Chapter 31

I woke up to a bright and sunny Saturday morning. From the position of the sun in the sky, I knew I had overslept and I could easily blame my four friends for it.

I kicked the covers off, made my bed and walked into the bathroom for a quick shower. I had my day planned.

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I locked the door after my morning routine and went down the stairs.

I paused when I got to the kitchen, the girls were having breakfast. My plan was to leave without running into them, they were usually in bed by this time, I wondered why they were up so early.

I took a deep breath and walked out of my hiding place.

"Good morning!" I said cheerily, as I walked past them.

"Where are you going to, Ophelia?" Arabella asked.

"I'm off to the supermarket, I need to restock some personal supplies." It didn't take much effort to conceal my lie since I'd been lying every day.

Ginevra gave me a once over. "She's lying." She declared.

I still put on my plastic smile, no need to drop the act and prove her right.

Arabella sighed deeply. "Ophelia, it's Saturday. Won't your mystery guy let you spend some time with us? Come on, you hardly have time for us, you don't even cook breakfast for us anymore, you're not even here for lunch or dinner."

I rolled my eyes.

"For the umpteenth time, Arabella There. Is. No. Mystery guy. I'm just going to the supermarket."

"What time will you be back?" She asked.

I bit my lip, trick question. "I don't know, I might take a long walk in the park."

No one said anything, I turned to leave.

"Ophelia...." Arabella called out before I got to the longue.

I stopped walking and turned to face her.

"There's no secret that's hidden under the sun."

My back stiffened at her statement. I wasn't worried she would find out about Anabelle, I was scared that my secret identity would be revealed, what would be their reaction then?

I walked out of the house into the sunny street and headed for Anabelle's house.

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I knocked and rang the doorbell for a few minutes before I got a reply.

"Anna, there's someone at the door!" I heard Aubrey's baby cute voice.

I heard footsteps and received a grumpy reply to my insistent knocking.

"Go away!"

I knocked harder.

"For the love of God! Its Saturday! Who knocks on a Saturday?!" I heard the turning of locks and Anabelle yanked the door open to give me a piece of her mind.

"Ophelia..." She stopped right away, swallowing whatever she had to say.

I walked in without an invitation but not before pointing to the peephole. "Make sure you use it next time, its not for fancy."

Aubrey and Jessie were sitting on the floor watching TV in their PJs, cereal bowls in front of them.

"Ophelia!" Aubrey beamed.

"Good morning." Jessie said, quietly.

"Morning Jessie, hello Aubrey." I gave them a hug each. "What are you guys watching?"

"Zorro!" Aubrey answered.

I walked into the kitchen, got a bowl of cereal and joined them on the floor since I skipped breakfast at the house.

Anabelle stared at me mouth agape.

"Aren't you late for work?" I asked her.

"Anna has the weekends off work." Aubrey replied, with cereal in her mouth.

"Well don't just stand there, grab a bowl and join us."

We spent the best part of the morning watching the animated series of Zorro.

When we were done, I took the bowls to the kitchen to tidy them up while Anabelle rushed her sisters off to shower.

After that, I navigated my way to the laundry room and got down to the planned business of the day.

An hour later, when I had offloaded an overflowing basket of what I assumed were the kids' clothes into the washer, Aubrey came bounding in.

"Ophelia, what are you doing here?"

If it were to be someone else, I would have a sarcastic reply for them, but it was Aubrey with a bundle of cuteness.

"I'm doing the laundry."

"Okay." She hopped out.

A few minutes later, I heard voices in the hallway.

"Aubrey....." You could tell the owner of the voice was doing her best to reign her anger in.

"I want to show you something." Insisted, Aubrey

Aubrey walked into the laundry room, dragging Jessie in with her.

The writing materials in Jessie's hand showed that she had been studying before Aubrey interrupted her.

"Ophelia's doing the laundry, we have to help her."

An emotion I couldn't comprehend passed through Jessie's eyes, she put her writing materials in her pocket. "What can I do to help?"

She didn't have to, she could leave the room and go back to her books but Jessie's level of intelligence was higher than her age.

"Just help Aubrey sort out all the clothes into six piles: white clothes, coloured clothes, jeans, undergarments, bed linens and stained clothes. Its easier to wash that way."

"Okay."

She and Aubrey set out, while I took out clothes from the drier to the pressing board. I put some of Anabelle's clothes in the washer and went back to the pressing board.

I ironed, watching the piles of clothes grow.

After a while, Aubrey left the laundry room. I thought she got bored and went out looking for something fun to do, until I heard thundering feet in the hallway. Aubrey burst into the room holding a bright pink bottle of nail polish, she hid behind me laughing. Seconds later, Anabelle emerged breathing fire.

"Why you little....." She made a dash for Aubrey.

Aubrey squealed and clutched my leg harder. "Save me, Ophelia!"

"Just give me my bottle of nail polish." Anabelle held her hand out and I noticed her half-painted nails.

