Plan B

RAYMOND 

All I could feel for her was pity. Nothing but pity and what could I do if not give her some time to get over it? 

I caught up with the last block of stairs and let out a sigh. Looking around for a maid or even two, I walked to the living room area where I relaxed for some time while still in search of a maid who would attend to me. 

I wasn't in a rush but was more concerned about Eleanor. The poor woman who had to go through all of those just because she was in love. Did I have to feel bad for her, especially now that she was out of the marriage?

Who I should feel pity for was the poor woman who was now with Andrew. But she snatched him from Eleanor, or did she not? A sigh ran out of my mouth and once again, I looked around me for a maid.

I was ready to let them know about what I needed. 

Then, it dawned on me and I wondered how I could forget in the first place. They left the house about an hour ago for their usual break—meaning it would take some time before I lay eyes on any of them. 

What if Eleanor needed some help? 

Did she need any? 

At least, one maid was supposed to be in the house. 

But this had to be the least of my problems. 

Although, I wanted to ask one of them to get fruits for Grandfather in advance of our visit, and now that I couldn't, I was on my feet and leading my way to the stairs when a door opened. 

Stopping in my tracks, I turned around. 

“Boss,” Maria, with a plate of food, walked to the diner and set it on the table. “Do you need something?” 

“Y—yes,” I turned around completely, catching up with the diner area. “I thought you left the house.” 

“Not yet,” she let out, settling on the diner. “I wanted to eat and be sure that one of the others returned before leaving. Ma'am Eleanor is a nursing mother and might need my help. I can't leave her alone to herself and the baby.” 

Very thoughtful of her. 

How nice. 

“What do you need?” 

Snapping out of my thoughts, I looked at her face. 

“Myself and wife would leave the house in the morning in a few days. We think it'll be nice to go spend a day with Grandfather and at the same time, I'll need you to get a basket of fruits from the store.” 

“Yes, I understand. Do you need me to do it now?” 

“No, no,” I let out, looking around. “You can leave when a maid is back, Maria. I just needed to let you know. Or better still, you can get it done tomorrow. We'll leave in three days and you have enough time before then.” 

“Right,” she relaxed on the chair. “I'll do as you have said.” 

That was all. Or was there anything else? 

I turned and walked away, stopping to say something. “I'll send some money to your account. Thank you for your help.” And with this, I was gone from her sight. Maybe not completely but I was on my way to my room, a place where I would have the rest I needed. 

A part of me knew I should have asked Eleanor what she would love to do, but not when I had such important news to break to her. She was a nursing mother, after all, and that could wait, unlike the matter on the ground which needed to be treated as soon as possible. 

Into my room, I walked. 

As soon as the door behind me was shut, I found myself on the bed the very next moment. 

A sigh ran out of my mouth and for a while, I relaxed my head on the bed, not saying a word while my mind went blank without any thoughts in it. 

This was the peace I needed the last time I checked. 

The next time I opened my eyes, I felt refreshed and even with the little refreshment, I headed to the bathroom for another bath in the space of three hours. 

A lot would happen in a short while—a lot I could not imagine would happen even in the first place, and I had to be ready before it would come to pass. 

When I walked out of the bathroom, I wore the same clothes from a while ago, picked up my phone and sent some money to the bank account of Maria who must be waiting for it. After a while, I relaxed on the couch in the space, thinking about what to do at the same time. 

There was something I forgot to say to Eleanor. 

She mustn't let the cat out of the bag when we get to Grandfather's house, which was why she needed to be on her best behavior and not expose what we have hidden. 

Would she ever do a thing like that? 

According to the contract we signed, a lot of money would be lost if there came an issue from her end. I didn't need to announce to her that she needed to be careful before she would know. 

Speaking of which, she should have been paid since last week. How did I forget a thing like that? I sat up, snapping my fingers and slightly hitting my head. 

I could not blame myself, but how could I have forgotten? The urge to speak with her and explain myself was more than overwhelming, but there was no need for that. 

Maybe not now—when I planned to speak with the old man over the phone and announce our coming. 

“Pick it up already,” a sigh ran out of my mouth. “Hello, Dad. Good day to you and how are you doing?”

“Son,” from the other end, he called, slightly chuckling. “I am doing alright. How are you today, and how is your wife? The baby also. Did you know I was just about to call you?” 

Too many questions at once. 

“Dad, we are all fine,” an answer to many questions sounded unique in my ears. “Did you say you were going to call me? Is there a problem over there?” I was asking with racing thoughts, thinking about my brother and him not relenting on getting the cat out of the bag. 

Who knows? 

He must have reached out to Dad and announced that I had gone to a restaurant where a basket of food was bought. 

There was nothing Rhett could not do, except crimes. 

“Oh, it's nothing serious,” Dad said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I just thought I should reach out to you and see how you're doing. Nothing more.” 

A sigh ran out of my mouth. 

“Thank you, Dad. We are doing fine. I was calling because I needed to break a news to you. It is on behalf of my wife who asked me to reach out to you, you know—”

“What's the matter?” 

“Nothing, Dad,” I rehearsed. “She would love us to be at your place in a few days. I don't know why she thinks you have such time—” Nothing was more perfect than the lie I had just told, and a smile on my face made it balanced. 

“Why would you say that?” He cried. 

“Raymond Jefferson, do you know how happy I would be to have her around? I don't think we've talked since the wedding, not even over the phone. I'm more than glad she talked about this with you. It's more than enough proof to me that this is not a sham marriage.” 

In my mind and on my face, a smile appeared. All of this would work out well in the end.