Plot: Marcus Pike heads a highly efficient task force for many years now and his career is going up and up. She on the other hand is trying to organize her life from a trying ordeal when an unexpected event put her life on a spin again.
Character: Marcus Pike and female reader [For convenience's sake I gave her a name but feel free to change it]
THE CARETAKER
Chapter 1
"You can use any of the three rooms." The woman said, standing under the bright incandescent hallway light. "That's the baby's room,' she points at an open door with a white walled room. "Let's not go in there. Sorry it's a mess, we'll make sure to clean the floor before we go." It's a mess but a good mess; the floor's littered with Legos of all sizes, building blocks, books, crayons, crumbs of snacks and paper. "but we didn't decorate it. We just put a crib in there and his toys. Here's Mike's office." The keys clinked against the silver knob and with a small creak the door opened. The lights came on and she went to the L-shaped desk sweeping apart the heavy drapes. "No one's used the bed in here. And over there is the connecting bath to the baby's room," Ashley pushed open another door to show the bathroom. "From here Mike can keep an ear out for Jake when I'm busy. There's lots of space to put your things if you choose this room." Ashley let her look around and only closed the door when she stepped out and nodded that she's done. "Lastly, this is our room." Ashley turned the knob and swung the heavy door open. Bright light came from the window directly facing the door.
Ashley steps inside inviting her in with a smile when she didn't move from the door. Observing her sudden shyness Ashley turns away and fiddles with some laundry on the bed allowing her to enter in her own time.
The room is shorter than a full rectangle. On the right is an entire wall of built-in pull out drawers, cabinets and shelves. On the left a queen size bed is against the wall with a leather headboard. A lamp is on a wooden bedside table by the window. There's a full length window to the left framed by white cotton curtains and a door that could be their bathroom and the walk-in closet as Ashley mentioned earlier. As she looks around Ashley perches on the corner of the bed.
"Are you going to bring all of your stuff with you?"
"No. We've decided we'll just bring what we need. Anyway my parents will send us the rest of our clothes we left in their house in Nevada."
"So how long would you need me here?" She slowly follows Ashley again in the hallway.
"It all depends on how fast he'll recover. We think six months minimum to eight months max. We still don't know yet. Would that be good for you?"
"I've no prospects at this time and I can do my online here. The school is so strict about 'quiet working conditions'. She rolls her eyes in exasperation at the mention of the company that she works for. "Is it really that bad?" She asks quietly when she noticed the faint dark circles under Ashley's eyes.
Ashley picks up a small children's book on the floor that has thick pages. She shrugs, eyes down. "If he doesn't get treatment quickly within the month it would make things worse. We've been getting worried because we really need someone to look after the house. If we let this place go we'll have to go through the house hunting process again. We're lucky that it's semi-furnished."
"That's convenient."
"True, we also have some stuff from other expatriates. We need someone we can trust. We were really so thankful that Shirley mentioned you. She said that you've known each other for years."
"Yeah, we have a mutual friend Leslie who is…was my co-teacher from another school. We worked there for about seven years before the management messed up and we all found ourselves jobless one day."
"Really? That's too bad. So how did Shirley enter the picture?"
"Uh, I…" She bites her lip as she sees a colorful plastic swing in the middle of the patio. She looked away quickly. "I was having some personal issues and I was having a hard time coping. Leslie introduced me to Shirley so we started weekly counseling sessions at her house."
"I see. I hope you were able to resolve your issue."
"Yes, I did."
Ashley didn't press her further but she followed where her eyes went. She cleared her throat softly. "So, what do you say?"
"Yes, I'll look after this place. Don't worry."
Ashley took a relieved sigh, leaning on the wall. "Mike will be so relieved!"
She met Mike in passing the first time when Shirley drove her to the house to meet Ashley. Mike had been to his doctor to get his medical files and other documents from his office for the flight. The man looks thin and a little gaunt from his bout with the intestinal virus for some months now. Doctors and specialists were baffled by his condition.
