Chapter 11
Maya
He stands, frozen in place, obviously not knowing what to do next. He must realize he was mistaken, but instead of apologizing to me, he just grimaces.
Like earlier when it probably dawned on us at the same moment that we had met before.
I still can't believe it. This is my new boss?
Something is off with him. A couple of weeks ago in the shopping center, he looked at me strangely. And now he doesn't even shake my hand in greeting, treats me like an inferior maid and makes his daughter wait.
The doorbell rings again, proving that it does exist. Did Jasmin look at me so strangely when I arrived because I couldn't find the darn thing?
My gaze flits to her. She smiles at Josh amiably, but otherwise does nothing.
"Should I answer the door?" I ask, taking the initiative. A child waits outside, and she needs to feel welcome.
Instead of answering me, Josh makes a vague hand gesture. I can only guess, but I assume it means yes. At least I hope so because I really want to escape this strangely tense atmosphere. I quickly cross the palatial living room and entrance area.
Behind the door is a girl with waist-length blond curls, standing next to a woman who must obviously be her mother. At least they have the same hairstyle. As we greet each other, I notice a moment of skepticism in her perfectly symmetrical face. Then I squat down in front of the little girl.
The color of her summer dress is perfectly matched with her yellow strap sandals. The butterfly bracelet matches the earrings. She doesn't look like a child. More like a miniature adult. With bitten-down nails and downturned mouth corners.
"You must be Sophia." For the first time since I've been here, I find it easy to smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm Maya."
She scrunches her button nose and hugs the brown stuffed dog under her arm tighter. Then she looks up at her mother with a questioning glance, who just shrugs.
This is off to a good start.
I study her more closely, noticing her sad eyes and tense body posture. This situation is new to the little girl. Tamika said this would be her first time with her father. The eerily large mansion and the stranger with the funny earrings who opened the door for her must surely be scary.
"Can we come in?" the woman with the piercing blue eyes asks me, clearly annoyed. With Sophia by the hand, she pushes past me into the house. "Where's Josh?"
"Here." He doesn't sound pleased.
Neither does his daughter. Stiff as a wooden doll, she walks up to him. "Hello, Dad." Her fingers clutch tightly onto her stuffed dog.
Josh awkwardly places his hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad you're finally here with me."
Was that supposed to be a smile? Whatever it is, it turns the attractive man into someone who could pass as Frankenstein's son.
Not only do I frown, but Sophia also looks helplessly at her mother. Who, in turn, looks at Josh with a venomous expression.
You don't have to be a trained psychologist to know that these two probably didn't have a happy divorce. The way the three of them stand in the chandelier's light now, it's awfully sad. Sophia lowers her lids, her father looks like a frightened animal, and her mother pulls her shoulders back aggressively.
"Joshua." The coldness in her voice makes me shiver. "Nice that you could make it, with all the work you always have."
"Marlene." He lowers his eyes, and even though he was so rough with me earlier, I feel sorry for him at this moment. At least a little.
But I feel even more for the little, innocent girl. "Come Sophia, I'll show you your little kingdom. You will be amazed at what your daddy has thought up for you."
When Jasmin showed me the room earlier, I was sure it was more the work of a designer. But at least it's a dream for every child. She'll like it, I know that.
"Go ahead. I'll stay a little longer." At least Sophia's mother seems to support me. I give her a grateful nod and make my way upstairs with Sophia. As we silently ascend the staircase, a fight has already started in the entrance area.
"You could show a bit more enthusiasm," Josh's ex-wife says in a strained tone. "She's your daughter too, Joshua!"
Sophia really shouldn't be hearing this. I quickly turn to her. "First one upstairs!" I pretend I’m going to sprint, which unfortunately does not interest the girl at all.
Unfazed, I dash upstairs. Arriving at the top of the stairs, I lean on my thighs and wink at her. "You are so fast."
She doesn't move. Her round, deep blue eyes look at me skeptically.
I can probably chalk that up as a failure. But I won't give up prematurely. "Are you ready for your surprise room?"
