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Lesley was a single mother struggling to support her five-year-old daughter, Haley. She should have listened to her mother, Mrs. Rossini, when she told her that her boyfriend, Stanley, was bad news.
"He is rude, arrogant, and disrespectful. I’m not sure what you see in him," Mrs. Rossini remarked.
"You don’t know what you are talking about, Mom!" Lesley reacted angrily. "Stop interfering in my life. Stanley is perfect for me."
"He’ll hurt you, Lesley. You can do better than him."
Lesley was completely in love and disobeyed her mother’s advice, moving in with Stanley and leaving her mother heartbroken.
Lesley became pregnant a few months later. She was only nineteen. Lesley was terrified and frightened, and she didn’t know how to tell Stanley about her pregnancy. Stanley, who was five years her senior, repeatedly told her he wasn’t ready to be a father. His reaction surprised her when she told him the news. He looked overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a parent soon. He appeared content with his new role as a father. In fact, he woke up early and worked late at the office to save money. Lesley begged Stanley not to work so hard, but he argued it was for their future. They hardly ever saw each other after that, and their relationship faltered when Stanley arrived home, anxious and fatigued, wanting simply to rest and sleep.
This went on for several months, and Lesley suspected nothing was wrong. She put a lot of confidence in Stanley. While he was at work, Lesley spent her time in a thrift store across the street from their apartment. She purchased a secondhand stroller, rattles, baby clothing, and a baby carrier.
Lesley awoke one morning with significant abdominal discomfort, followed by strong contractions. She knew she was ready to give birth. She needed help, but Stanley was out of town on a business trip, although he knew she was overdue. Lesley called a cab to take her to the hospital. She went through nineteen hours of transition labor, but the baby just didn’t want to come into the world yet. The doctor gave her a labor-inducing medicine to relieve her pain. After several hours of labor, Lesley gave birth to a seven-pound baby girl. She waited for Stanley, but he didn't show up. She called him multiple times, but he never answered.
They discharged Lesley from the hospital with her new baby the next day. Lesley expected Stanley to pick them up, but he didn’t. She called again and left a message. She waited another hour, but there was no sign of him.
Lesley took a cab back to the apartment she shared with Stanley, only to discover that the building manager had taken all their belongings and locked them in the storage unit. They were being evicted. The manager informed her that Stanley had not paid the rent in three months. He had phoned him several times, threatening to evict them if he did not pay up. He never did. Lesley was at a loss for words. She had no idea what was going on. She tried to phone Stanley, but the number was no longer in service. The fact that she had recently given birth to their child didn't help Lesley understand why Stanley had deserted her. He disappeared with no explanation. Lesley sobbed on the street, her baby resting in her arms. She cried till she couldn’t anymore. What would she do now? How was she going to provide for her child? She needed to get a grip on things quickly, or she’d lose control of the situation.
Lesley spoke to the apartment manager and assured him that she would pick up her belongings later from the storage unit. The man gazed at her, saddened by her situation. He assured her she could pick it up whenever she was ready. Lesley collected a few personal items from the storage unit she would need, and thanked the manager before leaving. She walked with her child in a stroller, with no particular destination in mind. She sat on a park bench, contemplating her next step. Lesley took out her wallet and counted the money she had left. She had $200 on her. Lesley flagged down a cab and gave the elderly driver Stanley's mother's address. Sadly, she didn’t appear pleased to see her or her child. She informed Lesley that Stanley had left town and married a wealthy widow. She provided Lesley with very little information about Stanley, which crushed her. What would happen to them now? Stanley’s mother did not give any help and did not even glance at her granddaughter. What kind of grandmother was she? Lesley realized it was time to leave when Stanley’s mother told her she needed to move on from Stanley and find a partner who would support her.
With nowhere else to go, Lesley returned home and begged her mother’s forgiveness for all the misery she had caused her. Mrs. Rossini hugged her daughter, and it relieved Lesley that they had reconciled. Lesley found a part-time job as a cashier at a gas station, working at night. She took care of the baby during the day, while her mother took care of the infant at night.
