Chapter Five
1548 Words
"Where did you go?" Eric asked
"Shhhh" Claire said while putting a finger to her lip.
"What?"
"Someone might hear you"
"Who cares? And why didn't you come to school?" Asked Eric
"Because.. I went to look for a job" said Claire.
"Why?"
"For my mother's treatment"
"Ohh... Then why are you wearing your uniform?" Eric asked.
"I didn't want my mom to know that I'm going to look for a job. So she thinks I went to school"
"And all this while, I thought I was the bad child" said Eric.
" I'm not bad. My mother doesn't want me to work, and it's not like I will watch her totally break down before I do anything"
"Don't worry, I understand" said Eric "So did you get a job?"
Claire's face brightened and she smiled "Yes I did.. in a boutique though it's part time because I go to school but the pay is still okay"
"Congratulations" Eric said and smiled. He smiled because Claire has never smiled like that or looked so happy around him. She was either angry or sad.
This time, Claire allowed Eric to walk her home and he was finally able to know her house exactly. They saw Issa sitting outside taking some air.
"Good afternoon mom" Claire greeted.
"Good afternoon ma'am" said Eric.
"How are you?" Said Issa
"I'm fine" said Eric.
"How was school?"
"Fine" replied Eric.
"Okay. Let's go inside, Eric, join us for dinner" said Issa.
"No thank you ma'am.."
"Please.. I insist. Let this be my little way of appreciation to you for all your kind deeds" said Issa.
"Come on Eric" said Claire.
"I'm really sorry. Maybe next time, my mom's waiting for me at home and she's alone. So I gotta run.." said Eric.
"His mom has asthma" Claire whispered to her mother.
"Ohh. It's alright Eric, maybe next time" said Issa.
"Yes. Bye ma'am, bye Claire" said Eric as he turned and left.
"He's a good boy, and it seems he loves his mother very much" said Issa.
"He is, he does".
Eric got home and his mom was waiting for him. They had dinner together, Hilary wouldn't be back home until later.
"Tomorrow, I'll be going to Hillary's boutique" said Laine.
"Oh.. do you need me to follow you, tomorrow's Saturday.. " said Eric.
"No need son. I can take care of myself. I'll go to the company from Hillary's" said Laine.
After Eric's father passed away, he willed their company to Eric but he would only take charge of it when he was through with college. So while he's still not of age, his mother would be the one in charge as his parent and guardian.
Claire finally told her mother about getting a job, her mother was against it but after lots of talking and convincing Issa allowed her to work.
Claire left the house very early, she wanted to make a good impression on her first day by arriving early. She got to Hilary's, which was the name of the boutique, the same time with Hilary. The security guard opened the place for them.
"Good morning Miss Hilary." Claire greeted.
"Mmm.. Good morning" Hilary replied before stepping past her and walking straight into her office.
Inside the boutique were rows and rows of clothes, mannequins, jeans and other accessories. Claire's job description was to help the customers while shopping, there were other workers too so they ran shifts.
Claire got along with the rest the staff well, and they briefed her about how strict and bossy Hilary is. In short, don't make her angry.
Laine came into the shop around noon, she saw Claire and recognized her as a new face. Claire who thought she was just a customer and offered to help her shop. Laine agreed and together they went round the boutique as Claire was trying to convince her to buy things, and she was very good at it.
After Laine had paid for the clothes she bought, she went to get car then Claire helped her car the shopping bags.
"Ma'am.. should I put these in the back seat?" Asked Claire.
"Yes you can put them there just.." Laine suddenly stopped talking. She clutched her chest and started gasping for air.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" Claire said dropping the bags on the pavement.
Claire stood behind her confused, and in a flash Laine fell down but Claire caught her. The security guard outside also came to see what happened. He knew it was Hilary's mother and so he went inside to call her.
Claire was left with Laine. Laine was trying to say something but her voice was not audible.