She lowers her gaze and traces the marbling of the floor tiles with her foot. She doesn't say a word.
"Take care of her, for God's sake," Josh's ex-wife hisses in the entrance area. "For years, I've done everything. Now it's my turn to enjoy life for a change."
It's terrible how dejected Sophia looks all of a sudden. I rush back down the stairs and address the adults for a moment.
"Could you possibly argue somewhere else?" I ask in the turmoil of emotions and earn punitive looks from two pairs of eyes.
At least they both move toward the living room. Once they're gone, I sit beside Sophia on the stairs. "Do you want to introduce me to your friend?" I ask and point at the stuffed dog she hasn't let go of since she got here.
At least her expression lightens up a bit. "This is Fridolin."
I reach for his paw. "Welcome, Fridolin. I hope you had a pleasant journey?"
She doesn't answer and turns away from me with her stuffed animal, causing me to lose grip of the paw immediately. She probably can't handle pressure well, which is something we have in common.
"I once had a dog too, you know," I say on an impulse and move a little away from her.
Sophia tilts her head and squints her eyes. "That's not true." There's a mix of disappointment and frustration in her voice. Now her face turns bright red. "You're a liar."
Excuse me?
In the next second, she takes off. "Maya is a liar!" she screams over and over again. "Liar, liar, liar."
If there's any liar here, it's Tamika. She claimed that Sophia was an incredibly sweet, uncomplicated girl. Perhaps she once was, but at the moment, I can't see much of it.
With such intense fits of rage, this little one certainly needs help. Preferably from a professional. But for now, I'm alone with her. So I have no choice but to brace myself and chase the girl.
Reaching the landing, I see her busily opening all the doors in order. She's undoubtedly looking for her room.
With a mischievous grin, I step next to her as she disappointedly closes an ornately decorated door. "I'm not a liar," I say in a meaningful tone, "and I can prove it to you."
The fact she can't easily drive me away displeases her. I see it in the fiery glare in her eyes.
With all the calm I can muster, I squat down in front of her. "Imagine if I told you where your room is. And then it would actually be there. Would that be enough proof?"
Her expression darkens, and her small hands ball into fists. I'd love to reach out and gently relieve her fingers of their tension. I want to tell her that it would be an honor to be there for her. But I feel that the time isn't quite right for that yet.
"We'll do it this way. I'll show you to your room, and then you can settle in there in peace. Don't worry, I won't bother you. I'll only stay as long as you want me to." I hope she doesn't take this for another lie.
There's no reaction from her. It's as if her mind is racing, trying to decide whether she wants to trust me or not. But she seems unable to make a decision.
My last idea is to turn back to the stuffed animal. But this time, I don't make the mistake of touching the dog.
Instead, I maintain the distance with which Sophia is at least somewhat comfortable. "Hey, Fridolin. You must be thirsty. Should we see if we can find a water bowl for you?"
Fridolin looks at me motionlessly with his dark button eyes.
"Of course, we also have food for you. Do you like chicken? Or perhaps beef?" I continue. Because the mere fact that Sophia isn't shielding the stuffed animal from me already means a lot. I don't want her to feel pressured, so I even take a step back while pretending to listen attentively to what Fridolin replies.
The little girl's facial muscles relax a bit.
"Oh, you prefer lamb." With feigned thoughtfulness, I put my finger to my chin. "I'll have to see if we have that. But if not, we'll simply get it. That's not a problem."
Suddenly, it happens. Sophia releases Fridolin from her grasp. Then she hesitantly turns the stuffed animal in her hands until she finally reaches out to give him to me. She doesn't look at me, but she doesn't have to. I understand the sign she's trying to give me very well and take the dog as carefully as if it were alive.
"Let's get started," I say to Fridolin, lovingly stroking his head. Although my next words are meant for Sophia, I don't take my eyes off the stuffed animal. "You'll be fine here, don't worry. I'll take care of you." I let my words sink in for a moment so they reach her. Then I start marching toward Sophia's room.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see that the little one is following me, maintaining a safe distance.