Searching For Mother

"Lest you forget, this is my husband's house," she said, crossing her legs gracefully.

"Was." Desmond sneered.

"I don't recall anyone deciding it was yours," she said coolly.

She pretended to think, "When Gary was on his deathbed, who was beside him?"

"Why it was me!" she exclaimed, flashing perfect teeth.

"Where were you, Desmond? You were running your little mafia with your mother."

"Thanks to you," Desmond sneered.

"I should be asking you what you are doing here...but it's obvious you are here to claim the spoils," she said distastefully.

She picked up a purse that lay beside her. Saw noticed the way her nails sparkled. She'd adorned them with pearls. She stood off with a huff and walked up to them, taking her precious time. She stopped in front of Sam and looked her over.

"Not bad," she said smugly. "A little advice." She leaned closer to Sam's ear.

"Enjoy it while it lasts."

Desmond grabbed Sam's arm and pulled her behind him.

"Leave," he said quietly.

"Calm down, boy. I'll leave...for now. Just know I'm around...and I'll call in any time it pleases me."

She sneered in his face and walked away.

Desmond went upstairs angrily, leaving Sam in her spot.

Suddenly, there was a bang at the door. Sam spun around in fright to see Maggie enter and walk briskly to her.

"Welcome mistress! I'll run a bath for you immediately! What would you like to eat?" She rushed breathlessly.

Ann stumbled in, in her wake.

"Mistress! I got to the door first, but I feel," Ann complained breathlessly.

Maggie exclaimed, "I got to mistress first!"

"That's because I fell."

"And that's because you are clumsy."

"Girls," Sam cooed and gathered them to her.

"I've missed you."

The girls were stiff in their arms while looking around to make sure nobody was watching. Maggie moved away, pulling Ann with her.

"You shouldn't hug your servants! It's forbidden," Maggie whispered in a panic.

Sam began to fear.

"Is it a crime?"

"No, but it doesn't make you look cool."

Sam and Ann look at her incredulously.

"Unlike you, I love hugs," Ann said and embraced Sam. Sam hugged her back.

"So, what is uncool about this? Come on."

Sam led the way upstairs. The maids followed her cheerfully straight to her room, where they sat on the bed and listened to Sam talk about her experience at Landon's mansion. Maggie would squeal in delight now and then when Sam made a description that rhymed with what she had told her the other day.

"It gets so boring here. Do you ever get out?" Sam asked after her story.

"Hardly." Ann groaned.

"I get out sometimes... to buy groceries with the kitchen staff."

"Can I go out sometimes with you guys?"

"That would be dangerous!" Ann gasped.

"We are in luck, mistress. They are going this afternoon," Maggie said mischievously.

Sam squealed.

"This is a bad idea." Ann shook her head.

"You are no fun, Ann. We'll be fine," Sam said.

"I'll go make some plans," Maggie said craftily and left.

She returned later with a spare maid's dress for Sam. After the disguise was completed, the trio sneaked down the stairs and out the door undetected. They let out a sigh of relief.

"What now?" Sam asked.

"We wait for that fat ass."

So, they stood there at the front door and waited. Luckily, fat ass showed up in a minute, carrying a stack of three baskets.

"Is it a girl or a boy?" Sam asked, puzzled.

"Girl?" Ann guessed.

"He's a man, mistress. He just has a nice big butt," Maggie said.

Surely, he did. And did he know how to shake them?

"Sage!" Maggie called fondly.

"Hi, gurl." He replied rather girlishly. "Who are your friends?"

"This is Ann and this is..." Maggie was at a loss. They hadn't thought of giving her a false name.

"Minnie!" Sam offered.

"I've never seen you. Are you new?"

"Yes," Sam said.

"Alright! Let's go!"

He threw the basket into her chest and walked away as she struggled to keep them from falling.

Maggie hurriedly took them from her.

"Now what is left is to get through that annoying guard," Sage grumbled.

"Brace yourselves, girls. Your patience is about to be tested."

As they approached, a tall man moved away from a group of guards towards them. Unlike his colleagues, he wasn't wearing the guard's uniform but a black cotton T-shirt that clung tightly to his wide chest.

