Three

******

It was difficult for Jacob to sit in the garden for few minutes and take the class, because he was distracted by every little thing that he heard.

Sometimes, she took the classes in the master's study, sometimes she took the class outside. But slowly he was starting to pick up because she had told her daughter to encourage him to continue the classes with his soul, mind and body.

When he did his first test he had gotten higher than Katie which Katie insisted she let him pass her and he promised he would do better next time without her cheating. When he wanted to show his dad his scores, William was too busy to listen. But that didn't stop Jacob from doing better.

She was so proud of her pupil, at least teaching the both of them was no stress at all and the one thing she was most grateful of was that the master did not bother them at all, she appreciated that.

This week they would start with a new topic and she needed their heads and body parts here. After eating breakfast, they walked to the greenhouse; also another place they took their classes; the children sat down and she began teaching.

Since she had been living here with Jacob and his father she had gotten accostumed with the people living in the house, even the goggle man at the gate as Katie would call him, at least it made her days here less tiresome and it made her think less of Richard and his violent nature.

Suddenly, cars drove into the house.

Jacob looked up from his book as he heard as well and he asked her. 'Ms Pearl, can go I see who it is?'

She nodded and let him go, she looked at her daughter; who sat looking at the words that was a bit hard for her to pronounce.

At least Katie was doing well and she was happy being here.

Jacob came and there was a big smile on his face. 'Ms Pearl, it is Uncle Pat and Aunt Molly, my dad's brother and sister.' He announced as he returned.

She smiled at him.

'That is nice, let's continue when we are done, we can go and see them.'

Jacob nodded and moved to sit down by Katie; who by this time was chewing the end of her pencil.

******

'Bonjour William.' They greeted as soon as they saw him.

'Bonjour.' He replies looking at them as they took their seats in his study.

He had been working on a report.

'Francesca!' Patrick yelled from where he sat.

William without looking up from his work told him.

'Nanny is not well have you forgotten?' her voice cold and expressionless.

He nodded remembering his brother's short-temper. 'Tranquille(calm), William, there is no need for you to be angry.'

William looked at him. 'En colère?' (Angry)

Patrick looked away.

William dropped his pen and looked at his younger brother. Is he for real?

'Patrick, what are you talking about, because of you; all cattle and cows were sick, because of you, we lost a lot and we can't gain it back and you tell me not to be angry? Are you out of you mind!'

Patrick sighed. He was sorry, he didn't mean it, how else could he explain himself?

'William, arrêters (Stop).' Molly told them sitting up.

She smiled at him. 'Where is young master?'

William stood up from here he sat. 'Having his lesson.' He said and walked out of his office leaving his siblings there.

She looked at her brother.

'When will you guys quit?'

Patrick shrugged. 'I didn't start, being the elder one, he still chooses to fight.' He said and stood up.

'Where are you going?' she asked him.

'J'ai besoin de dormir' (I am going to sleep)

******

She sat on the stool in the kitchen and checked her phone. Tomorrow, she won't teach, she would let them rest and so would she, if the master want to cut her arms and legs, he is free, all she knew was she would go out do something fun as if there was anything fun to do around here.

She let the kids play after the afternoon work and they promised to do their assignments, at least she had time to herself for the first time in few weeks.

She stood up, opened the refrigerator and brought out the bottle of milk; poured it into a cup before returning it back to the refrigerator, she sat down again, picked the glass and gulped it down to cool her stomach, she checked her phone for any messages before she stood up, walked to the sink and washed off the cup with a smile, she felt better than the way she felt before, regardless of the way the master treated her. But he is a kind man, he let her live here like it was her house, she eat good meals and she could come to the kitchen and go anywhere in the mansion whenever she liked. He hadn't even stopped her from going to the stables.

Maybe she was just hurt that he didn't give a damn what she did as far as she was doing her job. Richard always cared but only if he got something out of it and this man she worked for.....

'Excuse me; Ms' She heard a voice behind her.

She turned when she kept the glass upside down to the rack to dry and picked up the napkin to clean her hand.

'Yes, can I help you?'

The friendly face approached and stretched her hands like Katie, not caring if you took it or not.

She shook the female's hand and smiled back.

'My name is Molly, I'm William's sister.'

She smiled at her. Great, she was starting to know the master's family.

Molly continued. 'Jacob talks about you a lot.'

Pearl smiled. 'Children talk about their teachers a lot.'

Molly nodded. 'Can we sit? I will like to know how he has been doing in his studies so far.'

Pearl nodded and smiled. 'Alright.'

They sat down round the kitchen table.

'Marié?' (Married)

She had just said she wanted to know how Jacob was faring with his studies when did she moved to a personal interrogation. She shake her head. 'Non, divorcé.' she said. As soon as Richard comes to get tget, she would asked him for a divorce and nothing is going to stop her.

She saw Molly smiled.

'Child?'

'Oui, bébé fille.'

Molly nodded her head and smiled brightly like she like the way her french sounded.

'When did you get here?' Molly continued.

She looked at her, she was starting to feel discomfort with the series of questions.

Molly however noticed her disoriented face. She smiled at her again and apologized.

'Alright, I'm sorry, I diverted that is very bad of me, forgive me.'

Pearl nodded. 'Pas de probleme.' (No problem)

Molly nodded. She liked her. 'Alright, please tell me, how he is catching up.'

'He is fine, like any normal kid, he is getting on fine.' Pearl gave what every teacher told the child's guardian.

