Chapter 3
1235 Words
Evelyn stood by the gates with a sad smile on her face.
I stood up and waved at her. Caine didn’t bother turning to see who it was.
“It’s time for lunch," she called out.
I got my bag and steered Caine out of the garden. We followed behind her and into the dining room.
Evelyn asked me to join them at the table where they ate. There was a particular junior staff member who kept stealing glances at me. I didn’t read much into it so I began to eat after they served the dishes.
After lunch, I took Caine up to his room and came back down because I needed to speak to Evelyn about the contract.
“Yes dear, you wanted to speak to me?” Evelyn said, sitting with me in the living room.
“Yes, it’s about the contract. I’ve come to terms with it but it was never specified that Caine was a grown man. I didn’t expect to be babysitting a man.” I said.
“I’m sorry about that, really. It’s just that when most people find out that Caine isn’t a kid, then they decline the offer immediately.”
“Please, I need your help. Do the best you can to help him walk again. He can't do this on his own.” Evelyn pleaded with me, looking devastated. “He may be difficult some days but please be patient. I know he will walk again, he needs to.”
I felt so bad for Evelyn. She spoke like Caine owed something to her or the family. I vowed to do everything in my power to help him recover quickly.
I went up to my room and got on the phone with my mom until it was time for dinner.
I went down and met two girls in uniform waiting for me.
“Hello, Miss Elissa.” They said walking up to me.
“Hi, have you seen Maureen?” I asked them.
“Mrs. Maureen has asked us to help you with the Master’s dinner.”
“Oh, alright then,” I said following them.
They took the tray up the stairs and I followed closely behind them. They got to the doors and knocked, going in after a muffled “come in”.
They each dropped their trays and left the room.
I sat on the couch by the study at the corner of the room and watched him eat.
When he finished, he rang the bell and both girls came into the room, picked up the plates, and left.
It was like they were standing outside, waiting for him to call on them.
After I gave Caine his pills earlier in the afternoon, he looked so physically weak. I didn’t know what caused it so I just got his bath ready.
“How are you feeling?” I asked him, he shook his head and I understood he was still weak.
“Are you in any pain?” He shook his head no.
I helped him get into the wheelchair and took him to the bathroom. It was a massive en-suite.
I took his shirt off and a blush crept up my cheeks and the clear view of his toned torso met my face.
Concentrate Elissa. I told myself as I looked up at Caine. He looked so tired. I made sure the bath was warm.
I helped him take off his pants while looking away.
I helped him get into the bath and his weight shifted heavily against me.
Caine lay his head on the headrest of the bath. That meant I was going to bathe him.
I kept my eyes where they belonged. Arms. Shoulders. Legs.
The cloth was warm as I wrung it out. When I touched his skin with it, he stiffened, not in discomfort, but in awareness.
Steam gathered in the room, blurring the edges of everything, and for a moment I pretended we were only nurse and patient, not two people trapped in an awkward silence neither of us knew how to fill.
“Let me know if you need anything,” I told him softly.
He nodded with his eyes shut.
I worked quickly but gently and then helped him out.
He was too weak to lift his arms, so I did it for him. He rested his head on my shoulder, his steady breaths fanned my neck.
I guided the shirt over his shoulders carefully, pausing when his breath hitched. He apologized under his breath. I told him not to.
By the time I helped him onto the bed, his eyes were already closing. I straightened the covers and positioned the pillows the way the doctor preferred.
“Ring the bell if you need anything,” I said.
He nodded faintly.
I turned off the lamp, pulled the door shut behind me, and left him to the quiet.
~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~
A few days had gone by and Caine was oddly better compared to that night.
Only one junior staff member was bringing Caine’s food up. I learned her name was Jane and she was assigned to me.
The young girl would bring it in late on most days and I would go down to get the food myself on other days.
I found out that when they’d fire the previous nurses, Jane was the one to take care of Caine when Maureen was too busy.
But it seemed like Caine never noticed anyone and most of the time he ignored me.
“Good morning Caine, did you sleep well?”
Caine didn’t look my way.
I could tell he hated being seen like this.
I helped him sit up for breakfast.
Caine’s breakfast wasn’t here yet and Jane was making it a habit to be late.
I didn’t want to complain to Maureen because I didn’t want to be a bother.
I decided to speak to Jane on my own.
Jane came up in her work uniform. Her skirt today was a little shorter than the rest.
I laughed to myself. Now I knew what all this was about. Jane had a little crush on her Master.
“Goodday miss.” She said in a very cheerful tone.
I looked at her with a frown. “Why do you always come in with the food late? You know there’s a particular time for his drugs and for breakfast and delaying that would cause his distress but you keep repeating that.”
Jane looked down with fake sadness plastered on her face. “Forgive me Miss Elissa, I lost track of time.”
I gave her a stern look and grabbed the tray from her. Jane waited outside.
When Caine was done with his food and pills, I helped him into the wheelchair and he sat by the window.
He didn’t want to speak to anyone and he didn’t want to go outside.
I sighed and called in Jane to grab the plates.
She picked up the plates and walked up to the door, hooking the sleeve of her shirt to the door, she ‘slipped’ and all the plates on the tray crashed to the ground including her.
Her top had torn on the sleeve and her uniform was soiled. She gasped in shock as I ran up to her to help her up.
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