Where could we find the love we deserve?
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me, got me quetionin'
Where is the love? (Love)
(Where is the love?)
Chapter Thirteen: One of the reason
It is the day before the first table reading of the cast and I haven't seen Alex since I woke up. I tried to look for her in the house but it was futile. I walked back to my room and prepared myself to do some task before the table reading. A smile grazed my lips when I remember the night before. Alex meticulously prepared our dinner. I don't know how if it is a coincidence or it is pure guess but all the food prepared in the table was my favorite. I wanted to ask how she knew about my favorite food but I don't want to assume. It was a quite dinner but not an awkward one. After that she walked me to my room and kissed me in my forehead. A knock disturbed my reverie but I open the door.
"Ms. Piper. I am Gina. I will be your personal assistant assigned by Ms. Alex." the woman said to me. She is the maid who called us yesterday for dinner. I smiled and extended my hands to shake her hand, I could see that she was taken aback but shake my hand any ways.
"I don't think I need to have a personal assistant. And do you know when she will be back?" I asked shyly.
"According to her, she will be back to dinner. And I guess you could tell her your concern about that when she gets back, Ms. Piper." She said a bit offended.
"I'm sorry, Gina, if I offended you. It is just that I could do things on my own and I don't want to be disturbance to your other work." I apologized sincerely.
"It is fine, Ms. Piper. I understand. Do you want to have your breakfast served in here or are you going down to the dining hall?" Gina asked accepting my apology.
"I think I want to have my breakfast in the garden if that is fine with you, Gina." I said when I caught a glimpse of the garden from my window.
"It is fine, Ms. Piper. Just go down after 15 minutes." She said then starsts to walk away. I close the door and take a quick shower then brought my laptop to see the script for the table reading. I walk slowly to the garden and savor the interior design of the house. The overall theme of the house is a modern house with a touch of green in the midst of the white and black color dominating the house. Gina is almost done setting up in the garden when I approached it. I sit in the seat that Gina pulled for me.
"Thank you. Have you eaten your breakfast, Gina?" I asked.
"Yes, Miss Piper. Ms. Alex left a note for you." Gina said then get a piece of paper from her apron. I open the card and read what Alex has written on it.
Piper,
Good morning, beautiful. I hope you had slept well. I'm sorry if I'm not with you to have breakfast with you. I awfully regret it but I have a very important meeting right now. I hope I can make it up with you. Have dinner with me please? I will fetch you in the house around 6 pm. Wear something that you are comfortable. See you later.
Alex
Is she asking me to a date? Oh! What should I wear? Did I bring my favorite shoes?
"Are you alright, ?" Gina asked. Perhaps, the panic I'm feeling right now is very evident in my face.
"Yes." I answered briefly. Maybe I should finish my breakfast quickly and start the task ahead of time so I can have time to prepare for the dinner.
I turn off the engine and breathe deeply. I look at the things I prepared today. I sighed hard again to release the tension I'm feeling.
"Hello, Ms. Vause. It is nice to see you again." the guard in the front door greet me. I smiled at him and give him one of the bags.
"Just came from one of my travel." I said when he tried to not accept it.
"Thank you, Ms. Vause." He said when I insist that he get it from me. The receptionist smiled at me and greet me with enthusiasm. Just like with the guard, I give her a gift bag. I walk with familiarity in the hallway and opened the door at the farthest right of the hallway. A small living room welcome me as always that I'm here. It has a mini house in the side and several toys.
"Kim? Kim? Are you still sleeping?" I asked while I walked to her room.
"Lexie! Lexie!" I heard the high-pitched tone of her voice somewhere in the left side of the room.
"Ms. Alex? We are here inside the bathroom." The maid answered my inquiries. I walk with ease and lowered the bags in the table in the living room.
"Hello there, sunshine! How are you?" I asked her and open my arms. She walked to me with bounce and grabbed my arms. I lift her tome and kiss her cheeks, making her giggle.
"Lexie! Lexie! Lexie! S…s…stop." She said trying her best to stop me from kissing her. I want to tickle her more but it could make her sick, so I stop abruptly. I hug her and kiss her again.
"I miss you, sunshine." I said sincerely.
"I m…mi…miss y…you too, Lexie!" she said excitedly. She shivered and I noticed that she is only wrapped in the towel. I berated myself with my carelessness.
"I think I should dress you first. And then we can sit in the living room so you could open the gifts I bought for you. Are you excited to see it, Kim?" I asked while carrying her to the room. She nodded vigorously and tighten her hold in my neck. A warmth feeling spread to me by her hold. The attendee had already prepared her clothes.
"Up! Up!" she said then move her hands up so I can put her clothes on. She look so cute in her dress. I would want to cuddle her more but I know that she is elated to see the gifts I brought for her. After making sure that she is dress well, she drag me to the living room and open her gifts one by one. She kiss me many times when she see the gifts I have bought for her.
"Lexie! Lexie! T…Tha…Thank you!" She said not stopping with her kisses. "I ha…ha…have for y…yo..you." she added then get something from the drawer of her drawing table.
