The Last Housekeeper

by Kari Shuey

  “You better!” Susan called as Abby walked away.

  Abby went straight to Mr. Perkins office and sat in the chair across from his desk. He was turned around, facing a filing cabinet behind him. “What is it?” he muttered, having heard someone come in. “Because if it can wait, I would prefer discussing whatever it is in a few hours. I have a couple of pressing matters to deal with at the moment.”

  “Oh, well… if you are too busy to talk with your favorite little dust buster…” The sarcasm in Abby’s voice, had Mr. Perkins’ complete attention. He swiveled around and his eyes gleamed with joy.

  “Abby! It’s so nice to see you! How are you doing? I figured since I hadn’t heard from you in a while, things were pretty good.” Mr. Perkins leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers together.

  Laughing, Abby shrugged. “Everything is going pretty well, all things considered. I mean, it’s different working for a guy like Mr. Saxe, so it takes getting used to.”

  “All things considered? That doesn’t sound good. Do I need to get involved and make sure Mr. Saxe is doing his part as a client?” Ever the watchful protector, Mr. Perkins seemed to take it on himself to make sure ‘his girls’ were being treated with respect and care.

  “Oh, everything is going pretty well, I think. I mean, he was a little overly flirtatious for a while. And then he wore me down and we went on a date. But it doesn’t look like it will work out.” Mr. Perkins was more than just her employer, he was her friend and occasional father figure. She didn’t mind sharing her dating life with him. But then his expression changed. Mr. Perkins’ eyes became suspicious.

  “Abby, you know we don’t have a policy on workplace relationships, but I would strongly suggest you consider all the outcomes before getting serious with a client.” Mr. Perkins’ smiled. “That being said… tell me everything.”

  Abby couldn’t help the smile crossing her face. Mr. Perkins occasionally acted like a high school friend more than an employer. He enjoyed talking about relationships, being a firm believer in soulmates. He claimed he met his when he was in kindergarten. He was still married to her after 30 years. “Mr. Perkins, it’s nothing… now. I mean, we went on a few dates, it seemed like it was going too fast in all honesty… and then it wasn’t.”

  “What do you mean? Just like that? Sweetheart, he didn’t break your heart, did he?”

  “Oh, no, it wasn’t like that. Like I said, it was probably moving too fast and then I found something that made me second guess everything.” Abby started wondering if she was saying too much. It was one thing to tell Mr. Perkins about a relationship that wasn’t working out. It was a completely different storytelling him about a secret that Gavin was keeping.

  “Ohhh, some kind of scandalous tidbit?” Mr. Perkins winked at Abby.

  “Not really.” Abby gave a sideways smile. “He was just unwilling to share his past with me.”

  “Oh, come now, Abby. How long have you known this guy? He’s not going to give you his life story after only knowing each other for a month or so. You need to show him he can trust you. I wouldn’t tell you my history if I thought it would affect the way you viewed me. Maybe his past is something that he hides because he is ashamed. Or it could be something that he doesn’t talk about so he can protect someone else. You will never know what is behind the curtain fully. Sarah still surprises me with new things all the time. People are always changing and growing. If you like the man he is now, then there shouldn’t be any reason you don’t give him the benefit of the doubt.”

  Abby stared dumbfounded at her boss. “Chris, that is probably the most intuitive thing you have ever told me. Where did that come from?”

  Mr. Perkins smiled again and shrugged. “I guess Sarah rubs off on me every once in a while. Don’t let that Mr. Saxe put you in any position you don’t feel comfortable in, though! If there is ever a moment you feel like he is manipulating you and you don’t want to work for him anymore, you call me right away. I don’t care what time it is.”

