“Maggie, what’s wrong?” She is staring blankly and is not saying word. I move closer to her and again ask her what is wrong.
“That’s Edward,” I am confused, what does she mean? Does Adrian remind her of Edward? On the other hand, is there something more?
“Maggie that’s Adrian,”
“Yes I know, but he is the spitting image of Edward.”
“How is that possible?”
“Miss Hart, I think that Edward may be Mr Black’s father.”
“No, how can he be? Adrian’s dad left him when he was only two. No there has to be another reason, he looks like him.”
“Miss Hart there is no other reason Edward Black is your boyfriend’s father.” I cannot take all this in, I feel I need to sit down or I will pass out. I take a seat and I kindly ask Maggie for a glass of water.
“Did he ever mention Adrian to you?”
“Yes, he told me he had a son and that he decided it was best for him to stay with his mother, when they separated.”
“But they never separated he just left them, this means that Adrian has a sister?” I say not believing the words that are coming from my lips.
“Yes Emma Black is his sister.”
“I can’t begin to process this, how can this be? Does Adrian know?” I say taking a long sip of water.
“No, I don’t think he has a clue to be honest.”
“Where did he find you?”
“I work for an agency who supplies chefs and cleaners and nanny’s that type of stuff. Mr Black called and asked for the best chef and let us face it the money is great and I really needed it. I must say that the name got me thinking, but I never expected all this.”
“He will be amazed when he finds out, he has always wanted a real family and now he can have the chance of that, with Emma.”
“I would love it for them to meet, but Miss Hart I think that it will be hard on them at first, so we must be there for them, do you understand?”
“Of course, this is overwhelming to think that you were here all this time and you knew his father and you are mother of his sister.”
“I know, it’s such a small world and I really hope that Emma and Mr Black can have some kind of relationship.”
“I am sure he would want that.”
“What’s he like?”
“He is a complicated type but very kind and generous. He had a very rough time as a child and he carries around a lot of guilt. He can be very controlling as I am sure you know considering the circumstances here.”
“Yes I find this whole thing a bit odd, if I am honest.”
“I am sure you do but, he is only doing this for my safety and there is nothing more important to him than that.”
“Are you in danger?” I do not want to tell Maggie anything that might scare her off and if she knew that people were after his loved ones, and then she would certainly think twice about letting Emma get to know him.
“I am not in any danger; it’s more of a precaution than anything else. If knew Adrian then would understand.”
“Yes, well hopefully I will get to meet him.”
“He is on his way here.”
“Really,”
“Yes he told me last night, although I haven’t heard from him today but I am sure he is still coming.”
“Tell me dear, has he ever seen his father since he left?”
“No, I don’t think so and he doesn’t remember anything about him.”
“I can’t believe how much he looks like him, it’s unbelievable.”
“I know, you could never dream up such a thing.”
“To think that all this time, my employer has been my daughter’s half-brother.”
“What does Emma look like?”
“She looks like her father she has the same jet black hair and green eyes, sometimes it scares me how much she is like him. But having seen Mr Black the resemblance is uncanny.”
“He will be thrilled by this, I know it.”
“I hope he is, anyway dear you are most definitely going be late.” I check my watch and I see that I am late. I give Maggie a smile, get up, and head over to Michael’s room. I knock on his door but he does not answer, I knock again and still nothing. Therefore, I try the door handle and the door is unlocked. I push open the door, I see Michael lying on the bed with earphones in, and again he is shirtless. He sees me and pulls out one earphone.
“What do you want?” He says harshly.
“I am going to college I have my exam today.”
“I see and why are you telling me?”
“I just thought that maybe you would like to come with me?” Michael’s weighs up all the options in his head and I can see his face changing as he decides.