The Visitor Chapter 2

Good, you're awake. I didn't know what I was going to do with this tray if you weren't, I almost dropped it three times coming up here.” Nancy said.

“Oh, thank you, you shouldn't have.” Sera replied, still with sleep in her eyes.

“Actually, I should, you weren't being treated right last night, and I know you didn't notice, but I did...alcohol makes people stupid, that's why I don't drink and I noticed you don't either. Your friend left you because her boyfriend had a lot, too much, and he was making an ass out of himself. I'm sorry, I hope you didn't mind sleeping here.”

“No, no, I slept great, this bed is very comfortable.”Sera said.

“I thought about it last night and you could stay here if you want, I'm divorced and have this whole house to myself. Just me and my pets” Nancy said.

“But what about Janie?” Sera said showing loyalty.

“What about you? She didn't think about that last night.” Nancy said.

“You could play the piano all that you want.” Nancy was trying to entice her. She really did not like living alone.

“Only if I wouldn't be crowding you.” a concerned Sera said.

“Crowd me? I have three floors and six bedrooms, no, you won't be crowding me.”Nancy answered.

“Well, OK, Janie's is a little crowded.” Sera agreed.

Later Janie called to see if Sera was OK. Nancy read her the riot act for leaving the poor girl in an unfamiliar place when she new in town. And then explained that Sera would be staying at her house from now on. Janie sounded relieved and that made Nancy more upset. Was she putting herself out by helping another human being? Nancy was disgusted.

Nancy was a real estate broker and had a lawyer husband, the pair worked good together, but home life did not work so well. She got the palatial mansion in the divorce settlement. She found the house, she set up the buy, and she dealt with escrow but her husband, being a lawyer, made more money than her on paper. But if you count the properties Nancy owned, they were equal. In court, her husbands territory, the judge was convinced that he was the sole bread winner in the relationship. But she didn't go down without a fight. She hired the best lawyer in town, and being that this is California he had to split that sole bread winning in half, but Nancy just wanted the property. She had her own money. They didn't have any children, Nancy was thankful for that. So, having Sera, who was impeccably dressed in a off-white satin ball gown with complementing accoutrements, wold be a welcome addition.

The next morning Sera was up early making breakfast for Nancy. The coffee woke her up.

“Oh, you don't need to do that.” Nancy said.

“Yes, I do, after all that you've done for me.”Sera said loudly as she turned an omlette in the pan.

“Wow, you play piano, and you cook, you're gonna fit right in here.” Nancy said.

“Have some coffee, I just brewed it.” Sera said.

“Actually the coffee maker is just for company, I use a coffee press.” Nancy said.

“Oh, I didn't know.” Sera said.

“And how would you, you were doing me a favor, I see that and I appreciate it. You got the house smelling like coffee. That's good.” Nancy didn't want Sera thinking that she wasn't appreciated because she was, not even her husband cooked breakfast for her.

Breakfast was served on clean white china rimmed in gold. The table was glass with a thin white muslin cover. They sat across from each other sipping orange juice, energizing for the day.

“Those people are not your friends.” Nancy said.“They probably helped you because they knew it was right, but it wasn't from their heart”

“Oh, yeah. How do you know?”Sera asked

“Thirty years of observing people, that's how. Do you have a boyfriend?...Or a girlfriend?” Nancy asked as she stabbed a piece of omlette.

“You mean a romantic relationship?” Sera asked.

“Yes.” Nancy said.

“Well, no, I haven't figure that out yet.” Sera said as she reached for her OJ.

“Good, I'm mad at men right now and don't want to see any of them.” Nancy explained.

“How long will you be mad?” the innocent Sera asked. Nancy leaned toward her as if she was telling a secret.

“Maybe forever.” Nancy chuckled while she grabbed her napkin to wipe her mouth.

“So, what do you do?”Nancy asked.

“I teach music.” Sera said.

“Oh, yeah, where?” Nancy said.

“Wherever the job takes me.” Sera answered and was uplifted.

“Seems like you enjoy it” Nancy said.

“Very much.” Sera said completely ignoring her food, totally focused on the conversation.

“Look, I gotta go, I'm showing a house this morning, oh, yeah, I am a real estate agent. I didn't see a car outside, do you need a ride? Or anything?” Nancy said as she got up from the table and started gathering her things.

“No, no work today, and I'm fine. Thank you.” Sera said.

“Help yourself to anything you want to eat and play the piano to your hearts content, shower, there's clothes in my closet, help yourself to those, I should be back for lunch. Take care.” and Nancy was out the door.She wore a pants suit and was the epitome of professionalism Nancy was a driven woman, and when she had a feeling she went with it. She had a feeling with Sera. Her feeling with Sera was right on, Sera was not like other people at all. She did not have an ounce of greed in her. She was truly a special person.