"Tommy! What…I didn't know…you work here?" Maggie stuttered.
"Am I missing something here?" Mr Carson asked curtly.
"Mr Carson this is my younger sister." Thomas replied.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room only to be broken by the bells ringing demanding service upstairs. The servants scattered and with a bewildered glance at the siblings, Mr Carson returned to his office. Maggie didn't know what to say to Thomas. She hadn't seen her brother for more than ten years since he left their family home and got a job. They had been close once and had looked out for one another when their father was angry but now, they were both at a loss for what to say.
"So…how's mum?" Thomas asked awkwardly.
"Fine. The same as she always was." Maggie found herself being very short with him. She didn't know where it came from but she felt suddenly angry at her brother. He had left her with their drunken father and a mother who did nothing about it.
"I…erm…I better get to work." Thomas edged out of the room.
"Aren't you even going to mention Dad?"
"I've got to go…I've got work to do. I'll, I'll take to you later Mags."
Maggie was left feeling angry and more alone than ever.