Tuesday Tales - Word Prompt "Gray" - Maggie's Story continues...

Welcome! Thank you for stopping by. Maggie's Story continues this week. Last week she and John were caught in bed by Mr. Roberts, their employer. Will he fire them? Read on and find out.

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            Maggie’stomach s soured and she lost her appetite.

            “I can’t afford to lose my job,” she said over coffee at the kitchen table.

            “You won’t.” He took a sip.

            “How can you be so sure?”

            “They need us. We provide a nice life for them. They don’t have to lift a finger.”

            “Help is cheap.”

            “Not good help. Besides, we could go to work lots of other places.”

            “Really?”

            “As a team. Probably get more money, too,” he sniffed.

            Maggie liked working for Mr. and Mrs. Roberts.  But she’d never give up John, just because her employer caught them in bed together.

            “So you’re sayin’ you’d leave if I got fired? These things are always the girl’s fault.”

            John took her hand. “You’re my life, Maggie.”

            “Pish, tush, John Elderidge! Stop your sweet talkin’.” She fiddled with the hem of her gray apron.

            “You don’t believe me? I’ll bet the Mister calls me in as soon as they get back. It’ll be okay. You’ll see.”

            He leaned over to kiss her. Maggie wanted to believe him, but the last time someone said they’d fix things for her, it hadn’t turned out well. She figured she’d always be on her own.

****

The couple worked readying the apartment for the Roberts’ return. Exhausted, Maggie went to bed early. John picked them up at the airport. He noticed a slight difference in the Mister’s attitude. After John carried the bags into the bedroom, Mr. Roberts called him into the study.

            “Drink, sir?”

            “A shot of brandy, John. Why don’t you join me?”

     The manservant swallowed, being offered a drink with the master was not a good sign. He’d heard from others that it meant termination. John poured with a shaky hand. He placed one glass on the end table next to the leather wing chair.

            “Sit, John,” he said, closing his fingers around the glass. The servant did as he was told and took a healthy gulp of his drink, steeling himself. Mr. Roberts cleared his throat.

            “Mrs. Roberts and I talked about you and Maggie,” he said, pausing for another sip.

            John’s nerves kicked up. He’d never been sacked before.

            “Yes, sir?”

            “Well, we think. Wait. Weren’t you dating some other young woman?”

            “I was, sir. But I prefer Maggie.”

            “I see,” he said, nodding. “You have good taste. The only thing is, well, we don’t want a steady stream of women in and out of the apartment, if you get my drift.”

            “I do, sir. And there won’t be.”

            “Maggie’s it? The one?”

            “Yes, sir.”

            “And does she feel the same?”

            “I think so, sir.”

            Mr. Roberts grinned. “That’s what we’d hoped you’d say.”

            “Thank you, sir.” Relief washed through John.

            The men finished their drinks and retired to their rooms. Now John had to get Maggie to agree to marry him. And quickly.

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