"I'm really glad you agreed, Tessa." Ashley smiled then both look down when the baby bumped Tessa's leg. Tessa quickly reaches down to steady the baby boy who handed her a piece of a puzzle. "He's not like that with other people. He likes you." She chuckles when Jake pulls Tessa to the sofa where he is doing his puzzle book.
"Too bad you're leaving soon, I would have loved to play with him more. Yay!" She clapped when Jake found the correct puzzle shape and the cute brontosaurus went into the space in the board. The boy chuckled clapping his chubby hands. "That's great, Jake!"
Ashley sighed as she looks on Tessa and Jake, eyes soft. Tessa holds out a puzzle piece and the three year old boy would excitedly grab it from her hand babbling all the time, eyes alight. "We're quite desperate for this trip because he would also need some surgery for his eyes but he wanted to be with his parents and family when it happens."
"Of course." She looked back at Ashley from behind Jake's head, "Ugh! I hate surgery!"
"Oh? You've had one? What kind?"
"Uh…just, just on my eyes, too. Twice. Eyelid bumps. Benign annoying buggers." She sounds like Jake, babbling answers.
"Booger!" Jake yells, triumphantly holds out a finger. Tessa and Ashley laugh at Jake as his mother grabs two sheets of wet wipes on the dining table.
"Jake! Stop that!" Ashley scolds her son with a smile as Tessa 'fights' Jake; holding his hand at bay from planting his booger on her. The 'terrified' expression got the boy laughing hard. "He really likes you. He doesn't do that to our house help."
"I guess I like kids too." Tessa cleared her throat as she gave Jake an affectionate squeeze and kiss, her chest tightening. The boy went down from her lap and got busy with his toys on the floor this time. It was then the angle of the sun from the patio got Tessa to look up. "I uh….I think I should be going. The traffic gets bad here at rush hour."
"I'll get you a taxi," The woman quickly sent a taxi service request on her phone. "Oh, before you go, here's the copy of the keys of the gate, the house and the rooms. Please contact our neighbor Sally if you need anything. I gave you her cell number and landline already, right?" She nods as she accepts the ring of keys. All have been labeled so she wouldn't need to wonder. "Thank you again for helping us, Tessa."
The other woman return the smile, "I have to thank you too. This was a surprise and very much welcome. I also need some break and space."
"Yes, I know. I'm sorry about…"
Tessa shakes her head to hide that she swallowed the tightness from her throat. "Yes. Thank you."
"Oh! If the truck's gonna arrive late because of the truck ban do you want us to turn the porch and driveway light on?"
"Yes, please. We don't want any mishap for when we arrive. Thank you."
Ashley tilts her head, eyes on the porch. They both got up and went to the door. "I think that's your ride." The car honked once. "Call me anytime. It's okay. Thank you again!"
"I will! Have a safe trip!"
-o0o—
Marcus gave a sigh of relief when he finally put his bags down in the house, pulling on his tie. The house is the same as he remembers it. There's the same art on the wall that he hates. The same dark interior and the awful period design. It was like watching houses in a 70's movie. For all this place's fault thankfully there's a shopping mall just ten minutes away on foot. He needs to grab some things there tomorrow.
First, out of habit and for his own peace of mind he checks the whole house; the living room and kitchen/dining area- no problem. He turns the knobs of the rooms as he passes by, the set of keys in his hand jiggling. The rooms are all locked.
The key fit and the knob turned at the master's bedroom. Soft yellow light bathed the entire room dimming the pool of moonlight cast on the floor. A slight frown puckers his forehead and his nose flares. He breathed deep, checking the air, moving a little cautiously. For a second he thought of getting his sidearm in his travel bag but just as quickly abandons the idea. He relaxes a little after he peeked around the corner to his left. He left the two bags: one overnight and the laptop bag on the queen-size bed and pushed open the bathroom door. Empty. Good.
He's alone that much he's sure. Except….
It's not the scent of an empty house.
