The Royal Contract

Still, her stomach reminded her that she needed breakfast and fast. She was already starving. She did not know that being pregnant would give her a large appetite. If she kept going at this rate, she would look like a whale before she gave birth to her baby.

“What is for breakfast, Imelda.” Haley greeted the cook that visited them every morning. She could tell she was baking something delicious in the oven, smelling its mouthwatering aroma.

She saw that the cook was already busy with several menus on the kitchen counter. She usually pre-cooked some dishes that Mike could reheat when he arrived home.

It seemed Mike did not want a permanent maid that would stay in his house. Of course, she could understand that since he was a bachelor. Having a woman living under her roof would cramp his style.

“I am baking a blueberry muffin. I hope you like that. By the way, do you have any particular allergies so I would know what to watch when I am cooking your meal?” Imelda asked as she continued to chop some vegetables.

“No. I don’t. So, you have nothing to worry about.” She moved beside the middle-aged woman that was old enough to be her aunt. But not that old to be her mother.

“That is good to hear.” She smiled at her as she continued with her work.

“What do you want me to do with this?” She pointed to the other vegetables on the counter as she took a chopping board and another knife from the drawers.

.....

She had nothing to do. Besides, she liked to learn more about cooking. And she discovered that she was a good teacher. Therefore, she decided to wake up early to meet with her in the kitchen.

“Just diced them,” Imelda instructed while she immediately did what she asked. But as she cut the potato, something caught her eye, moving outside the window.

She was unsure, but she wondered if that was Mike. She only saw his back but only for a second. Therefore, she was uncertain. What was he doing at home? Usually, he was early to work.

“What’s next?” Haley asked as she finished performing her task, but her mind still wondered where the man went. Then again, it could have been the gardener fixing the lawn and the garden.

Quickly, the minutes passed as Imelda taught her a new recipe. It was amazing that the Mexican lady knew many dishes, not just Mexican food. Now, she was learning a variety of meals she could cook for her child.

At least that was one problem she could scratch off her list. Still, she had a long one that had no immediate solution. But she was not losing hope because she would find a way. She always did.

“You see. You are a fast learner.” The cook complimented her cooking as the aroma of their dish wafted in the air.

She already had one hot muffin and a glass of warm milk, and now she was hungry again. She took another muffin and shoved a fourth of the slice into her mouth, savoring the sweet, sumptuous treat.

“I have a good teacher.” She mumbled with her mouth still slightly full. At that moment, she did not care about poise or decorum. She was hungry, and she was about to fill her tummy.

She swallowed another mouthful of the bread just in time for a man to enter the backdoor in the kitchen. It was not the hardener, that was for sure, but he was wearing casual clothes. No scratched that.

He was wearing some work clothes, like the ones a handyman used when they worked in the garden or carpentry. He did not look like the man that she used to know.

“Mike, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” She concluded that he was the man she had seen earlier. “And what are you doing with those clothes?” She asked, pointing at his outfit.

She could not help but wonder why he was not married. He had many girls fawning over him, so that was not the problem. He was good-looking, attractive, and charming. She did not doubt that he could easily pick any woman he wanted.

But as Gerald said, that was not the problem. It was him.

He did not like commitment. He was against settling down and marriage. And most of all, he did not want kids.

She could not help but wonder what had happened to him to become this man. After spending a few days in his house, she realized he was not that bad. She was enjoying his company.

“It is a Saturday. I don’t work on weekends.” He informed her as he grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge. “But I like to help Mario in the garden. Then fixed some broken things inside the house once in a while.”

Ok, that explained his work clothes and his presence.

But that also reminded her that she had to find a solution to her problem. She could not keep staying in this house for a long time. She did not want to overstay her welcome.

But the problem was still the same, where would she go, and what would she do with her life, especially with a child on its way? If Gerald was alive, she knew he would help her. But he was not here. She was alone.

“I guess you are truly a hardworking man,” Haley commented. “And a good man.” Taking his words and applying them to her.

She guessed he was also referring to her. She was a mess when he took her in. Then, he somehow tried to fix her. Now, she almost felt better, not brand new, but functioning.

He was, without a doubt, quite a handyman.