'Thank God, how have his father been?'

Pearl looked at her.

'His father, I don't know.' How would she know?

Molly stopped and looked at her, seriously this time. 'You are a nice person, Ms Jackson.'

She nodded, of course she knew that. 'Call me Pearl.'

Molly nodded and continued. 'You seem trustworthy, I just want to tell you that Jacob loves you and it won't be nice if you broke his heart.'

'Why would I do that?'

Molly shrugged. 'Cases have happened, even his father had to bear them, if anything happens to Jacob, and he will never forgive you.'

She looked dumfounded at the lady.

'Please, help him, I beg you.' She said as she took her hands in hers.

Pearl looked at her and their linked hands; she didn't know what to say, she had never experienced such outburst of plead and she was confused about how she was supposed not to break Jacob's heart when she was just doing her job.

She nodded her slowly and Molly smiled and stood up. Pearl only looked at her as she walked out of the kitchen, who was Molly to give advice to a complete stranger; wasn't she part of the family; she sighed.

She couldn't take being in this mansion, not  after the drama that just  happened, she needed to clear her head. She stood up

'Mom, I'm hungry.' She heard her daughter come into the kitchen.

She touched her daughter's cheeks as she walked  to her. 'Please baby, meet Clarissa, I want to go for a quick walk, I'll be back.' She said as she bent to give her a kiss.

'Mom, be careful.'

She nodded and walked out of the kitchen. She hoped to God, Katie will be fine; she believed it.

She walked past the stables and just as she turned to the fields, she bump into to the master.

'I'm sorry.' Was all that came out, as she recognised him?

She saw him nodded without even saying anything and then he walked past her. Was he still angry at her since that day she told in an non-serious manner that he shouldn't distrub her class.  what kind of a man was he; that he could hold a grudge for so long, she watched him walk pass her; but he didn't go towards the house, instead he took the other route by the left to God knows where besides the ranch was very big; one could even get lost.

She had a stupid idea and followed it. She stopped her tracks when she saw him seated by the pool pouring out beer for himself.

He didn't have to look to know she was the one. 'Why did you follow me here?' She moved to him as she heard his voice.

She took the seat by him on the long bench but keeping a great distance as she left him to enjoy himself.

'I was just worried about my boss since I haven't seen him since that time at the office, are you still angry at me?' was that really true? Or was she just intrigued by the man that she wanted to know what he was up to?

She looked at his expressionless face. 'Did something happen?' she asked like she was concerned.

She almost rolled her eyes at herself, why was she acting concerned?

'Not like you care.' she heard him.

He still held the glass in his hand but did not drink from it, he just kept turning the content in the glass by turning the glass in his hand.

'No, but I have heard a problem shared is a problem solved.' she answered.

He looked at her, she wondered why maybe to see if she was lying or she actually cared.

He took a sip of his beer. 'It doesn't work with me.'

'At least try it, it will be more like cutting a little piece of white cake.......'

'S'en aller, Jackson.' (Walk away) he putting his glass on the empty space on the bench.

She shook her head, she had lived here for close to a month now and she not seen him cheerful, all he did was carry a scowl but she had never heard him complain about his staff, because they never gave him room to. When he coughs, they answer.

'Why are you always irritated, master?'

He didn't answer her for a few moments when he did, he said:

'I offered you a job go and do it; don't poke nose into other people's business.'

She didn't believe him, all she knew was this time, she won't let it rest, he would have to hear her out.

She stood up. She had been sitting close to the pool away from him and he had been sitting  in the middle of the bench.

She took a step towards him one after the other, without waiting to think of the gravity of the situation.

She was saying. 'Is that what you think; people care about you and you call it poke nosing......'

She took another step.

One and two.

'Leave, I don't want to see you.' he said careful not raising his voice.

She shook her head and continued looking at him straight in the eyes.

'I understand that is why people keep running away from you because you chase them from you! Everyone is scared of you.'

He stood up with fury and anger on his face, he glared at her. The confidence that was in her face earlier disappeared. Gossesbumps crept up her skin as he walked towards her, she walked backward forgetting the pool behind her.

'You are all liars, you don't know anything!' He pushed her into the pool; he didn't care; the teacher didn't want to listen, he said he had enough, then he walked away from the pool and stopped just before he turned, his face had changed, the anger and fury had disappeared; he heard jerking and kicking; she was drowning!

He went only to find her hands in the air gasping for breath, what have he done; all because of Patrick's stupid mistake that caused him a mighty loss and now his son's teacher?

He dived in and brought her out of the water; she coughed out the water in her lungs and all the mighty master could do was smile at himself.

When she finally regained herself; she looked, she loved his smile, he should do that more often.

'Why are you smiling?' she asked.

He laughed for the first time in a long time and it sounded like miracle from above.

'Call me William.' he said.

She nodded with a smile. 'Why are you laughing?'

He looked at her. 'Couldn't you have told me you couldn't swim?'

She forced a smile. What? How? 'How could I have, I had no idea, you would push me.'

He smiled again as he used the towel, he picked from the rack to dry her off.

'I'm sorry, Pearl.'

She looked at him and smiled for the very first time and he smiled back at her, the one she felt was from her heart; he called her Pearl and it sounded so nice like the name could only be pronounced by him.

She nodded.

'Do you want me to get you anything?'

She shook her head with a smile.

For now she had all she needed.

Peace with him.