-o0o—
Tessa's exhausted; she could feel it in the slight tremor in her legs and back. Her beloved bucket bag feels like it weighs a ton as its brown strap drags her shoulder down.
The transfer went fine. There's not much stuff to move anyway; the computer table, chair, the two collapsible shelving units and another small table for the kitchen [in case she gets a place with a kitchen]. She pushes the four large plastic container boxes of clothes, books, personal items and computer paraphernalia by the foot of the bed and her tired hand almost slips off of it. She stumbles against it.
She hates moving but this is what her life is like right now; a gypsy. Three transfers in five years. The shortest she had was the last one before this-three months.
She looks around at the sum of her existence and suddenly the whole idea collapses on her. She stands there arms weakly draped on the stack of clear plastic bins and cried her eyes out. The grief came from the various things that she had kept inside, those thoughts that she didn't want to dwell on and people that she loved and lost.
Previous to the last move the new house owner was impatient to demolish the house so he could begin construction. He was nice enough to offer to pay for her transfer out of pocket. With no choice she packed her life again in the containers and look on as the movers lift and haul her precious things on that truck.
She hated that noisy place that she found but had no choice and at that time it did seem to be a coincidence that she found it just as when she was about to give up. If her job was not too anal about total lack of noise during class then she wouldn't mind where she was at. It didn't occur to her that she could ask the office to open a teaching area for her on site. Tessa's head was still reeling; there were places in her psyche that seemed to be numb, refusing to react to the shock.
Out of the need to vent because of her spiraling peace of mind she told Shirley of her frustration and fear of losing this seven year old job via their connection on social media. Shirley wrote back 'Let me reach out to some people and I'll see what I can do. But…I cannot promise, is that okay?"
'Of course,' Tessa wrote back. 'Anything is better than this,' her heart was beating a little fast as she hit that enter button. She prayed for help, she prayed for…she has no idea what else to pray for.
A day and a half later Tessa and Shirley were off to see Ashley for the first time. Three days later Ashley is handing over the keys to the entire house. Tessa timed her move on a weekend and on her day off. By then Ashley and Mike and family had already gone and on their flight back home so Mike can get treated and recover his health.
After less than a week she packed her well-traveled earthly possessions again and they were on their way to a new place where she could be at peace on her new side job as the caretaker.
-o0o—
He peers at the swing out window and admires the full moon against the clear night sky. His brown eyes narrow at the sound nearby from over the wall; someone from the other house is scrubbing the tiles with a long handed brush, a streaming water hose on the floor by the man's feet. The smell from the water hose reaches him and combined with the night air and clear skies he feels like he could finally breathe.
Marcus' faint reflection on the glass catches his eye as he pulls down the blinds. He looks quite different now. It would seem for a man of his age, at 44 years old, his head and face looks like its sprouting hair everywhere instead of the usual receding hairline. Gray hair is sprinkled all over his head and face even on the patchy area of his messy beard and mustache.
Years ago he grew the facial hair but then after the beard and mustache had served its purpose he decided to keep it looking at his reflection in the foggy mirror in his own apartment. He tossed the shaving blade on the counter and washed off the shaving cream off of his face.
Since then he and the beard and mustache have grown accustomed to each other for 11 years.
Eleven years. Damn, he thought as he drags his hand against his face, the rough beard bristles on his palm.
'Can I help you?'
You drop the pen on the writing pad. That voice. 'Jane…'
'Marc…hello.'
'I was uh, looking for Teresa….'
'Yeah, uh…I'm sure she's uh…she's around here someplace.'
'Yeah she probably is.'
'Beard looks good…'
Beard looks good. He gave his head a slight shake. It still annoys him. Still. After eleven years. Too long to be annoyed. He hates that slightly nasally tone. Like the sound echoes inside Jane's brain cavity. How could she stand that…
'Shit.' the sharp whisper was the first word he uttered in this room. He stands by the end of the bed with his meager baggage that were as well-traveled as their owner. He digs his hand in the large capacity leather carryall taking out a dark blue bag that he toss on the bathroom counter. Again his reflection looks back at him from the big mirror in the blue tiled bath then he opens his bag of toiletries and found his toothbrush.