  “Really, Mr. Perkins, I don’t think it will work out. It isn’t just the trust thing. I sometimes get this feeling something isn’t quite right. It isn’t something so bad that I feel unsafe per se… more like I feel as if I need to stay on guard. That could be because of my love life, but it could be something else entirely. It’s so hard to decide what I want to do… so I will stick with what is logically the best for everyone – we will remain professional.” Abby didn’t want to let on about Gavin’s insistence it would be hard to stay away from her. She didn’t know if Mr. Perkins would be overly concerned about it or if he would tell her to just go for it. The way the conversation was going, she could see him telling her to jump in with both eyes shut. She was not prepared for that kind of encouragement. She was already so close to tipping over the edge.

  “So, the reason I came in today…”

  Mr. Perkins clapped his hands together and sat up straight. “Oh, yes, why are you in my office today?”

  Abby rolled her eyes, “Can’t I just come visit my favorite boss?”

  Mr. Perkins laughed. “Of course you can. But you also haven’t visited since starting your new position. I doubt you came here to get relationship advice. So spill.”

  Abby sighed. “Mr. Saxe’s place is immaculate. There is rarely dust and I have wiped down the clean walls half a dozen times already. With no kids or extra people on the property, the clean house can only get so clean. I really don’t understand why he insists on having a live-in housekeeper besides the fact that he likes having the company. But he has a security guy on the premises so… I don’t know. Anyway, I can only clean the same spot so many times before I need something to exercise my skills.”

  Understanding lit up Mr. Perkins’ face. “Ah, so you want a dirty job to get a little dirt under your fingernails.”

  “I guess you could say that. I wouldn’t mind if you could send me on a few different deep jobs. Maybe a couple a month? You know they like my work.” Abby didn’t want to sound like a beggar, but at this point it would be nice to get out every few days to do some real work.

  Mr. Perkins looked over his glasses at Abby. “Technically I would need to run that by Mr. Saxe. When I started the housekeeper division, I put a section in the contract that asked if the client would be open to their employee continuing to take calls at other locations. Mr. Saxe requested exclusivity in his employee. That means-”

  Abby interrupted him. “I know what that means. I just didn’t realize that was something he could request.” Her shoulders slumped slightly. She didn’t know Gavin well enough to know if he would be okay with her working at other places during the day – granted her work was all caught up. He didn’t mind her running errands for him, but cleaning for other people? He might actually be against it.

  “Would you like me to inquire for you, Abby?” Mr. Perkins had turned around to finish what he was working on when she had arrived.

  “Sure, give it a try. I would like to see if it is a possibility. Not for the money, of course, but for my sanity.” Her hollow chuckle didn’t sound like herself. Maybe she could ask him too. She could bring up that she needed more of a challenge. It couldn’t hurt to ask. At least that is what her mother always told her. “Thanks for the chat, Mr. Perkins. Let me know, won’t you?”

  Mr. Perkins waved at her with his back turned. “Absolutely. And Abby?”

  Abby stood up and stopped before walking out the door. “Yeah?”

  Mr. Perkins turned around to meet her gaze. “Don’t be a stranger, alright?” His smile brightened her heart. He had a way of making her feel important and special.

  Abby left the office, wondering what she should do with her day. She really didn’t have much on her list, and she’d rather push it off until tomorrow so she could fill her whole day with her work. She was not the type of person who could watch television or be on a screen all day long, and she’d read all the books she currently had in her room.

  Abby returned to her car in the garage.
It was mid-day and fall had officially set in. The colors were changing on the trees and they would soon be bare. That gave her an idea. She would go to the nearby park that had a multitude of trees. There were no playgrounds for kids, but you could find families there on a daily basis during the fall and spring months taking pictures. Abby loved wandering through it on summer nights as it was a beautiful place to mindlessly stroll. Getting closer to her car, she heard some shuffling, but she’d not seen anyone in the garage as she exited the elevator.

  Turning around, she tried to locate what could have made the sound. There was nothing behind her or anywhere in sight. Even though it was still daylight, a chill swept through her. That sixth sense was telling her to be careful again. It seemed to be happening a bit more frequently. And now it wasn’t just around Gavin.