"Ophelia's doing the laundry, won't you help out Anna?"

That was when Anabelle noticed the quiet hum of the washing machine, the clothes on the pressing board, shame clouded her face when she saw the mountain piles of her dirty clothes on the floor.

Aubrey had a self-satisfied look on her face when she knew she had her sister.

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Anabelle took over the washer, putting clothes in and brought washed clothes out of the drier.

I ironed, Jessie folded and put them into clean baskets, while Aubrey picked up clothes and gave them to her sister.

Anabelle brought another clothes iron to help me.

I checked the time. "Alright everyone, we deserve a break."

Anabelle put a new set of clothes into the machine, then collapsed on a chair in the living room.

I whipped up a couple of cheese sandwiches from the little groceries in the cupboard. We had lunch then we went back to work.

By the end of the day we had two piles remaining: the jeans and the stained clothes.

I had to go back to the Piacere house.

After saying my goodbyes to the kids, I left, Anabelle stood by the door.

"Thank you for your help today.... With the laundry."

I waved her away. "It was nothing."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Anabelle."

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I got to the piacere house and was greeted by the smell of burning food. I walked into the kitchen to see Rose over the cooker, horribly attempting to prepare dinner. I looked around to see the solemn faces of my friends on the dining table, probably thinking of what they would ingest at the end of Rose's cooking ordeal.

I stepped in without another word and took over from Rose. I threw out whatever poison she was brewing, took out ingredients and prepared southern style Italian chicken.

We ate in silence and I could tell they were mad at me. To prove their point, they left the table without helping me out with the dishes.

I laughed at their feeble attempt but I would make it up to them, because living in the Piacere house without their friendship would make life unbearable. Especially now that I had no idea on what was happening back at the mansion and when Luke would be coming over to visit.

I cleaned up and went to bed.

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I spent Sunday with the girls, gossiping, getting our nails done and catching up.

After breakfast, a good lunch and an award-winning dinner, they had forgiven me and I had become their favourite person in the world.

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Monday came with it's usual rush. I woke up late......again. By the time I was done with my morning routine, I knew I had missed the chance to prepare breakfast and lunch for Anabelle and her sisters. Which meant I had to occupy myself with trivial things until they got back from school.

When I got downstairs the hired maids were already working, thereby crossing out cleaning from my list.

I went up the stairs in search of Arabella and the others but they were busy, each having a 'do not disturb' sign on each of their doors.

I groaned inwardly as I roamed the house in search of what to do, no one to talk to since I didn't have any other friends, I couldn't go shopping because I was running low on cash, my games and music files didn't appeal to me anymore because I could play most games with my eyes closed and I could sing almost all the songs.

So, I found myself back on my bed, staring at the celling and counting the number of times a particular blade of the fan made a complete revolution.

"104, 105, 106, 107, 108....."

An hour later.....

"997, 998, 999, 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1007......" I had no idea I had started slurring my words and mixing numbers until I drifted off into a dream state filled with rotating fans.

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I woke up with a start.

Something rolled down my cheek, I wiped it off.

Drool.

I don't remember the last time I drooled while sleeping.

I stretched and checked the time, 4:17pm. I remembered what Anabelle told me about her sisters not being able to come to the shop, which could only mean they were home now.

I walked into the bathroom to wash my face and applied a fresh layer of makeup.

I got to Anabelle's house by 4:43pm. I walked up the stairs and was greeted by an open door.

My first reaction was "what the fuck?"

Then common sense kicked in..... The kids!

"Jessie? Aubrey?" I called out as I walked into the house cautiously, regretting why I didn't bring my gun with me.

I heard weeping in the kids' room, the voice I soon recognized belonged to Aubrey.

I rushed in. The door was open, Aubrey was crying, her face wet with tears, she was draped over a figure that lay face down on the floor.

My heart missed a beat when I recognized the figure. "Jessie?" My voice broke.

I bent down and gathered her in my arms. Her face was blue, and there wasn't movement in her chest area.

She wasn't breathing!

I turned to Aubrey for an explanation but she started talking before the question left my mouth.

"She started coughing when she sat down on the couch, then she had difficulty breathing, she ran into the room and just collapsed.... I ran out for help but I couldn't find anyone... What's wrong with Jessie, Ophelia?... Is she...she... dead?" Aubrey broke down and it tore my heart.

Its clear she had an attack but why did she run into her room instead of getting her inhaler? Unless......

"Aubrey, I need Jessie's inhaler."

"Inhaler?"

"Yes, her inhaler. That blue pipe that she puffs on."

"I don't know where it is."

God, no!

"Aubrey, I need you to think really hard, where does Jessie keep her inhaler?"

"I don't know Ophelia, she doesn't let me near it because she doesn't want me to use it but I like using it, she said it's not good for children but she's a child and she uses it, so why can't I?........" Aubrey rambled on, digressing from the issue at hand.

