“Anyhow, Becky was back a few hours later, and I didn’t think anything of it; why would I? She’d been back and forth a lot back then. In and out at all hours until you came home in the evenings. So, I was in the kitchen standing at the sink; I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a few hours yet before I had to go pick up Ms. Gian…I mean Ms. Gia.” She smiled wanly at Gabriel when she corrected herself.
“Anyway, I was standing there washing the dishes when I got the eeriest feeling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t explain it; I just… Anyway, I headed up the stairs, being quiet as a mouse, carrying a tray with refreshments. If nothing was out of place, I didn’t want to interrupt whatever the two of them were discussing, but if I was caught, I could just pretend, you know, that I was bringing up something. Even though Ms. Adrienne wasn’t really eating much by that time, and she’d fuss at me if I overworked myself seeing to her guests.”
“You remember Mr. Fontane; she didn’t like anyone else to take care of her, especially the nurses who came. Strangers, she called them. She didn’t like them seeing her that weak and undignified. She’d only let them administer her medicine, but that was it. The rest you and I took care of and were glad to do it. She said that was more than enough work on my shoulders, and if our visitors needed pampering, they could get it at home; I wasn’t here to cater to their needs.” She smiled fondly at the memory.
“You know Ms. Adrienne was a spitfire when she chose to be. Anyway, I came up the stairs, and at first, all I heard was the drone of their voices, couldn’t make out what they were saying to each other. Then I was finally able to hear. What are you doing? That’s what Ms. Adrienne said, then she shouted, get away from there.”
“Something in her voice made me panic, and I rushed to the door just in time to see Becky fiddling with the IV. I wasn’t sure what all she’d done; I just remember the smug look on her face, a look that turned to pure evil when she turned to look at Ms. Adrienne on the bed before she saw me standing in the doorway.
“I’ve watched enough soap operas to know I had to act fast. I could barely find words, just held up the tray with what I’m sure was a sickly-sweet look on my face. My whole body had gone ice cold. I’m amazed even now that I didn’t stutter when I spoke, that I was able to get words past my lips. I pretended that I’d just arrived and walked in the room chattering away like I always did.”
She took a deep breath here as tears ran down both our faces. It was then I realized that I was digging my nails into Gabriel’s arm, where he held me. I tried easing back, but he put my hand back without looking at me as if to say it was okay, carry on. “I wasn’t sure then if it had worked; I was too busy trying to keep my eyes on Ms. Adrienne, who looked like she was just falling asleep.”
“I even convinced myself that I’d misunderstood the situation. Why would Becky hurt someone who’d been so nice to her all along? Even then, she took the tray from me, all smiles. “She’s a bit tuckered out. Why don’t we leave this here for now?”
“That’s what she said. I wanted to refuse to leave the room, but I had no excuse to stay. She was the guest, someone Ms. Adrienne held in high regard, while I was just the help after all, even though Ms. Adrienne treated me like anything but. And besides, her own child was in the room with her at the time. Who would’ve thought…?”
“If I was wrong, how could I explain my irrational feelings? It’s only after Becky left a little bit later, and I came up here to find her not breathing that I doubted. Even then, I wasn’t sure. But then she moved in here, started taking over, started treating Ms. Gia worse than an unwanted orphan. It made me sick. She must’ve caught on that I’d seen more than I should that day because next thing I know, I was being replaced.”
“Why didn’t you say anything to me about this?”
“I wasn’t sure at first. You’ve got to understand. Had I known, I would’ve said something. But it was only after I’d been gone from here that I was able to put things into perspective. Even then, I didn’t dare say anything, just told the new housekeeper to keep an eye on Ms. Gia because I’d seen the way Becky had started treating her.”