Security - 13. Chapter 13

“Problems?”

“No politics”

“Do I have to stay on campus?”

“Not unless you want to stay there. You can always stay at my cottage.”

“You have a cottage here as well?”

“I do like the water. I have friends here and I knew I’d be visiting you and you would need a place if you didn’t want to stay in a dorm, so I bought a small cottage close to the sea.”

“Really, that sounds nice. I wouldn’t need a pool, I could swim in the ocean.”

I smiled as a marine biologist he’ll be living in the ocean. I called Noah and confirmed our arrival time. I settled back and enjoyed the last hour of our flight. Bobby just kept on talking.

The landing was smooth, deplaning, there was Noah. I introduced Bobby to him. “Noah I need to run some errands, the guys are going to join me here to work up a new proposal. So I’ll leave Bobby in your good hands.” I went and rented a car, headed off to the cottage. I needed to get that set up before tonight.

Arriving at the cottage, the realtor was there. “Hello George, I assume you have all of the paperwork?” “

Yes sir, I had the cottage cleaned. It’s ready for you to inspect it.”

I walked through the cottage, it was perfect, with three bedrooms, each with a bath, a large porch in the front, a lanai on the back. An up-to-date kitchen, and a large room that could serve as a dining and living room. I smiled as I handed George the check. “George before you leave, can you recommend someone that I can hire as a housekeeper?”

“Not out of hand but the Wasson’s, a few doors down have a housekeeper, I’ll check and see if they can recommend someone.”

I selected what would be my bedroom and began to unpack my suitcase. I set Bobby’s suitcases in the living area, I’ll let him select his bedroom. As I was looking at the lanai, I knew I needed a refrigerator and a barbecue. I walked to the kitchen to check out if there were any dishes, glasses, cooking appliances. I found a coffee maker and in the refrigerator, there was a partial pack of coffee beans. I just started making coffee when there was a knock on the door.

“Hello, may I help you?”

“My name is Maria and I am the housekeeper for the Wasson’s. A man stopped and said you were looking for a housekeeper.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I have a sister who worked here for Mrs. Amnoy before she died. I think she would like to work for you.”

“Okay, when can we meet?”

“I’ll call her.” I handed her my phone, she smiled as she dialed the number. “Rosa, I have a man who is looking for a housekeeper. Yes, Mrs. Amnoy’s place. Okay.” “Thanks for the use of the phone. She’ll be here soon.”

Soon was an overestimation. I just poured us a coffee when there was a knock at the door. Maria went and answered it, I guess habits are hard to break, “Sir, this is my sister Rosa.”

I would have known just by looking at them. “It’s nice to meet you, Rosa. And who is this little fellow?”

“I’m sorry sir, I couldn't leave him at home. This is Carlito.”

“Hello Carlito, it’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m sorry sir he doesn’t know much English.”

“Well, maybe he can teach me Spanish and I’ll teach him English. Rosa, Maria said you have worked here, so I see no reason for you not to work here now, you are hired. But today, I need you to go shopping for me, we need to stock the cottage, bed linen, towels, washcloths, food and anything else you think we need to start living here. Here’s my credit card and you can take my car.” I never saw two happy women like those two. I didn’t understand what they were saying but they were talking and laughing.

Three hours later they came back. I went to help, the three of us must have made at least ten trips. Rosa started to wash the linen and towels. I’m glad she knew where the washer and dryer were cause I didn’t know. Maria started to put the food away, I saw a box of popsicles, I opened it and offered one to Carlito. He smiled, a beginning of a friendship.

“Rosa, I need a small refrigerator for the lanai and a barbecue grill. Do you know where I can buy them?”

“I’ll call my husband he’ll know.” Thirty minutes later an old pick-up truck stopped in front of the cottage. Rosa introduced her husband, I told him what I wanted, gave him the credit card, he left.

I went and sat in the lanai, soon I could smell something cooking. Walking into the kitchen, Rosa was at the stove. “I was fixing something to eat, Carlito missed his lunch.”

“It smells good. Maybe you should prepare more, I’m sure you must be hungry as well as your husband and it does smell good.”

Rosa smiled and started to make more of whatever she was making. Maria came down to check on everything, she stayed as well. I called Maria aside and spoke to her about the salary for Rosa. She said that she was paid two hundred dollars a week for a six-day week. That was okay by me. I gave Maria fifty dollars for helping with the shopping, she refused but in the end, took it.

By the time the food was ready, I heard the truck. I helped to unload the refrigerator and barbecue grill. I paid him a hundred dollars for getting the fridge and grill as well as helping me move them to the spot I had selected. I invited him to stay for dinner or lunch, I wasn’t sure which it was. Carlito saw his dad and ran to him, I smiled.

Dinner/Lunch was served and it was fantastic. I have eaten Mexican food before but it never tasted like this. I had a lot more than I would’ve normally eaten. I knew I’d need to run tomorrow. Before they all left, we worked out the schedule for Rosa, I offered her two hundred a week, I agreed she could bring Carlito with her.