His face became broader as he grew older. His physique changed too; he has become more muscular, maybe a little taller. Chest a little deeper, more toned. Swimming is his best exercise. It calms him, relaxes him, it had kept him fit.
He goes back to the room deciding on a warm shower and get his luggage where he opens it on the other side of the counter. He wouldn't bother to unpack his stuff instead just grab items of clothing as needed making packing easier in his lifestyle and profession.
Marcus took off his clothes quickly hanging his pants on the clothes hook to his right followed by the white dress shirt. He drapes his towel on the glass shower door taking a step down and closing it after him. But he froze. The tiles are damp. What the…? He slides his toes on the cold ceramic. Ah, the cleaner. That figures. The help comes over every Wednesday to clean the place up and take care of the garden. Shit, it's been too long since he's been here it skips his mind.
Warm water flow down on his upturned face. It sluice over him to take away the grime of travel and some of the stress and worry that came with it; the purpose why Marcus is here.
-o0o—
Shit, Tessa thought, wiping the wetness from her eyes and cheeks. Lots of things to do, she sniffs as she removes the cover of the top bin the one with cables and miscellaneous items taking out some items and placing them on the computer table beside the laptop. But her dirty and trembling hands reminded her that she's fucking tired and thirsty.
Where did I put that…? She groans in frustration as she spies what she was looking for in the second to the third stacked box but she needs it so with another sigh she re-stacked them and finally took out what she need to wash her hands and face. While at the sink she mentally checks the wardrobe and the closed cabinets so when she has the time and energy she could stash most of her things to free up space and get rid of the eyesores. Tessa raises her head as she squeeze her eyes shut with a very tired sigh. The harsh light from the bathroom light pierces through her closed lids. It's kinda energizing, the sigh. She took a few more deep breaths and rubbed the damp face towel on her face. That feels good too.
Maybe let's do the set up tomorrow instead, she decided, as she grabs the double walled stainless mug to the kitchen. Water? She stops and listens. Ah, the neighbor. She saw him from the window at the baby's room. He was hauling a long green hose. Maybe he's gonna water the plants. Hmm, that smells like soap. She closes the door quietly and walk to the…and stops again. A door closed. It sounded like….Stop it, the house isn't haunted. You have neighbors, duh. They also have the right to make some noise. Stop scaring yourself. But she's not scared as she listens some more standing in the hallway…Did I forget to turn off the lights? Tessa shrugs, too tired to follow her thoughts of haunted and creaky old houses as she tries to remember how Ashley taught her how to use that effing professional stove in the kitchen.
-o0o—
Marcus pokes his head out from the bathroom, frowning. Something is off. Something is fucking off, he thought as he pulls down his shirt. The neighbor is still out there busy scrubbing the tiles. No, it's not that guy. What is it?
Years of training and experience taught him to trust his instincts. It not only saved his own life but his job as well. Follow the instincts no matter how slim or faint because it usually means…what?
His head snapped toward a faint sound. Quite faint. He is one hundred percent sure of it. He knows the sound of this house.
And there's someone in it.
With him.
-o0o—
Okay, she forgot everything what Ashley taught her about this stove. She already turned the gas on; she knows that much. The burners just won't start! It just makes that clicking noise that freaked the hell out of her. For effing sakes! Her aunts had a gas range before- two electric stove top and two gas burners. Easy to use!
"What do I fucking do with you?" She whispers to the bulky appliance. "Maybe I should get my tiny electric stove instead?"
"It has an electric stove too."
Tessa swung around to the voice, wincing as she hits her hip on the kitchen counter. "Who…who're you!?"
"My very same question-'who are you?" The man holds out a hand, to calm her, his eyes following her trembling hand.