Three years had passed, and everything was going well until her mother married Jacob, a guy ten years her junior. When he moved in, Lesley’s life became one big battleground. She didn’t get along with him, which caused tension between her and her mother. Lesley soon left the house after Mrs. Rossini chose her new husband over her. That was the last time they saw each other.
Lesley lived with her friend Michelle and slept in the guest room for a month until Michelle helped her find work as a live-in domestic helper for an affluent couple. To Lesley’s delight, they allowed her to bring her daughter with her, and didn’t mind looking after her simultaneously. It was the best job she’d ever had. Everything went smoothly for a while, until two years later, when the couple sold their home and moved to Chicago to be closer to their daughter. They gave Lesley three months’ severance pay to help her out. Lesley packed their belongings again and returned to Michelle's house.
In the months that followed, Lesley worked at factories, fast-food restaurants, and even as a dog sitter. It wasn’t the time to be picky, as long as she got a good income. This went on for a while until Michelle returned home one day, thrilled about a new job she had found for her friend. Michelle’s former math teacher from high school was at the grocery store, where she worked as a cashier. Mrs. Fletcher asked whether she could recommend anybody work with her. Two of her maids had left, and she needed to find replacements as quickly as possible. Michelle recommended Lesley.
Mrs. Fletcher hired Lesley on the spot, and she worked in housekeeping at Fletcher B&B, a lovely, small-town bed-and-breakfast with an ocean view across from the marina and the amusement park. It had fifteen flower-themed guest rooms, each with bright red and yellow flowery wallpaper that let in plenty of light. They provided a complimentary breakfast of sweet Danish pastries, toasted bread, bacon and eggs, fresh squeezed orange juice, and the greatest coffee in New Jersey.
Mrs. Fletcher gathered the entire staff for a meeting one day.
"The New Jersey Summer Festival is the event of the year. Therefore, we have the rich and famous staying with us, and we are fully booked through the end of the month and beyond. The day after tomorrow, a notable guest will arrive. She is a well-known travel writer who served as one of the judges at the 10th Annual Charity Chili Cook-off. I expect you all to be on your best behavior. Make sure the rooms are clean, and I want you to put new flowers in the vase every day."
"Yes, ma’am," the staff said in unison.
"Alright, you may all go, except for you, Lesley."
"Ma’am?" Lesley asked.
"I’ve assigned you to look after Miss Anderson’s needs. Make sure her room and bathroom are immaculate. I’d like you to organize your own schedule so that you can be available to her, as I expect you to work late hours."
"But, Mrs. Fletcher..."
"Yes?"
"I had requested a week off," Lesley said. "I’m taking my daughter to summer camp on Friday."
"Isn’t your daughter a little young for summer camp?"
"No. This is a week-long program designed only for children aged five to ten to encourage them to participate in various activities and improve their communication skills. My daughter, Haley, is bashful. I hope that summer camp will help her enhance her social interaction abilities."
"I’m sorry, Lesley, but this is important," Mrs. Fletcher explained. "You are my best employee. We expect Miss Anderson to arrive on Friday, and I suspect she will require the services of a staff member. I cannot overstate how important this individual is to us, and we want her to feel at ease. Who knows? We could wind up in her newspaper column as the place to go for leisure. This will put our B&B on the map. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Mrs. Fletcher,” Lesley responded, as she walked into the kitchen.
What would she tell her daughter? Haley was shy, and it took a long time for Lesley to convince her to attend summer camp. Haley was looking forward to the trip. It would be heartbreaking to tell her they couldn't go.
It overcame Lesley with melancholy when she spoke to her daughter when she returned home.
"Baby, I’m so sorry. My boss told me I had to work. Can you please forgive me?" Lesley explained her predicament.
Michelle interrupted their conversation.
"Don’t worry about it, Lesley. I can take her," she said.
"Are you sure it’s not a problem?"
"Of course not. I’m no longer working. I’m retired. I have all the time in the world to spend with my goddaughter."
"But—"
"It’s okay, Mom," Haley responded. "Don’t worry, we'll record footage of our activities. You can watch it later."
"Did I ever tell you how lucky I am to have such a great daughter?"
