6. Down the memory lane III

Gerry said almost immediately. What was this boy saying? Show her daughter around? Did he think she was courting death or something? With the lady boss at home?? No way!!! The last thing she wanted was for that woman to pass offensive comments on her.

"But... but why?" Miriam asked in a dejected tone. She was just going to look around. "I just want to look around. Please, mom."

Gerry closed her eyes out of frustration, pinching the space between her brows. She sighed heavily and looked at the two sorrowful faces staring at her right now, thinking of a proper way to explain things to them.

"Mimie... um... young master..."

"Maxwell." He corrected.

"Maxwell... I don't want any trouble with your mother. She hates to have so many people around and I'm afraid if she sees my children she'll get mad and... and maybe say something that will make me... sigh. Maxwell, I don't want any trouble with the boss lady." She said all this in a barely audible tone but they didn't miss the seriousness in her voice.

Mrs. Holmes, the lady boss, who was Maxwell's mother, was very bossy and was well known for her condescending and ostentatious manner. She didn't like seeing people around her home, especially people who were less privileged like her workers. And so she had made sure there were few workers around and that they would multi-task in order to meet all the needs in the mansion. She would always say that having many people around would make the mansion feel dirty, and she didn't want that. Like they were some filthy rugs! The cheek of it!

Mrs. Holmes was the last person on earth Gerry wanted to have a confrontation with, as she was well aware she would lose her job, because she would try to fight back in case she said shitty words to her.

In fact, she was done with work for the day, and they were just about to leave. And she would do so immediately to prevent any troubles.

"I'm done with work. It's almost 1pm already and I'm done with lunch. I was told the family will be eating out tonight and there would be no need for me to stay to prepare dinner so..." turning to Miriam, Gerry said, "...pack your stuff. We'll be leaving soon. I'll just go and wrap up quickly and then we'll leave."

Miriam looked away and nodded, trying to avoid her mother's gaze so she wouldn't see the tears that were brewing in her eyes. She just wanted to look around. What was so wrong with that? And looking at the turn of event she was sure her mother would not bring them here again. The thought of that alone broke her heart, but she didn't have any option, did she? She couldn't go against her mother.

She saw her mother leave and closed the door behind her. She started packing her small backpack with the toys and books they brought. A lone tear slid down her left cheek, which she quickly wiped away before it was seen. She didn't want Maxwell to see her weak side. And she didn't want her mother to see her cry. So she tried to bottle up her emotions. But that didn't go unnoticed by Maxwell.

He was equally broken. He didn't know why, but the sad look on Miriam's face pricked his heart like a thousand needles were poking it. For the first time, he had met someone of the opposite sex whom he felt comfortable with, apart from his mother and elder sister. All his life he had never had a close female companion. And he felt like Miriam was a very friendly person he could befriend.

He was very happy that she liked their mansion, and he was eager to take her to every corner to show her around, but there was little he could do at the moment. He had wanted to tell Gerry that he would go upstairs and ask permission from his mother to show Miriam around, but like she said, they were already leaving and it would be of no use.

With slow steps, he made his way to Miriam, who had her back facing him as she packed her toys and books. He didn't fail to notice how broken she was. And strangely, it broke him too. Seeing those tears in her eyes made him want to go upstairs right now and tell his mother everything. But he knew it would cause trouble, maybe Gerry would be mad at him. And he didn't want that, so he stopped himself. He loved Gerry so much and he didn't want to get on her bad side.

"Hey..." Miriam paused for a second when she heard his voice, and then resumed working without saying anything. "I'm sorry for how things went. I really wanted to show you around."

Miriam closed her eyes for some seconds before opening them to zip up her bag. Then she turned and faced him with a smile.

"Its okay." Contrary to the look on her face, Maxwell looked extremely devastated. Miriam chuckled lightly and said, "Oh come on, it's really fine. You look like you're about to cry. Looks like you're more affected than I am. Don't worry, I'm content with what I already saw. Your mansion is really beautiful."

She said with a bright smile, in an attempt to lighten the gloomy atmosphere, but Maxwell only sighed and looked away. He knew she was forcing herself to look okay, but he could see through her pretence.

After some few seconds he turned back to her.

"Will you be back tomorrow?"

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Sorry for the short chapter, guys. I'll release 2 more chapters as compensation. Please comment down below and let me know what you think. :) Thanks for your understanding. XOXO.

Juu.