Carrying My Brother's Child

CHAPTER 2

Caleb talked for a time and Elena listened to every single word he said. They stood on the side of the market road while the town moved around them. A woman walked past with a basket of tomatoes on her head. Two old men sat outside the barbershop talking about football. A child ran between them chasing a ball.. Elena did not hear any of it clearly. She was completely focused on what Caleb was saying.

He told her about Julian Holt. He said the name slowly. Julian Holt was the founder of a technology company. He became one of the billionaires in California. He owned a house in San Francisco where he lived alone except for a few staff members. Caleb worked for Julian Holt as his Personal Assistant. He took care of Julian's schedule and travel and meetings and everything else.

"He needs someone who's reliable, " Caleb said. "Someone who works hard and does not cause trouble." He looked at Elena. "I thought of you away."

Elena put her arms across her chest. She was not sure how to feel about being recommended for a maids job. She had a university degree. She studied Business Administration for three years.. Her father was sick and her mother was tired and her fiancé did not make much money. So she kept her feelings to herself.

"What about the pay?" she asked.

Caleb told her the amount. Elena was surprised. She asked him to say it again. It still sounded like a lot of money. It was more than her fiancé made in three months. It was more than her mother made in six months. It was enough to buy her fathers medicine and send money home every month.

Elena walked home with the card in her hand. The sun was up. The air was warm. She saw the dog she saw that morning. The town looked the same.. Something inside Elena had changed a little bit.

She sat on the step of her house and looked at the card. The name Julian Holt was on it. There was a phone number with a California area code. She turned the card over. The back was blank.

Her father coughed from inside the house. The sound was loud and clear. Elena looked at the card again. She already knew what she was going to do.

That evening Leo came to the house. He knocked on the door frame. I walked in. Elena's mother was sewing a dress by lamplight. She looked up. Smiled at Leo.

"Sit down, " she said.

Leo sat down. Greeted her. He asked about her health and Elena's father. Elena's mother told him the truth. She said her husband was resting. She said the cough was bad. She said she was trusting God.

Elena came out with two cups of water. She gave one to Leo. One to her mother. She sat down beside Leo. She had the card in her pocket. She could feel it against her leg.

She took the card out. Put it on the table. Leo looked at it. He picked it up. Read the name. He turned it over. Saw the blank back. He put it down. He looked at Elena.

"Caleb gave it to me, " she said. "This morning, near the market."

She told Leo everything. She told him about Julian Holt and the estate and the pay. Leo did not say much. He just listened.

When she finished talking the room was quiet. The lamp flickered. Something moved outside.

"San Francisco, " Leo said. His voice was flat.

"Yes, " Elena said.

He looked at the card again. "How long will you be gone?"

"Caleb did not say exactly, " she said. ". He said most staff stay for at least a year."

Leo put the card down. Leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his neck. Elena watched him. She knew he was thinking.

Elena's mother got up. Left the room. She knew they needed to talk

"I do not want you to go, " Leo said quietly.

Elena looked at him. His eyes were on the table. She covered his hand with hers.

"I know, " she said softly.

"But I also know why you have to go, " Leo said. He looked up at her. His eyes were serious. "Your father needs medicine. Your mother is tired. You have been taking care of everything since you graduated."

Elena's throat felt tight. She pressed her lips together.

"It will only be for a while, " she said. "I will send money home every month.. I will call you every day."

Leo turned his hand over. Held hers.

"Every day, " he said.

"Every day " Elena promised.

That night Elena lay in bed. She stared at the c***k in the ceiling. The house was quiet. Her fathers coughing had stopped. The street outside was dark.

She thought about San Francisco. She had never been there. She had only seen pictures. Tall. A famous red bridge. People walking on streets.

Now she had a card with a phone number.. A father who needed medicine.. A love that was strong.

She pulled out the card. I looked at it. The name Julian Holt was on it. He was a stranger. A man who needed a maid.

She pressed the card against her chest. Closed her eyes.

She told herself she was not afraid. She told herself this was the next step.

Three days later she called the number on the card.

Caleb answered. He sounded happy. He told her to come soon as she was ready. He said he would send her the bus details. He said he would meet her in the city. He said she had nothing to worry about.

Elena said thank you to him. Then she hung up the phone. She sat down on the edge of her bed. She had the phone in her lap. Her hands were not moving at all. She was breathing slowly and steadily. Elena looked around the room where she had slept her whole life. The room had a mattress. There was an envelope on the shelf. Above the sink there was a mirror. It was cracked. The ceiling had a mark on it that Elena had seen many times before it went from one wall all the way to the other wall.

Elena started to pack her things.