Chapter 12 - Stay Out Of My Family
The hallway outside Dad's study was cold on my bare feet. I had followed Mom because her heels were loud on the marble and I knew that sound. Fast meant mad.
She didn't knock. She pushed the study door open and told the maid to come inside. The maid had changed out of her party uniform into jeans and a gray sweater, her hair still in a bun. She held a trash bag with the white cloths from the party room.
I stayed by the door frame where they couldn't quite see me. Dad's desk lamp was on. Papers from last night were still spread out where he had lined up the chairs and the bucket.
Mom closed the door halfway, but not all the way. She took an envelope out of her purse.
"I've written you a check," she said. Her voice was low, the party voice gone. "Two months pay. You're done here Friday."
The maid didn't take it. She set the trash bag down by her shoes. "Ma'am, I didn't do anything wrong."
Mom held the envelope out longer. "You're just a maid. Stay out of my family. Get down and clean it — that was last night. This is me being generous. Take it and go quietly."
My stomach hurt. I squeezed the door frame. The wood left a line on my palm.
The maid shook her head. "I don't want your money."
"You don't get to say no," Mom said. "I run this house. I hire. I fire."
I heard Dad's steps on the stairs before I saw him. He had his phone in his hand and his suit jacket off, sleeves pushed up. He saw me first. He put his finger to his lips, then he looked past me into the study.
He heard it too. Mom pushing the envelope toward her chest.
"Take it," Mom said. "Find another family to work for."
The maid stepped back from it. Her voice was shaking but she didn't whisper. "I'm not here for the job anymore. I'm staying for her."
I knew she meant me. My eyes got hot.
Dad walked in then. The floor creaked under his shoes. Mom turned fast and tried to slide the envelope back into her purse, but he'd already seen it.
"What is that?" he asked.
"Severance," Mom said. "It's handled."
Dad held his hand out. "Let me see."
Mom didn't move. Dad took the envelope from the edge of her purse. He looked at the amount, then at the maid. "Did you ask for this?"
"No, sir," the maid said. "I told her no."
He set the envelope down on his desk, flat, like he didn't want anyone to touch it. "You're offering her money to leave after what happened last night?"
"I'm protecting our privacy," Mom said. "She's been telling stories. I won't have staff turning my daughter against me."
The maid looked at the floor. "I never told her to say anything. I just stayed with her when she cried."
Dad stood between them. His voice was firm, the same as when he grabbed Mom's wrist. "You're not firing anyone. Not now. This house doesn't work like that anymore."
Mom laughed a short laugh. "So she decides now?"
"I decide," Dad said. "She stays."
I couldn't stay quiet behind the door. I ran in and grabbed Dad's pant leg with both hands. My pink pajamas stuck to my legs. I was crying before I even talked.
"Please don't send her away," I said. I looked up at him. "Please, Dad. Don't let her go."
He knelt down right there on the rug. His knees cracked. He wiped my cheek with his thumb. "Hey. Hey. Nobody's going anywhere. Okay?"
"Promise?" I asked.
"I promise she stays," he said. He looked up at the maid. "You hear that? You stay."
The maid nodded. Her eyes were wet. She pressed her lips together.
Mom picked up her purse. Her hands were tight around the strap. "You're making a mistake in front of her."
Dad stood up slowly, keeping one hand on my shoulder. "The mistake would be paying off the one person she trusts."
After Mom walked out, Dad didn't follow her. He pulled his phone out and sat on the edge of the desk. He pulled me close against his side so I could hear him breathe.
He called someone. I heard it ring twice.
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"Hi, this is Daniel," he said. "We talked yesterday. I need to set that formal meeting. With the counselor present. For my daughter." He paused. "No, just her and the counselor first. Then us." He looked at the maid. "And I'd like our housekeeper present if that's allowed. She's part of why my girl feels safe."
When he hung up, the room was quiet except the lamp buzzing. The envelope was still on the desk. Nobody touched it.