"I am blessed to have you as my mother," Haley responded.
Lesley was crying as they hugged. Despite her prior adversity, she felt lucky, since she had the best daughter in the world.
***
MRS. FLETCHER WAS BUSY with guests arriving in large numbers on Friday morning when she noticed a familiar name on the list. She wasn’t expecting a visit from Tilly and Dusty Bonaventura. Tilly was her college roommate, and they had never lost touch. During the New Jersey Festival, they were frequent guests at her B&B. She grinned as she saw her friend and her husband checking in.
"Tilly and Dusty, what a lovely surprise. You didn’t tell me you were coming. I thought you were skipping the festival again this year?" Mrs. Fletcher stated.
"Dusty was scheduled to go to the Philippines with his parents for the grand inauguration of a new hospital there, but the event organizer postponed it because of the storm. And what a fortuitous break for us. I didn’t want to miss the festival again this year," Tilly explained.
"Yes, I recall you telling me that."
"Bea, I hope our usual room is still available?"
"Of course, Tilly. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll have your room ready. Have you eaten your lunch yet? Why don’t you help yourself in the dining room? Today’s menu includes a traditional beef stew."
"I love your beef stew, Bea. Can you have someone bring our bags to our room when they’re ready? I suppose we’ll be in the dining room for a while. I hope you cooked enough beef stew for everyone." Tilly chuckled a little.
"Leave it to my wife to be so enthused over your beef stew," Dusty joked.
Mrs. Fletcher laughed so hard. It always made her happy to see them back at her place.
"Lesley, come here," she yelled from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mrs. Fletcher?"
"Take those suitcases into the Red Rose Room and be careful with them."
"Yes, Mrs. Fletcher," Lesley said.
Tilly and Dusty observed Lesley struggling as she tried to take the luggage to the elevator.
"Don’t worry about her." Mrs. Fletcher assured them that she would be alright.
Tilly and Dusty nodded as they walked to the dining area for lunch.
Miss Anderson, a travel writer, came before midday with her assistant, Melissa. Mrs. Fletcher checked them in and led them to the Carnation Room, next to the Red Rose Room, where Tilly and Dusty were staying.
"We’ll serve lunch in the dining room in a few minutes if you’d like to join us," Mrs. Fletcher remarked.
Miss Anderson raised an eyebrow. "I don’t think so."
Mrs. Fletcher was about to leave when she heard Miss Anderson call her.
"On second thought, if you don’t mind, I’d like my lunch delivered to my room at 12:30. I have a full schedule, so I’d want to eat and get some rest for tonight. This is the first day of the festival in this town of—what’s the name of this place again?"
Mrs. Fletcher replied, "Madison."
"Yes, Madison. After you’ve delivered the food, leave it on the table. I don’t want to be disturbed."
"Yes, Miss Anderson," Mrs. Fletcher answered as she stepped outside and shut the door behind her.
She went to the kitchen and made Miss Anderson’s lunch. She placed the food on a platter with a single red rose in a vase. There was an old-fashioned beef stew, baked bread, a dish of fruit, and coffee.
"Lesley, come here!" she yelled.
"Yes, Mrs. Fletcher?"
"Take this tray to Miss Anderson’s room. She is staying in the Carnation Room. She wants her lunch delivered at precisely 12:30. Simply place it on the table and then leave. Do you understand? She doesn’t want to be disturbed."
"Yes, Mrs. Fletcher."
Lesley grabbed the tray and took the elevator to Miss Anderson’s room on the second floor.
Tilly was returning from the dining area when she noticed Bea was always asking Lesley to do the work. Other members of the staff were there, but she solely gave Lesley the duties.
"Why do you constantly rely on that poor girl to perform the work? You have other staff, you could ask, but why her?"
"You are a keen observer, Tilly. I had no idea you’d notice, but you’re correct. I guess I didn’t realize I did that. Unlike the other employees here, Lesley never complains. She makes running this place a lot smoother for me."
"But don’t you think you’re tiring her out? She’ll burn out eventually."
"I suppose. Don’t worry, Tilly. I’ll try not to overwork her."
