Chapter 5 - THE PRICE OF KINDNESS
Mrs. Gable summoned Nora to the laundry room after lunch.
The room was hot and damp, filled with the smell of detergent and steam. Nora had been folding towels when the housekeeper entered and shut the door.
“You've become very important lately,” Mrs. Gable said.
Nora kept folding.
“I don't know what you mean.”
“Mr. Moretti asks for you. The old man holds your hand. Suddenly everyone is interested in your little charity project.”
“I only take care of him.”
“You have no idea what you've done.”
Nora placed a towel on the shelf. “I haven't done anything wrong.”
Mrs. Gable stepped close.
“You have been stealing food, wasting supplies, and interfering with medical care.”
“I never touched his medicine.”
“You think the master will believe a pregnant maid over someone who has managed this house for twenty years?”
Nora's hands began to tremble.
“I didn't ask him to believe me.”
“Then you should have kept your mouth shut.”
Mrs. Gable reached for the duty folder on the table and pulled out a sheet.
“Your employment is terminated.”
Nora stared at it.
“Today?”
“Immediately. You can collect your belongings and leave through the service entrance.”
“But the storm—”
“Not my problem.”
Nora looked down at her stomach.
She had barely enough money to cover two weeks in a cheap motel. The roads were buried under snow, and her landlord had already warned her not to return without the overdue rent.
“Please,” she whispered. “I need this job.”
Mrs. Gable smiled.
“Then you should have remembered your place.”
The door opened.
Lorenzo stood in the doorway.
“What is happening?”
Mrs. Gable immediately changed her expression.
“Nothing, sir. I was simply correcting a staff issue.”
Lorenzo took the paper from her hand.
He read it.
Then he looked at Nora.
“Did you ask to leave?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you steal anything?”
“No.”
“Did you interfere with my father's medication?”
“Never.”
Lorenzo turned to Mrs. Gable.
“Then why is she being dismissed?”
“She has become disruptive. She spends too much time in the east wing, and she has been encouraging the old man's delusions.”
“My father has not spoken in five years. What delusions?”
Mrs. Gable faltered.
Lorenzo tore the termination notice in half.
“Her employment remains unchanged. Her duties are being adjusted immediately. She will not lift heavy objects, scrub floors, or work beyond her doctor's restrictions.”
Mrs. Gable's face reddened.
“Sir, you cannot allow one maid to dictate how this house is run.”
“I'm not allowing her to dictate anything. I'm correcting your decisions.”
He turned to Matteo, who had followed him.
“Effective now, Mrs. Gable is suspended pending an investigation. Collect her keys.”
Mrs. Gable stared at him.
“You're making a mistake.”
“Perhaps. But it won't be yours to manage.”
Matteo escorted her out.
Nora stood frozen beside the laundry table.
“Thank you, sir.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“You don't need to thank me for stopping someone from mistreating you.”
She lowered her eyes.
“People don't usually do that.”
The words struck him harder than he expected.
He glanced at her stomach.
“Have you seen a doctor recently?”
“Last week.”
“Everything all right?”
“The baby is healthy. I just need to avoid lifting and too much standing.”
“Then that's what you'll do.”
Nora hesitated.
“Mr. Moretti, I don't want special treatment.”
“It's not special treatment to let you work without hurting yourself.”
He left before she could answer.
That evening, a small package appeared outside Nora's room. Inside was a pair of comfortable shoes, a warm maternity coat, and a note written in neat block letters.
FOR THE WALK BETWEEN YOUR ROOM AND THE EAST WING. THE PATHS ARE SLIPPERY.
There was no signature.
May you like
Nora knew who had sent it.
She held the coat against her chest and cried—not because she felt helpless, but because for the first time in months, someone had noticed what she needed without making her beg.