This man's broadness wasn't the normal kind that was trimmed and polished like Desmond's. He was hefty. It reminds you of The Rock at one glance.

As he moved closer, his face looked so familiar. Hair cropped almost to the scalp, chin cleanly shaved, brown eyes.

"Afternoon ladies," he said, smirking.

"We need to go do some shopping," Sage said.

"Shopping? You did that two days ago."

"Well, people eat three meals a day."

He looked at Sage suspiciously.

"Can we pass?" Sage asked impatiently.

"You need a pass to pass."

He grinned to himself like he had said something smart.

"Unfortunately for you, I came ready," Sage quipped.

He pulled out a pass and stuck it to the guards' chest with his finger irritatedly.

The guard managed to catch it. Did he look at it?"

"Can we pass now?" Sage asked impatiently.

"Wait, who is the head of servants?"

"Monica! The Butler's wife!"

"Really?! Do you think we are here to joke?! Go get a pass from G or T or you are going nowhere!" The guard commanded.

"What?" Sage squealed in frustration.

"You mean to say I need to go through all three bullies of this mansion before doing my job?"

"That's right, ma'am," he said with a smug face.

"Whom are you calling, ma'am?"

"Please sir, we are running late," Maggie whined.

She got the guards' attention. He moved closer to her.

"I'll need to search for you, ma'am."

Everyone groaned.

"Open your mouth!"

Maggie frowned up at him before snapping her mouth open. The guard brought out a big torch and shone it into her mouth.

Sam tried desperately not to laugh. Ann was next. She complied with a red face. He moved to Sam.

"Minnie!" He cried out.

Before she could understand the situation, she was suddenly jerked up and shaken.

"Mickey!"

She couldn't even get angry. She missed him. He gave her a bear hug, and she threw her arms around his neck.

Looking down, she saw Maggie and Ann gaping at her, then exchanging awkward looks. She forgot for a moment she was "married."

"Let me down, Mickey," she whispered into his ears. He complied immediately.

"Are you going to kiss me next?" Sage said sarcastically.

"I'm not only going to let you pass, but I'll also be your bodyguard," Mickey said generously.

As he talked, A van came to a stop next to them.

"I'm afraid, Mickey, that this car won't contain all six of us and I need all these maids on board."

"Don't be afraid, Sage. I'll fix it," he said kindly.

Sage was appointed to correct him but decided to not bother.

Mickey said something to the driver and opened the door for him. The man climbed out and went on his way. Mickey hopped inside.

"Alright, ladies! Let's go!

After everyone was seated, he said.

"Now saddle up. I'm not very good at this."

"You better be joking," Sage muttered.

Anyway, everyone took his advice and saddled up.

They soon hit the road. While Sage went over the shopping list, the three girls were whispering about what they were going to do after they got to the market. Sage will look up once in a while to direct Mickey.

"We're here! Don't stop here, Mickey. Park over there," Sage said when they got to the market.

"Get your asses out, girls."

When they got out, Sage led the way and the rest followed. Sam lagged intentionally as they had planned, then took a different route.

"Are you familiar with this area?" Sam jumped at Mickey's voice.

"I didn't realize you were behind me," she said and proceeded while he followed.

"Did you plan on abandoning me in the car? Like you did back at the mansion?"

"I didn't abandon you, Mickey. I was just very busy."

"With Desmond."

"That's my job, Mickey."

"They won't even let me anywhere near the mansion."

Sam stopped and turned to look at him.

"I can fix that. I'll make you my bodyguard."

Mickey smiled gleefully.

They walked around the market looking at anything that caught their eyes. Sam felt like it had been forever since she was in a place like this. Away from the pressure of social class.

"Why are we here?" Mickey asked.

"I want to meet my mother."

"At Fred's restaurant?"

"Don't worry, Mickey. We won't be going inside."

Mickey shrugged.

"Alright!"

* * * *

It was noon at the time. People were coming in to have lunch. Business was good.

"How are we going to go in?" Mickey asked with a thrill.

