Chapter Eight
Chapter
Eight
Beulah
Over the next week, I only saw glimpses of Jasper coming and going from the house. He was always dressed like he was working. Portia didn’t say much but watched him as she drank more and more through the stress. I overheard them one evening while I was doing the laundry. He raised his voice and accused his mother of wasting his money like a child. He was going to start giving her an allowance. She hadn’t been happy about that. Portia was accustomed to her expenditures and spending wherever she chose. The next morning, she awoke and asked for whiskey in her coffee. It’d been going downhill from there.
When Sunday morning came, and there weren’t any guests or another party in development, I was relieved and actually felt good. I’d get to go to family day and spend it with Heidi. I’d worried all week about disappointing her and couldn’t do it again. I made coffee for Portia and went ahead adding whiskey, then fixed her a fruit salad with the berries I’d gotten at the store. She never asked for food. Regardless of that, I was taking it upon myself to feed her anyway. Especially since she was drinking all day now.
She scowled at the fruit but said nothing as I sat it in front of her. She also didn’t mention the whiskey in her coffee. Since the argument over money with Jasper, she hadn’t talked much at all. Although, I could feel the rage boiling, percolating under the surface. Each day, she was getting worse. I was worried that when she exploded, Heidi and I might be evicted to the streets.
Today I wouldn’t worry about that. I took the plate of cookies I’d made last night and headed for the back door. When I stepped outside, Jasper was walking from the pool house and headed toward me. He grimaced at the cookies and the way I was dressed. Sundays, I wore my own clothing.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, hoping to avoid details.
“Where?”
“Sunday is my day off. I leave for the morning and the afternoon. Most of the afternoon.”
He waited as if he wanted further explanation. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to tell him about Heidi and Sundays and treats, which would lead to how I afforded that. Portia hadn’t told him about Heidi. There had to be a reason behind why. I knew that Portia took care of Heidi’s home. Now that she was on an allowance and Jasper was controlling the money, I didn’t know how that would be affected. I worked to provide for Heidi’s care. What I earned mostly went toward that.
“My mother tends to live above her means. She knows no limit to spending. My father never limited her. She needs a limit. It isn’t her money. The amount she’s been paying you seems utterly ridiculous to me. Surely you know that $6,000 a month isn’t a normal salary for the job you do here. Portia was adamant you needed that much. That having been said, I don’t understand why you’d take off Sundays if you’re being paid white collar wages for a job that isn’t white collar. Do you think I’m being unreasonable? If you need Sunday off, I’m fine with that. But we need to discuss a new salary. One that is fair. I don’t know anyone who pays a live-in housekeeper that kind of money. It’s exorbitant.”
Six thousand dollars a month? Portia hadn’t told me the cost of Heidi’s care. I never imagined it was that much. I loved where Heidi was staying. She adored the home and the people, but six thousand dollars was insane. I thought it was something like twenty-five hundred, but never six thousand dollars! I wanted that place for Heidi, but how could I ask them to pay that? Of course, Jasper was right. My job wasn’t worth even half that.
“I. . .” had no idea what to say. Words wouldn’t form in my mouth. If I took off Sunday and he lowered my pay that meant Heidi was out. She’d adjusted to her new home. Heidi was happy and content. How could I end that and move her somewhere else? I was going to have to work nights. Not to save for college but to pay the difference so my sister could remain where she was. I couldn’t expect Jasper to pay me that. He was right. It wasn’t fair at all.
“Okay,” I finally replied. “What’s fair?” I should say more. But I didn’t know what else to say.
“I asked around this week after I saw how much you were getting paid. The average for your job is $2800, with room and board per month. Before she retired, Ms. Charlotte was paid three thousand a month after sixteen years of working here. Considering you’ve been paid $6000 for the past six months of employment, I would hope you’ve saved up money. I think the fair thing to do here is pay you two thousand for the next six months to even out the overwhelming discrepancy. This job can be harder at times. I’ll have more parties, there’ll be more entertaining, that you’ll be required to prepare for. But you’ve been paid well, I expect you see that, Portia gave you that salary and like anyone else you took it. Can’t say I blame you for that. But, it was too much, entirely over the top.”
Two thousand. I’d need to make four thousand more a month somehow to keep Heidi at the home. How would I do that? It seemed impossible. All I could do was nod my head. I couldn’t argue with him. He didn’t have to take care of my sister. He didn’t have to give me a job. He owed me nothing; for an unknown reason, Portia felt she owed my mother, although that reason was beyond me. Jasper knew less about that than me; I only knew she paid it without a word ever being said.
“Then we’re clear? You’re free to take Sundays off. Starting at the first of the month, your paycheck will be two thousand.”
I nodded again. It was all I could do. What Portia was doing was Portia’s business, and now I was stuck in the middle.
Jasper then gave a tight smile. “Glad we can agree. You handle Portia well. She wants to keep you. That’s not easy to manage. She’s hard to please. I have no fault with your job. You do it well. No complaints. But I would like to add some things to its description. Starting with having my breakfast on the table at eight every morning on the dot. I’ll leave a list of things I prefer and take my coffee black. I also want my bedding changed every three days, and my sheets should be neatly pressed. I need you to keep my fridge stocked with the items I’ll itemize for you. Check it daily and make sure I’m not running low on anything that’s required. I’m sure I’ll have a few more things to add. But we can discuss that later. For now, go enjoy your day off.” His finalizing smile was friendly. He then reached beneath the plastic wrap and took a cookie, which he inspected. “I also like cookies; leaving me some would be much appreciated.” With that, he walked into the house.
I couldn’t move just yet. My stomach was in knots, and my head was racing to find ways to fix this problem. How to take care of Heidi. How to keep her in the place she was now calling home and make sure the solution was permanent. I turned to see Portia standing inside, absentmindedly watching me. Her face looked unemotional. She was simply staring my way. Would she tell him about Heidi? Was that even an issue? He was not responsible for taking care of my sister or giving me a job. He was giving me a place to live and work. Heidi was close to here. I had to find a solution. I needed a second job. That was the only answer—one where I could make the most money, the hours odd and fitting Jasper’s schedule.
I was going to have to leave Heidi early and see if any clubs were hiring. That would be the best paying job. Perhaps wait tables or serve late at night to early in the morning. The college clubs would let me in. Nineteen-year-olds wore a band on their wrists, marking them as too young to drink. They should be able to hire a nineteen-year-old. Right? I wasn’t sure. I would figure it all out. But for now, I had to go visit my sister, smile, and pretend it was all okay and that our lives, yet again, weren’t held by a thread that just might break. That other, your basic bad luck. It didn’t appear as if Portia could save us. The weight was on my shoulders.