13. WRH II: Looking for something?

------Flash back-----

"My birthday is in two weeks, and there'll be a party here in this mansion. I want you to be there." Maxwell said happily.

"In two weeks?"

"Yes, I really want you to be there."

Maxwell couldn't wait to invite his new found friend to his birthday party. He never had any female friends. Not like he didn't want to, but he felt repulsed by girls. He found it so uncomfortable until he met this one, who's name was Miriam. They clicked at first meeting, and he felt like he should keep her as a friend. She looked so innocent and the tranquil aura around her was like a magnet pulling him toward her.

Miriam agreed to come only if her mom agreed. Maxwell asked if he would see her again, but Miriam told him she wasn't sure. And true to her words, he didn't see her the next day in the mansion. He went to the kitchen to look for Gerry, Miriam's mom.

"Hello, Mrs Gerry." He greeted in a cheerful voice. Gerry turned towards the source of the voice and saw Maxwell's cheerful face.

"Hey, Maxwell. How are you this morning? You look happy and... are you going somewhere? You look like you're ready to go out. Your shirt looks really good on you" Her voice had a tint of laughter in it, and Maxwell laughed.

"No, Mrs Gerry. I'm not going anywhere. And thanks, for the compliment."

"Alright, breakfast will be ready very soon. I'm just arranging the meals on the dining table. You can go wait for me there."

"I want to help you. Can I take..."

"No, no, no, Maxwell. You may hurt yourself. Please let me handle this, okay?"

"Oh... okay, but I'll be here. I want to be around just in case you will need my help." Maxwell courteously replied.

"That's so sweet of you, Maxwell." Gerry smiled.

Soon, only the noise from the utensils could be heard as Gerry arranged the spread of dishes on the dining table. It was a feast of oatmeal with berries and sliced apples, waffles, scrambled eggs and almond milk.

The smell was out of the world, and Maxwell should be thinking of digging in right now, but he was lost in thought. He kept turning here and there, looking around. And this didn't go unnoticed by Gerry. She somehow had an idea of what was going on because a similar scene happened back in her home that morning before she came to work.

Miriam was all dressed up after taking her bath and helping her mom prepare a quick breakfast for the family. She had also helped her little brother to get ready as well. Since it was still vacation, she thought she would get the chance to go with her mother to the mansion like the day before.

Miriam didn't see her dad getting ready for work, but she didn't think much into it, as she was focused on going with her mom to the mansion again. But she was disappointed when her mother told her they would be staying with their dad since he was on off duty that day.

She nearly cried, but kept a straight face, like she wasn't disappointed. But her mother could see through her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Looking for something?" Gerry asked Maxwell, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Or perhaps...someone?"

"Uh...hehe," Maxwell chuckled nervously and scratched his head. "Actually, I...uh..."

Gerry tried hard to stifle her giggle. She wanted to tease him more, so she asked again, still arranging the meals on the table.

"What are you looking for, Maxwell? Maybe I can help you find it."

"Mrs Gerry... um... did... I mean, did your..."

"My what?" Gerry asked with raised eyebrows.

"Did your daug... did your children come with you today?"

Gerry was highly amused, but she tried not to laugh so that Maxwell would not feel embarrassed. He was already burning red from embarrassment by managing to stutter l.p.phis question.

"You mean my children?" She asked again, and to make it easier for him, she added with a smile, "Or my daughter?"

Maxwell who had his head hung low due to embarrassment shot his head up immediately to look at Gerry, and she couldn't help but smile broadly. She was not a kid to not notice the spark between these two kids.

Both of them seemed so fond of each other even after seeing themselves just once. She was fascinated by their behaviour and couldn't help but hope that circumstances were not how they were right now. If only... only if Edith was not the kind of person she was...

It was not like Gerry was hoping for something to happen between the kids, but she had never seen both of them this excited before. Miriam was her own daughter, and Maxwell was born while she was still working in that mansion, and so she could boldly say she knew both of them pretty well.

Miriam had never had a male friend, and since she worked in the mansion, she had never seen Maxwell with female friends. She knew almost all Miriam's friends because she talked about them or they visited sometimes, and she knew Maxwell had no female friends because he talked to her most of the time about his friends after school and never mentioned a girl's name.

Gerry had no problem with her daughter being friends with Maxwell. But she knew Edith would frown upon that idea, so she was kind of sceptical about it. She had to prevent any future hurt today by not really indulging these kids. She knew if they kept seeing each other quite often, it would be hard for them to be separated in some time to come.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but they didn't come today. They are home with their dad." Gerry continued, looking at the small boy in front of her, who looked disheartened by the information received. He didn't know how to respond to it, so he just nodded. Gerry squeezed his shoulder lightly and smiled at him.

"I'll go upstairs to your parents room and call them down for breakfast." Gerry said and started walking towards the flight of stairs.

"Mrs. Gerry..." Maxwell's voice was heard, and Gerry paused on her tracks and turned to him. He looked like he wanted to ask something, but he was nervous.

"Maxwell? What is it?" Gerry asked, encouraging him, and walked back slowly towards him with eyes full of concern.

"My birthday party.., you...you will let her come, right?" Maxwell asked in a shaky voice. His pleading eyes staring straight into Gerry's. He looked like he was on the verge of breaking down, and Gerry's heart clenched, not in pain, but in amazement.

How could someone you just met affect your emotions this way? If they were adults, they would have been diagnosed with the disease of "love at first sight". She laughed inwardly at the thought.

She didn't believe in 'love at first sight', but this scene right now was trying to cause some change of mind. Seeing what these kids were doing... how they were acting... could be related to that, right?

They couldn't possibly be in love, could they? Her eyes widened at that thought, but she immediately dismissed it and shook her head. Hell no! That was very impossible. They didn't know what love was at this age.

Or so she thought...