"I'm…I'm the caretaker! And who are you?" She looks behind the bearded man, fearing there might be others with him. "How did you get in?'
"I'm Mike's friend…" The man walks back two steps. "I come here once in a while."
"Ashley didn't mention any of that or you."
"Where are they?"
"On a flight back home…"
The man went wide-eyed as if he realized something. "Fuck! Mike's sick! Shit." The man pinched the bridge of his Roman nose. "I forgot they left." the man held up a hand to calm her down as soon as he saw where she's trying to go. "Let me give them a call and we can sort this out, okay? Okay?" She looked scared when he stopped like he was about to reach for something behind him.
"Okay." she nods sharply, gulping.
"What's your name?" he asks as he speed dials.
"I'm…"
"Mike! Hey man! How are you?" The man smiles, laughter lines crinkle in his eyes, "Yeah, I heard. That's shit, man. I'm sorry I didn't see you. I was in London. Yeah. Yeah…Yeah, that's the one. It took some months but it got solved. Hey, thanks man." Tessa begins to calm down when she heard Mike's tinny voice from where she was; he sounded happy. That's a good thing at least. "Yeah, I might have some time after three months so I will meet you there, how's that? Great!" Mike said something more, a little bit longer. The man leaned on the wall dividing the kitchen from the dining area, listening. He threw her a glance when she took a big drink, she couldn't stop a slight tremor as her hand jerked. "Uh…yeah, you know that's uh…that's why I called you…" Her ears suddenly perk in attention. "We have a situation. I'm at your house…" He winces and looks back at her. "Here. I'm here right now. Yeah. In the kitchen." She returns the look from the rim of her mug. "Sorry I didn't call you and…I'm sorry. It was sudden." He points at the phone with a grimace. The woman did not react as he continues to listen. "Yup, she has a brown Esprit bag. Okay, that's her. Oh…I think you need to talk to her so she doesn't murder me with a fork and there are a lot of knives here too. Hang on." He held out the phone to her but he kept his distance. "It's Ashley. Talk to her please." The man looks as if he wanted to smile when she put down her mug on the counter but kept her hold on the fork.
Her hand brushed his when she tentatively took the slim phone. "Hi Ashley! Yeah, the move went well. I'm here earlier than I expected. No, we did not get a ticket, thank God. Uh yeah, I'm okay. Got surprised, that's all." She looks over at the man leaning on the white speckled wall, seemingly relaxed but for the set of tense lips. "I see…yeah. Oh, I see. Uhm…do I…uh…need to leave?" Her hand tightens at the phone. "I…I don't have any….Okay, I'll wait." She swallows her apprehension waiting for Ashley to un-mute from their end. She exhales a heavy slightly shaky breath. The man is still by the wall looking down at the tiles. She blinks the mist from her eyes as she thinks on what she'll do if…."Hi, yes. Hi Mike. Okay…okay…uh-huh. Uh, I guess that's okay. He's your friend. I'm okay. I'm usually busy so I wouldn't bother…oh! Oh, I see. Sure. No, it's no problem. That's good." You smile a little. "Really? He remembers me? That's amazing! I wanna see him too. Okay, wait." She hold out the phone, gave the man a small wave to catch his attention. "Uh…can you open the vid? Mike says Jake wants to see me." She looks at him sideways as he took a step and taps at the vid icon. "Hi Jake! Wow! You look handsome!" She laughs as the boy almost grabs his dad's phone. Tessa turns the camera so the man could see as the boy babbles and never stops shouting her name to the embarrassment of his parents. She frowns and turns when the man said something under his breath. "Wow…really? Plane! You are so smart! Bye Jake!" Tessa brings the phone back to the man and she was a little surprised that he's standing by the fridge, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Back to you. It's Mike."
The man didn't look at her as he took his phone and walks away. Tessa on the other hand takes a deep breath as she tries to assimilate what just happened. She leans over to see where the man went; he's at the living room still talking to Mike. The man…Marcus, Mike says he's Marcus-sits on the sofa sounding like he and Mike are talking about something serious. She blows air to take some of the tension out, a heavy feeling still in her chest.