I didn't have time for this and God knows Jessie didn't have time for it either, for every second that passed her life force was slipping away.

My mind went into overdrive, thinking facts over.

"Aubrey you just came back from school, right? You haven't gone anywhere else?"

"Uh huh, Jessie unlocked the door, dropped our bags, we went into the kitchen to get a glass of water and then we went into the living room to watch TV......"

That could only mean one thing.

"Aubrey, where's Jessie's schoolbag?"

She got up and searched around the room and dragged Jessie's heavy bag to the middle of the room where I cradled Jessie in my arms.

"Empty it, pour everything out until you find her inhaler."

I crossed my fingers, praying that we would find it in her bag because I didn't know where to start looking in their room.

"Found it!" Aubrey squealed in excitement.

I bowed my head in relief and got to work immediately.

I laid her down and made sure she was in the right position, then I began mouth-to-nose resuscitation.

I filled her lungs with air, then I made her exhale it by pushing down on her chest.

Come on Jessie, breathe Jessie. Come on! Come on!

She wasn't responding.

Aubrey let out a new batch of tears.

Her lack of response made me lose hope.

I looked at Aubrey and I knew I had to do something. Aubrey had lost her parents, now she was watching her sister die before her eyes. The trauma would haunt her for life.

I pushed harder, breathed into her nose with force and enough air.

"I don't intend any of my patients to die, so f***ing breathe Jessie!"

I pushed on her chest one more time and she coughed.

She coughed uncontrollably, struggling to take in air, I puffed her inhaler into her mouth.

She calmed down and breathed, weakly.

At least she was breathing. I gathered her in my arms, Aubrey laid her head on her sister and wept.

I picked her up and laid her on the bed. The time was 5:16pm, I realised that the kids hadn't eaten and Jessie needed food, drugs and a lot of rest.

I left Aubrey with her sister and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

I paused when I got to the living room. I surveyed the living room and recalled what I told Anabelle, this place was indeed a death trap for Jessie.

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I made a simple dish, one that wasn't heavy for Jessie and could cook fast enough for Aubrey.

I carried the tray of food to the room.

Aubrey was keeping her sister company, telling her what I assumed was a story.

I set the tray on the bed and gave Aubrey hers.

"Jessie, its time for dinner."

"I'm not hungry, Ophelia." She said, weakly.

"Come on Jessie, you need to eat something to get strong and take your medicine."

She shook her head.

"If you don't take your drugs you might have another attack."

Aubrey broke down. "Come on Jessie, I don't want you to have another attack, I don't want you to die...." She cried harder.

Aubrey's tears broke her sister's heart. "I'll eat Aubrey.... Don't cry, please."

"You will?"

"Yes Aubrey, I'll eat."

I helped Jessie sit up comfortably, placing pillows behind her back and spoon-fed her because she couldn't hold the spoon with her shaking hands.

After the meal, Aubrey brought Jessie's drugs from Anabelle's room and I gave it to her, then I laid her back on the bed and tucked the blanket over her shivering body.

I took the plates to the kitchen, Aubrey trailed behind me.

One look at her and I knew she was worried about her sister. She needed to be consoled.

"Hey Aubrey, you wanna watch TV?"

She gave me a weak nod, not her normal bubbly reply.

I left the dishes in the sink and walked into the living room. I sat on the couch and pulled Aubrey onto my lap, I flicked through channels until I found her favourite one.

She wasn't even interested, she snuggled close until I felt hot tears seep through my dress. I wrapped my arms around her, smoothing her hair and cooing at her till she fell asleep.

Anabelle walked into the house a few minutes after seven.

"Ophelia?” She asked, surprised. “I thought you weren't coming over today, you didn't come to the shop."

She clapped her hands when she saw Aubrey asleep on my lap. "Isn't this cute! I've never been able to get her to bed this early." She took her sneakers off. "You know Aubrey never behaves this way with anyone, she's always quiet, shy and reserved around strangers, never showing her true character but she took to you immediately she saw you…."

"Anabelle?" I cut her off.

She looked up.

"There's dinner in the kitchen for you. Please, do me a favour and clean your sisters' plates?"

"No problem."

I heard the sound of running water and plates.

She decided to wash the dishes first.

She walked into the living room with a plate of food and sat down on the floor.

"Where’s Jessie? She doesn't miss this show, is she studying?"

"No, she's sleeping."

"Sleeping?" She asked, wide eyed, "Jessie doesn't sleep by this time, she has a reading timetable and works by schedule. Is something wrong?"

I sighed deeply. "Anabelle, remember what I said about this place being a death trap for Jessie?"

"Yeah, that we need to thoroughly clean the living room..." She said with her mouth filled with food.

I waited for her to swallow before dropping the bomb.

"Jessie had a fatal attack today, she would have died if I didn't come in time."

The plate fell from Anabelle's hand and she managed to articulate a breathless ‘what?’

"What happened to Jessie? Is my sister alright?!" She half-screamed as blood drained from her face.

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