Momentus Meeting
The morning sun had begun streaming in through my window, waking me from a deep sleep. As I open my eyes and lay there I find myself focusing on the tiny dust particles dancing around in the sunlight.
I've had to begin asking myself how I am supposed to live this life I've been given. Up until now, I've felt like I've wasted precious time wandering through a blur of minutes hours, days and years. I am about to turn thirty and no better off than I was when I was eighteen.
Ive always pictured myself being settled down in a successful career with a partner and even owning a home. Perhaps that was why I had still amounted to very little, because the expectation for myself was too high. Nobody could live up to an exact timeline of how life is "supposed" to turn out.
But now here I am, contemplating whether to leave the comfort of my bed to start a job where I get to look after an elderly woman named Margot. I've always had an interest in the older generation. It seems the whole world forgets that they were once people who themselves may have been very successful and changed the world or the future we know today. I had many jobs where I had interacted with the most amazing elderly men and woman, left in old age homes, forgotten by their children and seen as no more than a nuisance.
I was excited about meeting Margot. I had heard that she was a very classy woman and had come from a wealthy family. She was now getting older and her family felt that she could use a companion that could assist her with life's daily activities. That is where I came in. I was to take her shopping, help her organise her home, read to her and take her on any outing she wishes. The best perk of the job was that the family said money is no object and that I was just to ensure she was happy.
Stumbling out of bed I took a quick glance I the mirror. My hair was swaying slightly on the dirty side but it was nothing a little dry shampoo couldn't fix. I was only going to spend the day with an old woman, there was no one I had to impress. I gathered the long tendrils of my blonde hair and tied it up into a messy bun with some of the hairs escaping at the back, running down my neck. Next I grabbed a pair of jeans and an emerald green jersey. Finishing up my look with a pair of sand coloured pumps, I grabbed my purse and headed out the door. I was never one to eat breakfast but had to stop on the way for my favourite Chai latte to start the day.
Once in my car, I pumped up the volume to one of my favourite songs and began singing along to it like I was in a music video. People in the cars around me stared but the moment I shared eye contact with them, they would smile and some even laughed. This was one thing I was good at. Making others happy and commanding a room to pay attention to me.
After grabbing my latte, I searched the GPS for the street name and area. I immediately recognised that Margot lived in one of the most affluent suburbs and I began feeling a little anxious at the prospect of just how classy this woman actually was.
I followed the directions and found myself turning into a long drive way lined with large oaktrees that formed a canopy overhead. Sunlight trickled through the leaves and as the wind blew the branches, they rustled creating a symphony of their own. Dogs came running to the car as I pulled up, all wagging their tails and one barking here and there. They were all groomed and trimmed, some sporting neat little fringes and manes. As I got out they all bounded for me and began sniffing at my feet. One of the larger dogs was about to jump up on me when I heard a woman shout "Down Herald! Heel!"
Watching her as she came into better view, I knew this must be Margot. She had cream slacks on with brown leather loafers. Her blouse was crisp white with a pale blue jersey tied over her shoulders. Midlength grey hair in wisps and waves framed a beautiful face filled with delicate features. Her eyebrows were arched in the perfect shape for her large light blue eyes. She wore a light peach lipstick and had the most beautiful smile. As she came up to me, she patted Herald on his head and held out her hand. I reached out to shake it and introduce myself. "Hello Margot, I'm Nina, it is such a pleasure to meet you." She took a quick glance over my shoulder at my dirty car and returned to our handshake placing her other hand over her chest. "How lovely to meet you Nina, I've been awaiting your arrival. If you wouldn't mind following me to the backyard, I was just sorting a few things in my sunroom." She turned and I followed behind her trying to keep all the dogs running around me at bay and prevent them from sniffing where they should not have been sniffing.
As we turned the corner, the view that hit me was so beautiful I felt as though I had entered another world. The garden was manicured with high hedges and large pots overflowing with summer flowers. The water fountains with water flowing and trickling out of them created a concophany of relaxing sounds. A large glass looking bird cage was centred in the middle and I guessed that must be the sunroom. As we walked up the path, she held the door open for me. I stepped inside a burst of citrus and lavedar invaded my nostrils. A tea set was put out on a tray with tiny tea cakes and pastries all stacked up three tiers high.
"I had the staff lay out a few refreshments for your arrival. Please sit down and help yourself."
I moved over to a plush outdoor patio chair and sat down. Margot sat on one of the chairs opposite me and began pouring tea into a delicate China tea cup of white and gold trimming with little blue flowers painted on the sides.
"Do you take sugar?"
"Yes, one please thank you, and just a little milk."
Once she was done pouring herself a cup she sat back and looked at me.
"I hope you don't mind me being to forward but you are absolutely beautiful."
I felt myself blush at this compliment because I've never thought of myself in that way. I knew I wasn't what you considered ugly, but I never thought I was beautiful.
"Thank you, that is very sweet of you to say. And thank you once again for having me."
I can feel that I am putting too many thank yous in one sentence but this whole set up has me feeling a bit anxious.
"Nina, let us get straight to business. I am happy to have a companion but in no way do I want someone to treat me like a porcelain doll. I am more than capable of doing things myself and require you to be more of a personal assistant than a nurse."
I had heard this same speech one thousand times before. The elderly hated anyone to think they were no longer capable of doing the things they've always done. I look at her with absolute sinceretiy.
"I understand Margot. I've not been trained as a nurse so unfortunately I would be absolutely no help in that department anyway."
With that she burst out into laughter. "Wonderful, I am glad that is settled then"
A tall man dressed in white and black entered the sunroom at that point. He collected her empty tea cup and asked if she required anymore refreshments. She shook her head but just as he left he said "Jason is here, shall I send him round back?"
Margots face lit up, "Absolutely! Thank you Lennard."
She turned back to me, "Lennard has been my Butler for thirteen years. He is part of the family. I'm sorry I did not introduce you but the mention of my Grandson's name has made me so happy that I completely forgot my manners."
With that she turned and I saw her face light up for the second time. I followed her gaze and saw a figure approaching the sunroom. This must be Jason her grandson. As he came more into focus, my mouth nearly dropped onto the floor. What a beautiful beautiful man. His long legs caused his narrow hips to sway with every step. He was all man. Strength and confidence oozed from him but at the same time, he was just so beautiful. His dark hair glinted in the sun, it was wavy and long at the top but cut short on the sides revealing the square of his jaw and chiseled cheekbones. He had deepest eyes and a small scar cut his one eyebrow in half at the end. As he came closer he began to smile and dimples cut into his cheeks revealing straight white teeth. His eyes creased in such a way that it seemed as though he could smile with his whole face. His lips were full and there was a light shadow of stubble from his beard. Broad shoulders covered in lean muscle moved under the thin fabric of his white shirt. He had an olive skin tone that caused his green eyes to pop and look crystal clear.
I had never in my life studied a man from head to toe in such a short time as I did him walking towards us. I collected my features to try form a normal expression. This job was going to be great if it meant seeing more of him.