Suddenly she lost all interest on the food and decide on having a simple sandwich instead. She returns the take out to the fridge and as she opens the wide door Marcus glances at her from the sofa.
-o0o—
"Hi." Tessa turns at the quick rap on the door, the man's voice muffled behind it. "May I come in?"
"One second." She got down from the low stool halting her progress with the background cloth. She had to avoid getting tangled on some of the cables on the floor before she got to open the door. "Yes?" The man leans on the wall. He gave her a quick wave.
"Hi. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I recovered. Can I help you?" She opens the door further so the man could see what she's been doing.
"Sorry about the scare earlier. I'm Marcus." She wipes her dirty palm on the side of her shorts before reaching for his hand.
"I'm Tessa." The man, Marcus blinks at her name. "Mike told me while we were talking on your phone."
"You're setting up?" The man takes in the various items.
"Yeah, my teaching background, the lights…"
Marcus cranes his neck, an arm against the door frame. He does this weird thing of rubbing the knuckle of his forefinger on his lower lip. "Need help?" His brown eyes caught hers.
Tessa raises her brows, surprised at the offer. The man looks like he's wanting to say something, "Sure, come in."
"So how do you need me?" He stops by the bed as she picks up the black and gray cables strewn on the hardwood floor.
"Something that taller people can do. Reach high places." It got an amused chuckle from Marcus as she points at the white cloth. "I got as far as tacking one corner up before you knocked."
"You're the first online teacher I've met." The man effortlessly got the white cloth lined and secured before he finished his sentence.
"We all keep to ourselves most of the time." She says as she allows her eyes to observe his back and head of hair. "I so envy you right now. Uh, your height." The man smiles as if he knew that he caught her.
"We tall people also have setbacks."
"Nothing you say will make me feel better about my height."
"I kinda like petite girls. How about you?" Marcus found himself sitting on the L-shaped desk, his toes less than an inch of touching the floor.
"Uh, I'm not into petite girls." She got him to laugh at that.
"How about tall guys?" he asks, looking on while she washes her hands in the sink.
"Hmm, it depends on the tall guy." Tessa had to get some distance from him, the man is turning on the charm factor up. She turned off the light before she went back into the room where she felt it again. "So what did you and Mike talk about? I mean, about this?" She sits on her computer chair hugging her 'Keep Calm and Carry On' pillow. Marcus seemed to find that interesting.
Marcus shrugs, "About that," the man scratches his chin with his thumb. "If you don't mind me staying here I'll keep out of your way. I will be out most of the time and then after a few months when I complete my miss….my assignment I will be gone here and off to another country."
"Kinda like Mike and Ashley?"
Marcus gives her a curious kind of smile. "Uh, kind of the same but different."
Tessa sighs, her face with a wistful expression. "It must be nice to travel. To wake up in a different city for a few days or months then the scenery changes again."
"The novelty wears off after you cycle in a few."
"Ah, you're jaded already."
"Nah, I've just realized I've been doing this far too long." Marcus stops as his words hit him and a wave of feeling that he couldn't put a name to settles on him. It was the first time he felt it since…since…
"Marcus?"
"Huh?" he was startled to see Tessa at an arm's length away, her face concerned. "What?"
"Are you okay?" Marcus looks at the hand Tessa gently put on his knee. "Where did you go?"
"Why do you say that?" He didn't want his words to sound hard but she removes her hand slowly. Her eyes were guarded again.
"Nothing. Uh, about your plan; it's okay to me. Mike explained everything. Thank you for your help, Marcus. I can take over from here." She wanted to take a step back when the man got up from the desk but her legs stayed rooted to the spot. She looks up at him, he looks down at her.
"Uh, okay, thanks. Goodnight."
And just like that Marcus' long legs strode out of her room and she's all alone again. "Goodnight." Tessa whispers softly to the air as she hears his door closes.
-o0o-