  Grabbing her keys, Abby pushed the automatic button to unlock the car doors. She briskly walked the rest of the way to her car, climbed in and immediately locked it. She checked her rearview and side mirrors and still saw no movement. Chalking it up to a bout of nerves and paranoia, Abby started her car and slowly backed up. A walk through the Albertsons Park would do her some good. Fresh air, crisp fall smell, and wonderful reds and oranges.

  Abby made it safely to the park entrance and turned off the car. She rested her head on the steering wheel, again convincing herself she was simply hearing things. Getting out of the car, she slowly made her way down the familiar path between the trees already starting to change colors.

  She didn’t know when it started, but she realized there were some footsteps behind her that continued to keep pace with her own. A glance out of the corner of her eye confirmed the presence of a male figure. Her pace quickened so that she might put some distance between the two of them, and to her dismay, he picked up his speed as well. Whirling around, she confronted him.

  “I don’t know who you think you are but-”

  “Hi, Abby.”

  Abby blinked a few times in surprise. “Oliver! What are you doing here?” She forced her racing heart to calm down, tried not to show her trembling hands.

  “I was in the neighborhood, you might say. It’s been a while, how’s it going over at the Saxe property?”

  “Oh, pretty much the same. Except Windsor got pulled in for questioning. Did you know he was dating that housekeeper?”

  She noticed his features didn’t register the surprise she expected. A simple lift of his eyebrows was all.

  “Oh? Well, that makes sense. I tried asking her out once or twice and she refused. You must have noticed I was interested in you while I was working at the Saxe property. I kind of wanted to see if there was something between you and me…”

  “Oh, Oliver. I’m flattered, but I’m not currently looking for a relationship.” As she considered the shattered remains of her recent relationship with Gavin… one she’d started against her better judgment, Abby was aware that starting something new so soon was an absolutely bad idea. And knowing Gavin like she did, there was a very real possibility he would do something incredibly stupid if he found out he’d been passed up for the ‘gardener’.

  “I totally get it,” he replied. “Maybe it’s something we can entertain when the dust settles?”

  Abby nodded, a genuine smile crossing her face. “I’d like that.” They spent a little while longer catching up and Oliver told her all about the other jobs he was assigned to. Abby could tell he was a little frustrated that he didn’t have the Saxe property on his schedule anymore, but she couldn’t decide if it was due to not seeing her anymore or something deeper.

  “Gav- Mr. Saxe said he had to let you go because he saw you talking to a well-known reporter…” Abby didn’t know if she wanted to open up this can of worms. The statement had come out of her mouth without provocation, and she instantly regretted bringing it up. Realizing her slip, she added, “But I thought there was more to the story.”

  Oliver rubbed the back of his neck, his part-guilt part-fluster reaction… not one she anticipated. He stammered slightly and gave a brief explanation. “He was trying to get me to sell him some information about you… but I didn’t. Quickly changing the subject, he asked, “So are you planning on staying with Mr. Saxe long? You must have other aspirations?”

  The dig at her career rubbed her the wrong way, but Abby chose to ignore it. “Not really, this is a great opportunity for me. I don’t know, maybe I’d like to start my own cleaning service one day, but for now… I really like where I am at.” A few minutes of awkward silence passed between them, and Abby grew uncomfortable. She was ready to get back home and get things ready for when Gavin came home from work.

  “I should be getting home,” she interjected before he could prolong the conversation. They parted ways, promising to keep in touch.

  Chapter 24

  Gavin sat at his desk, unable to concentrate. He should be feeling great right now. He was able to get out from under the police radar and now he knew Windsor would be fine. At this point he didn’t have to worry about legal recourse for Amara’s death. But what did that mean for his reputation? And what would this mean for his safety and those he cared about? Now that he had a theory that someone was out to get him, he needed to figure out who and why.

