Chapter 2 - New York

Sarah.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Uncle Donald greeted me as soon as I stepped out of my room. He was sitting on the sofa in the living room. So how is it possible that he greeted me as soon as I opened the door of my room? Well, it was a small two-bedroom apartment with a small living and an open kitchen with a small dining table on one side.

"Good morning. Sorry, I overslept." I said.

"No, you didn't, my dear. You should take some more rest. It was a long journey. You just sit here, I will make you some coffee." Uncle Donald offered.

"You just sit there and I will make coffee. I am sure you miss my coffee." I said, walking to the kitchen.

"I do miss your coffee but miss your cookies more."

"Not anymore, I have brought you cookies and muffins. I hope you like them."

I made coffee and poured it in two cups and took it to the living room along with a plate of cookies.

"Where are the muffins?" Uncle Donald asked.

"You'll get them, but before that have to make sure that your sugar levels are normal," I said with a serious face.

"Don't worry my dear. I am on regular medication. So having a muffin won't kill me." Uncle Donald laughed.

"Fine, but I'll just give you one. I'll make you some sugar-free muffins. I didn't have the ingredients at home. That's why I just made the normal muffins. But you can have the cookies. I have used very little sugar to make them."

I said and went back to the kitchen and came back with a single muffin. I sat opposite Uncle Donald and sipped my coffee.

"So when do I have to start the new job?" I asked.

"You can start working there from the first of next month." Uncle Donald said.

"You mean July 1st?" I asked.

"Yes, and until then we are going to explore New York." Uncle Donald said.

"That will be great. So what's the job?" I asked.

"I don't know if you would like it or not. You know you don't have any educational qualifications. So the best-paying job I could find is of a maid at the Raymond mansion. They actually need a baker. They already have lots of maids and even chefs. But none of them could impress the Raymonds with their baking skills. I have told them about you and they want you to make them some of your specialties. So it's also a test for you. We can go out in the evening and get all the stuff you need to make your signature dish. I am sure they are going to love it." Uncle Donald said.

"So, where will we be staying? Do they provide accommodation?" I asked.

"I would actually like it if you stay here but that's not going to do you any good. They do provide a servant cottage and I think you will also get one if they hire you. Their pay is really good and that's why girls are even ready to drop out of college to get a job at the Raymond mansion. There is also a preschool run by the Raymond's which is one of the best in the country. If you are lucky and you get the job, they provide free education to the kids of the maids." Uncle Donald's words brought a smile to Sarah's lips.

"Then I am going to try my best."

"But before that, we have to make arrangements to celebrate Teddy's birthday." Uncle Donald reminded me.

"We will just have a small celebration. I'll bake a cake and will take him to some park and buy him lots of ice cream. He has already got his presents from Uncle Jacob and Aunt Martha." I said as I didn't want Uncle Donald to spend a lot on us. He is already doing a lot for me and Teddy and I don't want to burden him more.

"You are still the same Sarah. You and Teddy are not a burden to me. You know I don't have anyone to spend it on. After Helen's death, I have been all alone. God didn't even bless us with a child. I believe that you and Teddy are God's gift for me and you can't take away my right of a grandfather." Uncle Donald said sternly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to hurt you. You can do what you want." I gave up.

I took the cups and plates back to the kitchen and washed them. Then I started to prepare breakfast. Teddy had fallen asleep last night without having his dinner. I quickly made bread toast and some fresh orange juice before Teddy woke up.

By evening, I had decided what to make for the Raymond family. I made a list of the ingredients I would need. I then changed into a floral white dress which almost reached my ankle and wore a blue jacket on the top. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and I looked beautiful even without any makeup. Aunt Martha used to say that my blue eyes just complimented my porcelain skin.

The happy 3 years of my life away from the Salazar mansion definitely made me glowing and beautiful. I never admired my beauty when I was at the Salazar mansion even though grandma used to compliment me. Even in the last 3 years, I tried hard not to attract anyone with this beauty but often failed. I used to get a lot of proposals from the young boys when we were living in a small town in the countryside. But everyone backed out when they found out that I had a son. So that was a good thing for me. At least I could keep the prying eyes away from me.

Pulling myself out of my thoughts I took my bag and walked out. Teddy was already waiting with his grandpa.

"Uncle Donald, I need to go to the bank whenever it's possible. I have requested to transfer my account to the branch here but I have to apply for the debit card. I am surely going to need it now." I said, making Teddy frown.

"Mama, you promised that we would go back if I don't like this place," Teddy asked.

"Yes, sweetheart I did promise."

"Then why do you want to go to the bank? You already did go when we were at our place." Teddy asked.

"Honey, this is a big city. Here transactions are done using bank cards. Mama doesn't have a card and I won't be able to buy you anything you want. That's why Mama wants to go to the bank." I tried to explain.

