Chapter Nine
Jessica was walkingaround her bedroom, putting things in a pile to pack, when she heard a timid knock.She smiled when she saw Addy with an arm full of boxes.
“Oh, wow.Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, miss.Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Jessica reached for her arm, pulled her farther in, and closed the door. “I’m telling you this because I trust you and would miss you.”She patted the maid’s hand when her eyes widened.“I will be moving out tomorrow.Today, I’m going to canvas the house and take what I want.Mostly my mother’s things and pictures.”
“Where will you go?”
“It’s a long story, and you will eventually hear all of it.What I want to talk to you about is whether you would consider going with me.”
“Where, miss?”
“It’s another house in town, larger than this one, and we need you and Lucie if you guys are willing to move.”
“Would we live there?”
“Absolutely.Gideon said there is a wing of the house just for you.He says the rooms are very nice and more like apartments.I’ll have him send a few pictures so you can see them.”
“That doesn’t matter, miss.I’d go with you wherever you want.”
Jessica squeezed her hands.“Thank you.There are very few things I’d miss when I leave, but you and Lucie are at the top, and I’d be sad to be without you.”
She grinned when Addy blushed and smiled brightly.
“I’m going to talk to Lucie now.If you want to go, write a letter and pack, and I’ll have someone come and get you two to take you to Gideon’s.If possible, I want you out of here before I am.If not, I’ll have him send a vehicle big enough for all of us and our boxes.I’m not sure what my family would do, but I don’t want you two anywhere close to them.”
“It won’t take me long to pack, miss.”
“Good.Let’s head down so I can talk to Lucie,” Jessica said.
The two walked down the steps and into the kitchen, where Lucie was humming and stirring something that smelled delicious.
“Hi, Lucie,” Jessica said.
The cook looked over her shoulder and smiled.“Are you staying out of trouble?”
Jessica snorted.“Now, where’s the fun in that?”
Lucie shook her head but grinned.“What can I get you?”
Jessica looked around.“Can we go somewhere a little more private?”
Lucie’s eyebrows spiked.“Sure.My room is just down the hall.”
“Okay.Good.”Jessica followed the older lady.
Jessica glanced around the room as Lucie closed the doors behind them.Jessica noticed that the room looked like it hadn’t seen a new coat of paint in decades.
The room was on the small side and held a dresser, a queen bed, and shelves for her books and the television.They had to share a bathroom, which Jessica didn’t like.
Lucie narrowed her eyes.“Are you in trouble?”
Jessica grinned.“No.Not this time.I’m going to be moving out of the house tomorrow.”
“Oh, my.Where will you go?”