  He spun the chair around and looked out his twenty-second-floor glass window to the city below. None of this made sense. He tapped the pen in his hand onto his other palm. The tick-tick-ticking matching the beat with the clock on the wall. He was supposed to be getting caught up after a day out of the office. Turning back to his desk, he pulled out a legal pad of paper. At the top he wrote People I’ve Pissed Off. On the first line he wrote the name of a Derek Scott. This man, in particular, was an abuser. Gavin had put him in prison for a few months, but he got out on bail. Scott been in a relationship with Gavin’s former housekeeper in California. The next person down on the list was Mallory Tye. Recalling that firing her could have gone better, but she didn’t fit the type. She got a little obsessive with him. He couldn’t have people delving into his personal life, so unfortunately, he had to let her go. And then there was his most recent landscaper. Oliver Wilkens had been with him since he’d moved to the area. He was quiet and a hard worker. But maybe somewhere along the way, Oliver developed a vendetta against him. It certainly didn’t help that he had to fire the young man.

  Racking his brain for more, he couldn’t think of anyone who would have taken offense at something he did. Sure, he had his run-ins with a handful of people – but it was business, not personal. He couldn’t think of anyone with a personal vendetta against him.

  Gavin scribbled a few notes on the pad of paper for Windsor to review when he came back home. Gavin would make sure Windsor put a tail on these three people to see if they had been anywhere near him or anyone he worked closely with. If there was any indication of foul play, they would take further steps. Tearing the sheet off of the pad, his thoughts turned to Abby. He regretted the way things were going between them. When everything was innocent and flirtatious between them, the future was unknown. The sky’s the limit as people say. And when they were getting closer, he felt like he’d finally arrived. They were two pieces of the same puzzle. He could feel it innately. But then she started delving into his past. Could he trust her? Did she mean enough to him to risk it with her? Gavin wanted to say he could. She was level headed, she could hear him out and see things from his side.

  Then again, how well do people really know one another? You could know someone your whole life and something could change in an instant. So, no. He wouldn’t be able to share that part of his life with her. Not now, maybe never. Sadness combined with loneliness intermingled in his chest. It didn’t matter if she was the one, she wouldn’t give in and he couldn’t.

  Taking a deep breath, Gavin turned to his computer and pulled up a few of the documents he was supposed to review. He would force himself to focus if it was the last thing he did. Then when he got back home, maybe he could convince Abby to give him a second chance based on merit. W
ho was he kidding? He was not the kind of person who groveled. He was the kind of person who took charge and grabbed life by the horns.

  Gavin set to work. If he stayed attentive to the task at hand, he might just be able to make it back for dinner. The new evening ritual with Abby had given him something to look forward to. It aided in his ability to get through his work quickly. In fact, Gavin couldn’t remember the last time he’d been home before seven so many nights in a row. But he’d never tell her. It would probably just push her farther from him in the end.

  As the workday dragged on, Gavin was pleased he was able to finish almost everything he’d hoped to accomplish. It wouldn’t be too hard to get the remainder of his meetings scheduled for tomorrow. He’d be able to get home, check in on Windsor, and then settle in for a nice evening.

  Gavin turned his computer off, and stood up, not realizing he had a grin on his face. His assistant came into his office with a large manila folder. She handed it over, making some kind of comment that a delivery boy dropped it off. Placing it on his stack, he figured he could take it home and later read over whatever it was. Contracts often got sent by messenger when they were for bigger companies – much like a law office, he assumed. He sent a quick message to Abby, notifying her he’d be bringing home something for dinner as she wasn’t expecting him to be back so early.

  Gavin drove home, excited to see Abby and have everything go back to the way it was. Well, not the way he’d prefer, but that might come back. He could look on the bright side for now. He picked up dinner for everyone, hoping Abby liked Chinese.

  Turning around the bend, he pulled onto the road leading to his gated property. Gavin entered his gate and drove into his garage. Once he gathered up his paperwork, and the food, Gavin entered the house and called out for Abby. He put the food on the counter and headed down the hall to his office to drop off the paperwork he brought home. Returning to the kitchen, he was surprised that Abby hadn’t made an appearance.