Chapter 17: Chapter 17

She smiled without knowing it, turned and walked out of the room wondering if this situation is what Clinton needed to become a better person.

As she carried the dishes to the kitchen to wash them, she overhead Doctor Ken's voice coming from the balcony. Elizabeth could guess he was on the phone call. She waved it off as whatever he was talking about could be work related and not any of her business but she heard him mention her name. She stopped in her tracks and listened to hear more but it was like as if he was listening to what the other person is saying.

Elizabeth carefully walked to the door to eavesdrop on his conversation.

'I have contacted two well trained professional guards but I'm yet to see any willing maid. They all seem to run at the mention of their type of work…'

'The lady currently here seems to want to leave herself…'

'Okay sir. I will talk to her…'

That was part of the things Elizabeth picked up from the doctor's conversation. She needed no one to tell her he was talking to Mr Smith and his wife.

If they can't find someone to take care of their son, why can't they find a way to come back and watch him themselves, Elizabeth wondered. If truly they can't find a maid, then it's obvious they would come to her to make her stay longer than she wants. That would be putting her in a tough position. She can't form heartlessness and refuse to help them but she really needs to leave there and start her own life.

She was still thinking when she heard Doctor Ken start to come into the house, she scurried away towards the kitchen before he would catch her eavesdropping on him.

While she washed and arranged them, she heard the kitchen door open and could tell it was the doctor.

"Errrm, Elizabeth, please mind if I talk to you for just a few minutes?" Doctor Ken asked Elizabeth.

"Sure doc."

Elizabeth placed the last of the plates in the rack, reached for the hand towel and wiped her hands clean.

Then she turned to face the doctor, "Are we doing it here or?"

"Oh, here is okay. I won't take much of your time,"

Elizabeth nodded slowly.

The doctor cleared his throat, "It's about your boss son, Clinton. You know his current condition and also know how much he needs care and attention which he can't provide for himself at the moment. Like I said, his parents can't get into the country due to unforeseen circumstances and for days, I have been trying to get capable hands which has proved difficult. So, I have a request to make on behalf of the Smiths'..." he paused and took an intent look at Elizabeth to be sure she is hearing all that he has been saying.

"Are you with me?" he asked to be sure.

"Yes, I can hear you clearly and well," Elizabeth answered.

"Good. So, as I was saying, we would need you to stay and take care of Clinton…"

"I told you I have to leave for something important," Elizabeth interrupted.

"Yes, I know but this is a request and it has to be something we want you to do willingly. Please, he needs all the care he can get right now."

"So I am to stay here with him alone?"

"No. About that, I have already made provision for two well trained professional guards that would stay here with you until the parents are back or new housekeepers are employed," Doctor Ken explained.

Elizabeth was quiet but different thoughts ran through her head.

"For how long will this be?" she asked looking up to the doctor.

"Well, it depends on the next favour that I am about to ask of you…"

"Another favour?" Elizabeth asked, confused.

"Errrm, yes Elizabeth. You see, Clinton suffered partial eye and partial legs paralysis. Thanks to you, if not it would have been complete paralysis in both cases. So it means he can still regain his sight again and walk well again but that depends on how we go about it…"

"Which is?"

"For his sight, he just needs to follow the food and drugs prescriptions that I would give but as for his legs, he would need to be intentionally exercising it with your help. Not too much but just continuous and regular exercising can get it back in shape and functioning."

"So you mean apart from taking care of him, I will need to also be his gym instructor or what?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically, finding it hard to believe what the doctor said.

"Not really like that, it's just like putting his legs to work constantly and not building some chest muscles." The doctor couldn't help but smile at Elizabeth's sarcasm.

"But a fitness nurse or doctor can be employed to do that for him…"

"Yes, unless, that his life is still under threat and we can't risk involving a lot of people."

Elizabeth was quiet again. She yawned tiredly, not sure if it is the discussion she is having with the doctor that is making her suddenly tired and sleepy.

"Ahem, and your pay would be hugely increased. We can talk about this by tomorrow if that's okay with you. I can see you are quite exhausted and I should leave you to get some rest."

Elizabeth nodded without saying anything, grateful he understood her situation without her speaking out.

With that the doctor left the kitchen.

Elizabeth quickly arranged a few things and headed to the maids quarters to sleep but was stopped on her way by the doctor.

"Where are you going?"

"To sleep of course,"

"Why then are you heading outside? I mean you need to share the room with Clinton to watch him for now until he is stable enough to sleep alone in the room."

Sleep left Elizabeth's eyes once she heard what the doctor said. "I don't understand," she blurted.

"I should sleep in Mr Clinton's room?"

"Only for now, for a few days. He needs to be closely monitored for now,"

Elizabeth, too sleepy and tired to argue, turned and started to go to Clinton's room without another word. She made a mental note to properly discuss it with him in the morning but as for that time, all she wanted was to sleep.

On getting into the room, she looked around wondering where best to sleep as she definitely wasn't sharing the same bed with Clinton.

Luckily for her, there was a sofa in his little parlour. Without thinking twice, she found herself fall on it as sleep took over her tired body.