Chapter 71

Nurul.

The meeting is held in the entrance hall of the staff’s building.

Nurul and Daniel arrive together. They sit next to each other and hold hands. They’ve decided that there’s no point in keeping their relationship under wraps anymore. Even if Luz doesn’t reveal Nurul’s pregnancy today, it will become known to everyone once she’s sent home. And Daniel wants everyone to know that he’s the father of this baby and that he’s standing by her, whatever happens.

Whispers ripple through the staff. Everyone is on edge. Sir has been away for a long time, first for the court trial and then for the birth of his baby. Everyone has been asking if Sir, his wife and the baby are coming back to Singapore, but Luz hasn’t been able to answer. Rumors and speculations have been rife.

“I’ve called you for a meeting because there are important changes ahead,” Luz says.

Silence immediately falls in the room. From the open windows and doors, the sound of birds and cicadas wafts in.

“Are we losing our jobs?” the cook asks.

“Yes and no. It depends on you,” Luz says.

“That’s not a good answer,” someone replies. “I’ve always worked as hard as I could. If you’re telling me that I have to prove myself and work harder, then I won’t even try because it’s impossible.”

“Will we have to fight with each other to keep our jobs?” someone else asks.

“No, it’s nothing like that,” Luz replies. “You’ll only have to fight yourself: your own fears of the unknown.”

Murmurs ripple through the room. Luz’s mysterious words are winding everyone up.

“Sir is selling this place,” she finally announces.

“What will happen to us?” they ask her.

Nurul and Daniel squeeze each other’s hands.

“Sir will recommend his current staff to the new owners but he cannot guarantee that the new owners will take you on. Some people like to employ staff who already know how the house works, but others prefer to take their own staff with them, who know how they work. So you have two choices. Both require a bit of bravery.”

Nurul has already been through a lot in her life and she already knows that she can be brave when needed. She also knows that bravery comes more easily with desperation, and she’s desperate enough. Daniel has been reassuring her that everything will be alright, but she knows that this is far from guaranteed.

“We can decide to stay here until the new owners take over and, if they want to keep us on their staff, we will continue to work here. Or we can decide to go to Sicily and work in Sir’s new home there, subject to Sir securing us a work permit. There’s always the chance that our visa application gets rejected, especially if too many of us want to go.”

Nurul’s heart revs up. Staying in Singapore is not an option for her and Daniel. She’s going to be deported if she doesn’t leave very soon of her own accord. But will Sicily welcome her? She has to ask the question, even if that will expose her secret to the rest of the household. She has nothing to lose now.

"Are there any rules, in Italy, against giving work visas to foreign workers who are pregnant?” Nurul asks.

Heads turn towards her, eyes glance at her belly and at her hand clasped with Daniel’s. Nurul and Daniel are sending the message out, loud and clear, and everyone has got it. There are smiles of congratulations, thumbs up, and smiles of sympathy. They all realize that the road ahead, for her and Daniel, will be rockier than for everyone else.

“Not that I know of. I’m sure Sir will look after you,” Luz says.

She smiles at Nurul and Daniel with tenderness but she doesn’t look surprised. The doctor’s report must have already reached Sir and her.

There are a few more questions for Luz but she can’t answer them. She has no idea where Sir’s new home is exactly—other than that it’s in Sicily—and she doesn’t know any details.

The meeting is over. For the rest of the day and the following ones, everyone is talking about the two choices. Some people don’t even consider moving to Sicily an option. It’s too far from their family and loved ones back in the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Those who have no spouses or children and yearn for a new adventure, sign up to go to Sicily. Those who don’t want to go to Sicily but don’t fancy taking chances with the new owners, contact employment agencies to be transferred to another local family.

Nurul and Daniel have no difficult choices to make. For them, it’s Sicily or nothing.

***

Luz.

The news of the villa’s sale has rocked Luz’s world. She has no idea what she’s going to do. Her friendship with Jomari is blossoming and she doesn’t want to go away from him.

He’s got a permanent job here and he’s not going to leave Singapore any time soon—and certainly not to go to Sicily. So if Luz wants their friendship to continue to grow—and perhaps, one day, turn into something more—she must stay here.

But she’s dreamed of visiting Italy from the moment the employment agency offered her a job with an Italian expat.

Still, after all that has happened with Sir and Ma’am, it would be a good thing for her to leave their employment. Luz has been too close to them, she knows too much about them. Continuing to work for them would be awkward.

But staying in Singapore without the guarantee of a job is nerve-wracking.

Luz would like to talk to someone about it, but she can’t confide in any of the other house staff because they are in the same situation as her, and because she’s their manager.

She doesn’t want to talk to Bulan, Fatima and the others either because they will immediately put the word round among their other friends that she’s looking for an employer. But that’s not what Luz needs, at least for now.

Luz needs a sounding board for a proper, dispassionate, hard discussion about her future. Jomari is the person she wants to talk to.

“Are you free to talk?” she texts him.

“Not now, but I could meet you this evening,” he messages her back.

Luz was only asking for a phone call but Jomari is offering a meeting. That’s even better.

Luz and Jomari have been meeting up—strictly as friends—a few times already. They have been sightseeing, with Luz showing Jomari all the nicest places on the island, both the famous ones and the obscure ones, and the best places to buy things at good prices. So meeting up with him is nothing new. But meeting in the evening is. It feels a little like a date. Luz pushes the thought out of her mind. Jomari has made it clear that he can only offer friendship.

Luz thinks it over: after the bombshell she dropped this afternoon, can she leave the house?

She decides that she will go round and see everyone, one by one, before leaving. She will answer any questions she can answer, she will reassure and advise where required, and she will distribute tissues if needed. Then she will go out with Jomari, because she can’t look after others if she doesn’t look after herself.

As she hasn’t replied yet, another message pops up on her screen.

“How about dinner out?” Jomari’s message reads.

“Great idea,” she quickly types back.

Now she must work harder to remind herself that this isn’t a date.