"In.. in.. ha.. ler" said Laine
"What?" Then Claire thought "she might be asthmatic"
Claire stood up from the ground and opened the car door. She found Laine's purse on the driver's seat. Luckily when she opened it, the inhaler was in sight.
She carried it immediately and Laine took it. After taking puffs of it's contents, her breathing normalized.
"Mom? Mom..." Hilary came.
Hilary and the security guard helped Laine into the boutique. They took her into Hilary's office and she sat on the sofa. She looked weak already. She asked for Claire to come into the office.
When Claire came in, Laine looked at her calmly. She had liked Claire from the start and now she had saved her. Who knows if she was not there, Hilary might not have come on time.
"What's your name my dear?" Claire asked.
"Claire"
"Claire? Sounds familiar. Thank you for saving my life Claire" said Laine.
"Anyone in my shoes would have done the same thing"
"But it was you, so thank you very much"
" Thank you Claire for saving my mom's life" said Hilary.
Claire smiled at them and told them it was nothing.
Claire left Hilary and Laine alone in the office.
"I know you won't agree to go to the hospital so I'm taking you home so you can rest" said Hilary.
"Alright" said Laine.
Immediately Hilary's phone rang, and her face frowned after hearing what the person on the other side said.
"What's wrong?" Laine asked after seeing her daughter's expression.
"There's a problem now and the new batch of clothes I ordered can't be delivered in time. Now they're calling me saying they need my attention" said Hilary.
"Ohh.." said Laine
"I'll drop you off first before going there"
"No dear, just go. You can leave me here I'll be fine. I can wait for you or if I feel strong, I can go myself.. " said Laine.
"No.. " said Hilary.
The place Hilary was supposed to be was in the opposite direction of the road to their house. It would also take forty-five minutes to drive from the boutique to the house.
She carried her phone and started dialing a number, then put the phone to her ear.
"Who are you calling?" Asked Laine.
"Eric.."
Eric answered the call at the third ring.
"Yeah, what's up?" Said Eric
"I need you to come here now.."
"Why?" Asked Eric.
"Mom had an attack earlier so I need you to take her home so she can rest" said Hilary.
"What? Is mom okay?" Eric shouted.
"She is but she needs to rest. Come quick"
"Yeah yeah I'm on my way"
As soon as Hilary left, Eric came in. Under thirty minutes, he had arrived. When he entered the boutique he didn't see Claire neither did she see him.
Eric went to his sister's office, he opened the door, entered and sat beside his mom on the couch. Laine smiled when she saw him, she claimed he looked funny because he was frowning.
"You look so funny.. why are you frowning like someone died?" Said Laine.
"Mom! Are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?" Asked Eric concernedly.
"I'm fine. Besides, someone helped me" said Laine.
"Oh wow.. who?"
"A lovely and pretty young lady" said Laine.
"Then I must thank her when I see her for saving my mom's life" said Eric "For now, let's get you home"
Eric picked his mom's purse and held her hand as they walked out. When they came out of the office, this time Claire was in sight. Laine pointed at her as the girl that helped her. Claire saw both of them and walked to them.
"She is the one who helped me" Laine said while smiling.
"Claire?" Eric exclaimed.
"Eric?" Said Claire at the same time.
"You two know each other?" Asked Laine.
"Yeah, she's my friend. The one I told you about before" said Eric.
"Small world. Claire, Eric is my son" said Laine.
"Oh wow... I didn't know that" said Claire.
"Yeah.. Claire thanks so much for saving my mom's life. I really appreciate it, thanks a lot" said Eric.
"It's okay. I'd do the same for anyone" said Claire.
"But still, thank you" said Eric.
"Thank you Claire" said Laine.
Claire smiled.
"We're going home now. You can ride with us so I can drop you off too.." said Eric.
"Oh no thanks, my shift isn't over yet. You two can go ahead" said Claire.
"Alright then.. see you at school" said Eric.
"Bye Claire" said Laine.
"Byee" said Claire.
- Writer
