Chapter 15
421 Words
“EEE-OOW!” I screamed, looking at the blood oozing from my cut finger. I’d never been good with knives and never liked cleaning potatoes or any other vegetable. However, that week I was responsible for the kitchen. I was living in Olivia's House, a home for single mothers. But it was different from all the others in that residents had to work in exchange for a place to live, even after they’d given birth. I shared a room with a girl called Patricia. She was also on kitchen duty and came rushing over to see what I’d done.
“Nasty,” she remarked. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
A couple of minutes later, I was sporting a large blue Band Aid. I carried on scraping the potatoes while Patricia washed-up over by the window.
"Quick!” she called. “Come and see this!"
"Why? What is it?"
"He’s here."
"Who?"
"Mrs. Abigail’s son. Nathan."
"She has a son?"
"Yes, and he’s so handsome."
I didn't speak, but walked over to take a look at the ‘Adonis’. What Patricia had said was true. He was a stunner. "Forget it,” I said. “Stop daydreaming. He’s not going to look at you or any of us. We’re just his mom’s charitable act. Nothing more." I went back to where I’d finished the potatoes, put them in a saucepan and picked up the bowl of water in which they’d been soaking.
"Where are you going?" Patricia asked.
"To empty this water on the front porch flowers. You know the rules."
On my way back to the kitchen, I bumped into the ‘Adonis’. He stopped and looked at me as if he’d never seen a pregnant woman before, making me feel very uncomfortable.
"Excuse me," I said, and he moved aside for me to return to the kitchen.
"Did you see him?" Patricia asked as soon as I stepped over the threshold.
"Yes. He’s creepy.”
"Not sexy?"
"I have no idea, I avoided looking at him. He stared as if I was a ghost or something."
"Well, you’d better get used to him."
"Why?"
"He’s going to be running the house while Ava the manager’s away on compassionate leave. He’s going to be here at least three months."
- Writer