"What is it?" I asked excitedly to her.
She gets a folded paper and hand it over to me. I accept it and unfold it. A tear falls to my eyes, seeing what she had drawn in the paper. It is a drawing of us holding hands in the garden of the facility with the stars smiling to us.
"A…are… are you cr…cr…crying, Lexie?" she asked with concern. She looks like she is going to cry also. I wipe the tears away from my eyes and kiss her in the hair.
"Thank you, sunshine. You really know what I want." I said then hug her again.
"Lexie! Lexie! C…Ca…Can we pl…ple…please play in the g…gar…garden?" she asked with pleading hands.
"Of course, sunshine. But first let me apply lotion on your skin." I said then lift her in my arms and walk to the room.
After making sure that the script for the table reading is prepared, I walk to the library to see the collection Alex have. Gina led me to the library.
"Do you want a coffee, Ms. Piper?" Gina ask when she open the door to the library.
"No. But bring me water, please." I said then starts to walk to the shelves. I am awed with her collection because some of the books are in hard bound and first edition. Some of the books are worn out, a sign that it was always being read.
A reader, big check!
Check?
Or do you want a point?
I sigh then look at the other shelves. My eyes widens when I see that a new collection is added in the other shelves. All the titles are familiar with me.
She bought the whole collection of my novels! Why would she do bought it?
I caress the spine of the books I have written and shake my head. Another book caught my attention.
Oh my! It is the first edition of my favorite book!
It really starting to puzzle me why would she buy this books as I can see that she only read books that is either about business or classic literature.
Maybe she has a change of taste in reading. Isn't it right?
Maybe?
I get the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and then I sit in the lazy boy in the corner. I don't have to open the lights because the sliding door is open and the lounge is facing the garden.
Oh. It means that my room is above this library! Is this a coincidence or she really thought about me before placing me here?
"Ms. Piper, here is the glass of water. Is there anything you need?" Gina asked once she open the door to the library.
"Nothing. But could you please stop calling me, Ms Piper? You can call me Piper instead." I said.
"It is not possible, Ms. Piper. Ms. Alex wants us, the maids in here to be formal all the time." Gina answered sincerely. I can't contest to that because I'm only a guest in here.
"How many years are you already working for her, Gina?" I asked suddenly.
"5 years, Ms. Piper. She is a very kind employer so I don't have any qualms against her." she said honestly.
Well, I think she is really kind because a maid cannot stay that long if she is not a good employer.
"Some of the maids in here are actually working longer than me." Gina added when she see my daze eyes.
"Thank you, Gina. I think you can rest now." I said then smiled at her genuinely.
"Thank you, Ms. Piper. Just press the button beside the lights if you need me." She said then walked out of the room.
I sighed hard when Gina is gone.
How can I not like her if she is being this thoughtful?
I cradle Kim's body carefully in my arms and place her down softly in her bed. After hours of playing and telling stories about my travel, Kim felt sleepy already so I lift her to my arms and let her sleep in my shoulder. I kiss her in the forehead and tuck her properly. I organize the toys and books so when Kim wakes up she can disorganize it again. I'm almost done when the attendee asked if the doctor could talk to me. I let her led me to the doctor's office.
"Good afternoon, Alex. How are you?" Doctor Rosa asked me.
"I'm fine, Rosa. I brought something for you, I just forgot it in Kim's room." I said when I sit down in front of her.
"Thank you. I know that you are now very eager to know what the progress of Kim's condition are." Lorna said. I nodded and waited excitedly. I always asked Rosa about Kim's condition and it makes me excited because it is the first time that I could see some light in Kim's condition.
"Well, Kim's stuttering is slowly subsiding. A little more studying on her part and it will be gone. As for her condition, she is responding well in the therapy. I suggest that you let her explore the world. After several session, you can take her home again." Rosa said to me with brighter smile. I closed my eyes and tried to control my breath.
"That is a very good news to hear, Rosa. I really look forward in taking her home again." I said shakily but not letting my tears.
"She is a very strong and smart kid, Alex. I'm really amazed with her. She cooperates well with our sessions and the attendees don't have problem with her although she had a tantrum when you didn't visit last time." Rosa said. I feel guilty in not visiting but I'm currently in LA during those time.
"Thank you for taking care of her for me, Rosa." I said then walked out of her office.
"Don't worry, Alex. I will take care of her always." She answered before I left her office. I walk back to Kim's room and lay down beside Kim.
"I'm sorry if I didn't visit you last time, sunshine." I said then hug her tightly.
"Lexie. Lexie. I…I lo..love..you." she whispered when she feel my hug.
"I love you too, sunshine." I said then kiss her on top of her hair. "Sleep again, sunshine." I said then we close our eyes.
I'm sorry, Piper. But for my sunshine, I need you for my plan against the Chapman.
A/N: I noticed I used Lorna's name twice with different characters, so I changed the name of Kim's doctor. Sorry for the error.
