Chapter 5 - The Sanctuary of the Miller Estate
The next day, I dressed in my best clothes—a simple navy blue dress—and made sure Graham was dressed neatly. We took a bus to the edge of the city, where the suburban streets gave way to large, wooded properties.
The Miller Estate was breathtaking. It was surrounded by a tall stone wall, with a wrought-iron gate that opened onto a long, winding driveway lined with ancient oak trees. In the center of the property stood a massive, beautiful stone manor house, surrounded by sprawling gardens.
My knees shook as we walked up the driveway. Graham gasped, pointing at a stone fountain with carved fish.
"Look, Nellie! Fish!"
"Yes, buddy. It’s beautiful, isn't it?"
We were met at the front door by a sharp-looking woman in her fifties named Mrs. Gable, the estate manager. She looked at me, then at Graham, her eyebrows raising slightly.
"You're Nellie?" she asked, her voice formal but not unkind. "You sounded very young on the phone."
"I am seventeen, but I graduated high school early, and I am very responsible," I said quickly, trying to project a confidence I didn't feel. "This is my brother, Graham. He is eight. He is very quiet and won't be any trouble, I promise."
Mrs. Gable sighed, looking at Graham, who was currently staring intently at a brass door knocker. "The job requires hard work, Nellie. Mr. Miller is eighty-four years old. He has mild dementia and needs someone to keep him company, help him with his meals, and keep the main house tidy. The previous caretaker left because they found the estate too isolating."
"I don't mind isolation," I said earnestly. "In fact, we prefer it. I am a hard worker, Mrs. Gable. I’ve been running my mother's household for years. I cook, I clean, and I am very patient. I have to be."
Mrs. Gable studied my face for a long moment. She must have seen the desperation in my eyes, the raw determination of a sister trying to protect her brother.
"Come inside," she said finally. "Let’s see how you get along with Mr. Miller."
Mr. Miller was sitting in a sunlit library, surrounded by thousands of leather-bound books. He was a small, frail-looking man with a crown of white hair and kind, cloudy blue eyes. He was staring out the window, looking lost.
"Mr. Miller," Mrs. Gable said gently. "This is Nellie. She’s here about the caretaker position."
Mr. Miller turned his head slowly. He didn't look at me first. He looked at Graham.
Graham, who usually avoided eye contact with strangers, walked right up to the old man's armchair. He pointed to a book on the side table.
"That’s an encyclopedia of paleontology," Graham said clearly. "Volume four. It has the Triceratops."
Mr. Miller’s face suddenly lit up with a brilliant, youthful smile. "Why, yes it is, young man! Do you like dinosaurs?"
"I love them," Graham said, sitting down on the rug right next to the old man's chair. "They are very logical."
"They certainly are," Mr. Miller chuckled, reaching down to pat Graham’s shoulder. "Much more logical than people."
I looked at Mrs. Gable, who was watching the interaction with a surprised expression. She looked back at me and gave a small, approving nod.
May you like
"The job is yours on a trial basis for three months," Mrs. Gable said quietly. "The pay is $1,800 a month, and you will have free lodging in the guest cottage at the back of the property. Can you start tomorrow?"
Tears pricked my eyes. "Yes. Yes, we can start tomorrow. Thank you so much."