"I don't plan on going inside," Sam said calmly.

She wondered if her mother was in there, or Fred or Diane.

"Where's the fun in coming here and just watching people walk in and out and leave?"

"I'm not here to have fun. I'm hoping to see my mother," she said solemnly.

Mickey's lips made an "O" shape as he nodded. They stood quietly for a few minutes. The wait was wearing Sam out.

"Well..." Mickey said, quizzingly.

"Let's go inside," Sam decided. Mickey's fist pumped happily.

"But first, we'll need a plan. We don't want to run into Fred or Diane." Sam suggested

"That would be disastrous."

"I'll try to sneak..."

"Woo! Where are you going to say backdoor? This isn't some kiosk, this is a four-star restaurant! You might get caught and get sent to jail," Mickey warned.

He stopped for a thoughtful moment.

"I think I know how we can go in there and not run the risk of going to jail even if we get caught. Here it is. We go through the front door as dinner since we are already in disguise."

"Although I'm yet to see how that plan would work, that is brilliant."

"Haven't I always been brilliant?"

"Of course! Yeah. All right, what is the plan again?"

"Here it is. I am the master. Since you are wearing a servant's uniform, you'll be my maid."

"Most elites prefer to walk around with guards, not maids."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"No. Let's go. I'll take the rear."

So, they went inside. The place was just as Sam remembered.

The furniture and fittings were mostly wood. If it was made from any other material, then it was sure to be brown.

The ceiling was like an aquarium and gave off a feeling of looking up from under the sea. The light inside cast a constant blue wavy light on the room.

On one side of the room, there was an aquarium too, from floor to ceiling. Behind it was the kitchen. The waiters would have to get to the end of the wall to get to the kitchen.

This was the beautiful creation of her mother. That and the various recipes got the restaurant to where it was in just a year of her marriage to Fred.

They found an empty table in the corner. Mickey sat, and Sam stood behind him.

"Welcome to Blue to Brown. Can I have your orders?"

They looked up to see a neatly dressed waiter with a notepad and pen in hand.

"Uh..."

"Bring me a plate of catfish soup," Mickey said.

The waiter hurriedly jotted it down on his notepad.

"What can I get for you, ma'am?"

He asked Sam.

"She's a maid, stupid!" Mickey sneered. "Make mine double. Thank you."

The waiter bowed curtly and left.

"We don't have money, Mickey," she whispered with panic.

"Calm down, Sam. I have a plan."

"Well, it better be good."

The waiter brought the food and set it before him.

"Enjoy," he said and left.

"These smell delicious."

He picked up his knife and fork and began to eat. In no time, he had finished and started eating the other bowl.

Sam kept glancing towards the way that led to the kitchen.

Shortly after, the waiter arrived.

"This is your bill, sir."

Mickey ignored him and solemnly searched for something in the meal with his fork. The waiter waited. Mickey finally pulled out a tuft of hair and showed the waiter, looking offended. The waiter paled.

"Why is there hair in my food?" he growled. "I want to see the manager!" He roared, banging his fist on the table, therefore attracting a lot of attention.

The waiter hurried away. Shortly after Diane arrived at their table, Sam looked down to avoid her seeing her face.

"I apologize for the little mishap. We would love to make it up to you."

Diane had been in her office when the waiter reported the problem.

The worst that could happen to a restaurant was customers finding filthy substances in their food when the place was filled with other customers.

She'd seen a lot of restaurants and eateries go out of business because of this. So, she'd hurried out to manage the situation before it got out of control.

The muscled man in front of her looked furious.

"Where is the manager?" He growled at her.

"I am the manager. Can we talk in my office please?"

The man narrowed his eyes at her.

"Where is the previous manager?" He asked.

"She doesn't work here anymore."

Why was this man asking for Gloria? Diane also felt he sounded very familiar. She looked at the servant girl beside him. What household did she work in? Though the uniform wasn't familiar, the redhead was.

"We'll just go then. Bye," the man said, then held the girl's hand and walked out.

What master holds his servants' hands? She waved a security guard to come.

"Come with me," she said, and they stealthily followed the duo.