disappear to?”
“The grocery store. You’re going to need food. I bought things that I know you know how to cook, along with the basic spices every kitchen should have on hand. It’s not much, but it’s enough to get you started. If you want me to come teach you more, let me know.”
“I would, but I got a promotion at work on Friday, and I don’t know what my new hours will be. I do know that I’ll be extremely busy until Labor Day. We have three huge fundraisers this summer.” At their looks of surprise, she grinned. “Finn gave me Janis’ job.”
“Your former boss that was fired last year?” Annie asked.
“Yep, and they fired Simon just days ago. They aren’t hiring anyone to replace him. It’s me.”
“What about that nice young man, Marc?” Lori asked from her position in front of the cupboards.
“He’s a great guy, but he took a different position. Do you remember Maggie Pennyworth?”
“Isn’t she like a big-time executive there?” Murphy asked. “I know her husband, but I don’t know her very well.”
“She is, and she has a unique job. When people apply for a fundraiser, or money from the foundation, it’s her job to research the company asking for help. I mean she does a deep, deep research. When they meet her approval, then it goes up the chain of command before it lands on my desk. Maggie worked closely with Janis and Simon in the past. Maggie is retiring in two weeks, and Marc will take her job. He likes to stay behind the scenes, while I prefer to be the upfront person.”
“I’m proud of you,” Annie said as she hugged her. They looked around and realized all the work was done, but no one made a move to depart. Finally, Annie drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “If you need anything, and I mean anything, you call me. If you get a stain you can’t get out. Need clothes taken to the dry cleaners, or picked up, call me.”
“I will. Thank you, Annie.” Lorna hugged her. And then Lori said the same thing, but her offer was for cooking, or catering for any dinner parties she wanted to throw. Murphy was more practical and said to contact him if there was any problem with her car, or anything around the house that needed fixing.
They dragged it out for an hour, but Lorna was left alone by five that afternoon. Walking into the kitchen, she smiled at the pan she saw on the counter. After following the instructions, she put it in the oven, then went to shower. By eight that night, she was fast asleep in her new bed, in her new apartment. If anyone had watched her sleep, they would have wondered about the beautiful smile on her face the entire night. Little would they know that she was dreaming about her one-night stand, and how they had met again, and began a relationship that ended in a happily ever after.
Chapter 5