"Mama, you don't have to worry about buying me anything. Grandpa will buy me everything, won't you Grandpa?" Teddy turned to his grandpa.

"Of course, my cutie pie. Grandpa will buy you anything you want. But your mama will still need a bank card. It's more convenient to carry a card than a stack of bills. Now hurry up, let's go shopping."

We left the apartment after locking the door. Uncle Donald drove the car to the supermarket. Once he parked the car, we went inside the supermarket.

"Sarah, you can go to the grocery section and take all the things you need including the baking tools. I will take Teddy to his section." Uncle Donald said.

"Uncle Donald, don't buy him everything he asks. Just one or two presents, not more." I said and turned to Teddy. "Honey, don't ask him to buy you anything expensive. Just take small toys, nothing big."

"Ignore your mama for now, cutie pie. Let's go and fill the cart."

Uncle Donald went with Teddy ignoring me and I could only smile. I have never been to such a big supermarket before. So it took time to locate the grocery section. I started to fill my cart according to the list I had made. I took care to buy everything I needed including the baking molds.

I was so engrossed in shopping that I didn't notice the hawking eyes behind me. I was about to pull the cart towards the billing counter, when three men blocked my way.

"Hey, beautiful, you don't look like a regular customer here. What's your name?" the tall man with curly hair asked.

"Excuse me, please let me go." I requested.

"Let me help you then. It's not gentlemanly if we allow your soft gentle hands to pull this heavy trolley. It's better to use those hands for better things, like to pull something soft and hard."

The three men laughed and started to look at me from head to toe. I felt like being undressed and became nervous and started to bite my lips.

"Shhh ahhh, that's making me hard. You don't know how I wish to be between your sweet soft lips. Let's go to my place."

The one with a beard caught my hand making me scream. One of them covered my mouth and they lifted me off the ground easily. I tried to free myself but I couldn't even flinch. Tears flowed through my eyes and I prayed for someone to help me. But they were taking me to the back where it was almost deserted. I was about to give up my hope when someone screamed.

"Leave her, morons."

It was a woman's voice and I could hear footsteps nearing us. Suddenly they dropped me to the ground and ran away. In the fall my elbow hit hard on the floor but luckily I didn't hit my head. I could see my son and Uncle Donald running towards me. I didn't want to scare them and so I quickly wiped the tears and sat up on the floor.

"Mama, are you alright? Why were those men carrying you? Were they trying to kidnap you?"

I understood that Teddy had seen everything.

"I am fine, honey. Let's go." I got up to my feet and was taken into a hug by Uncle Donald.

"Are you okay? I was so frightened to see them carry you. Thank God, you are safe. Let's go home."

"I'm fine, uncle, I just have to bill the items and then we can go," I said.

"We are extremely sorry for what happened. We have informed the police and they will be caught in no time. Please accept our apologies." The store manager said when we were about to leave the store.

"You should be sorry because it's the fault of your security system that my daughter has to go through all this." Uncle Donald said furiously.

"Let's go, uncle. I just need to be home." I said suppressing my pain.

As soon as we reached back, I went to the kitchen and took some ice cubes in a towel and started to dab it around my elbow.

"You are hurt? Let's go to the doctor." Uncle Donald said.

"I just hit the elbow and I will be fine after applying some medicine." I said.

"Mama, who were they?" Teddy asked, looking at me intently.

"They were just some bad people. We should keep ourselves away from them. Next time mama will be more careful." I assured him.

"Teddy, go and keep your presents in your room. Grandpa needs to talk to you mama." Uncle Donald said and Teddy did as he asked. "We need to talk, Sarah."

We went to the living room and sat on the couch.

"Sarah, my dear girl, you are intelligent and I hope you will understand what I am going to say. The girl sitting in front of me right now is not the same girl I met 3 years back. You have groomed into a beautiful young lady in these 3 years. You are both beautiful inside and out. But the world is not as beautiful as it seems. It's hard for a young beautiful girl like you to survive in this cruel world and that too without a man by your side. I can't ask you at the moment to find someone to love and be loved. Because I know right now your priority is just your son. Your beauty is going to be a curse rather than a boon. So hide it until you find someone who cares and likes you for what you are and not your outer beauty." Uncle Donald said.

"I do understand what you are saying, Uncle Donald. I did know that this face was going to bring me trouble. But Teddy always saved me. Being a mother has its own advantages. Uncle Donald, I don't know how to make myself unattractive for the world. If you could guide me, I'll do as you say." I promised him.

"I would have told you to darken your complexion but that won't be possible as you will have to come back to Teddy every day. I will find another way soon. But until then we can use a mask, it's common to use them after the pandemic. I do have a box of masks. For now just go and take a rest."