Chapter 4
Abby woke up to the sound of birds outside her window. The sunlight coming through the curtains was soft and warm. She sat up and stretched, her muscles sore from the day before. It wasn't a bad kind of sore—it reminded her that she had done a good job.
She got out of bed, dressed quickly, and tied her hair back into a ponytail. Grabbing her backpack, she headed toward the main house.
The morning air was cool, and the garden smelled fresh. Abby walked up the stone path, taking a deep breath. She still couldn't believe this was her life now—working in a place so fancy.
When she walked into the kitchen, Mrs. Rose was already there, stirring something on the stove.
"Good morning, Abby," she said with a smile. "Did you sleep okay?"
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you," Abby said.
"Good. We've got a busy day ahead," Mrs. Rose said, handing Abby a small notebook. "Start with the dining room. Dust and polish the table. After that, head upstairs and change the bedding in the guest rooms. Then check back here for the next tasks."
"Okay," Abby said, flipping through the notebook. There were a lot of little jobs, but she didn't mind.
"Take your time, but don't drag your feet," Mrs. Rose added with a wink.
Abby smiled. "Got it."
She started in the dining room, where the big windows let in lots of sunlight. The table looked spotless to her, but she still went over it with a cloth, making sure it was perfect.
As she worked, she thought about Mr. Edward. She hadn't seen him yet, but she knew he'd show up eventually. He was quiet and serious, and Abby couldn't help but want to make a good impression on him.
When she finished the dining room, she grabbed a pile of fresh sheets and headed upstairs to the guest rooms. The rooms were big and bright, with soft rugs and fancy furniture. She carefully changed the bedding, smoothing out the sheets and fluffing the pillows.
In the hallway, she heard footsteps. Abby looked up and saw Mr. Edward walking by with a coffee cup in his hand. He glanced at her and gave a small nod but didn't say anything.
Abby nodded back, feeling her cheeks get warm. She wasn't sure why he made her nervous. Maybe it was because he always seemed like he had everything under control.
After finishing the guest rooms, Abby went back to the kitchen. Mrs. Rose was stirring a big pot on the stove, and the smell made Abby's stomach growl.
"All done upstairs?" Mrs. Rose asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Abby said.
"Good. Take a quick break, and then we'll start lunch," Mrs. Rose said, pointing to a chair.
Abby sat down and drank a glass of water. Her feet were tired, but she liked staying busy.
"How's it going so far?" Mrs. Rose asked.
"I think I'm getting used to it," Abby said with a small smile. "It's a lot, but I like having something to do."
Mrs. Rose nodded. "That's the right attitude. Just keep working hard, and you'll be fine."
Abby nodded. She didn't want to mess up. This job was too important.
After her short break, Abby helped Mrs. Rose prepare lunch and set the table. It felt good to be useful, even if it was just little things like chopping vegetables or folding napkins.
By the time the clock struck noon, Abby was starting to feel a little more comfortable. This wasn't like anything she'd done before, but maybe it was a chance to finally settle down and build something better for herself.