CLEANER: Chapter Four - Part Two

MELISSA

I wasn’t sure why, but I was angry.

No, I knew why. Exactly.

Because when I’d had to change back into my own clothes and get back to work, the thud I’d come down with had been audible down in Barton.

I didn’t know why I let myself get into such ridiculous situations; to actually be relaxing into it; getting used to pretending I was the owner of this palace. How old was I that I was playing dress up and make-believe? How old was Dahlia? I should have my head examined, or she should. She definitely should.

I huffed, polishing the ornaments on the ceiling high shelf unit in the parlour, working carelessly; angrily. I was fuming at my own stupidity. Because I'd been stupid enough to start thinking that it would actually go on all morning – that it could happen again and again. Dahlia’s brother coming was just an excuse to pull out. I could read between the lines.

I snatched at the next ornament but I didn’t get a close enough hold of it and it tumbled down off the shelf. I stuck my leg out to block the fall and it hit me hard on the top of my foot, making me wince. It bounced off and clattered onto the floor, cracking in two.

“God damn it!”

I struggled down to pick up the pieces. It was a dolphin leaping up from the waves. The base was the waves. I turned it, looking at the break. A section had come loose that included the tail, part of its side and a fin. This was going to get me in trouble. Unless...

I put it back on the shelf and turned it so that the break was hidden. I placed the fragment just behind it out of sight then I moved round to look at it from different angles. It probably wouldn’t be noticed for a while. I didn’t think I’d ever seen Dahlia come into this room. She had more rooms than I'd had hot dinners. I bet it would be years before she noticed.

Continuing with my dusting I went back to grousing about my life, but I paused again when I noticed a pretty piece on one of the lower shelves that looked quite valuable. It was a model of an old horse and carriage and they’d used gold to add detail to it. It was probably worth a mint.

With a glance toward the door, I picked it up, wondering if I could sneak it out. My handbag was under the stairs but I could pop back in when I was—

“Melissa?”

I put the ornament down and whirled round. Dahlia was in the doorway.

“Uh yes? Hi.” I pushed the little carriage back on the shelf and gave it a quick dust, feeling as though my intentions were flashing over my head, written in lights.

“I’m... sorry about cutting things short,” she said.

I shrugged, trying to measure her intentions. Her expression was cloudy. The signs I was used to seeing weren’t there. I guess I'd never interacted with anyone in this way before. It was all uncharted.

“I had to— My brother. He... wouldn't have understood.” She gave a chuckle that was more of a click in the back of her throat. “I’m not sure I understand.”

I smiled but I was conscious of how plastic it would likely look.

Another one of our awkward silences came. It seemed that they inserted themselves into all our conversations now – though there had been precious little interaction before this started. This silence crawled on longer than any of the others.

“I just wanted to say...” Dahlia gave a brittle lipped smile. “I don’t think we should do... what we did... again.” Perhaps remembering the difference in our roles, she added, “We aren’t going to do it again.”

I had an impulse to disagree – to even try to convince her that we should – but I kept my trap shut. I didn’t know what to reply so I said nothing.

“I just don’t think— I don’t want to keep...” She smiled a very unguarded smile then her eyes clouded again. “I’m sorry if—”

“It’s fine,” I said. “I don’t mind either way. It was nice to watch TV and stuff but...” I shrugged.

“Okay. Good. Great,” said Dahlia. “Okay. That’s sorted then.” She looked visibly relieved.

I eyed the gilt-edged ornament.

“I’d better let you get on with your cleaning,” she said.

“Yeah,” I replied.

Another awkward pause. Then Dahlia backed out and left me to my work.