「She does a decent job with the housework. There's no guarantee the next one would be any better.」
I thought it over, decided he had a point, and nodded in agreement.
The next morning, Murray grabbed his suitcase and left before dawn.
I half-registered the sound, rolled over, and tried to fall back asleep.
Before I could drift off, patriotic music blared from the living room.
Each verse louder than the last, the vocals piercing through the walls.
There was no sleeping through it.
I checked the time. Five in the morning.
「Eleanor, it's the crack of dawn! Can I not sleep?」
Eleanor was dragging a mop across the living room floor at a leisurely pace.：「I'm already up doing housework. You really have the nerve to still be in bed?」
「While Murray's away, I'm going to teach you some proper manners.」
I was so angry I actually laughed.
「Eleanor, you're going to teach me manners? Remind me, which one of us is the employer here?」
Eleanor folded her arms across her chest.：「I'm practically Murray's mother. You don't measure up as a wife, so of course I need to set you straight.」
「From now on, when I get up, you get up. I'll teach you how to cook and clean. These chores are your responsibility going forward.」
「If I'm cooking and cleaning, then what exactly am I paying you for?」
「My job is to take care of Murray. I'm getting old. The dirty, tiring work should fall to you. You're a grown woman. It's time you acted like one.」
「If you can't handle the job, then you're done. You can pack your things and leave right now. I'll calculate your wages and wire them to you.」
I turned off the music on her phone.：「If you disturb my sleep one more time, I'm calling Premier Home Services to file a complaint!」
I went back to my room. A little while later, I heard the front door open and close. I assumed Eleanor had taken the hint and left.
I drifted in and out of sleep, not sure how long it had been, when someone barged into my bedroom.
「Mom, I want this room!」
I jolted awake, sitting bolt upright in bed.
「Who are you? How did you get in here?」
Eleanor trailed in behind her.：「Not this one, sweetie. This is Murray's room.」
「Then that's all the more reason I should have it!」
「Patience, sweetheart. It'll be yours eventually. For now, take the guest room.」
I swung my legs off the bed.：「Eleanor, didn't I just fire you? Who is this woman, and who gave you permission to bring her into my home?」
「This is my daughter. She's living here from now on.」
Without waiting for a response, she hauled the girl's luggage into the room.
「I never agreed to let her stay. Eleanor, you are out of line!」
「Where are your manners? You don't even call me 'Aunt' anymore. No upbringing whatsoever!」
I was done arguing with her. I picked up my phone and called the housekeeping agency directly.
「Hello, is this Premier Home Services? Your full-time nanny Eleanor Lambert brought her daughter to live in my home without my consent. I want her removed immediately.」
「I'm sorry, Mrs. Simmons, but Eleanor is no longer employed with our agency.」
「Save your breath. I left the agency a while ago. I'm freelance now. You want to report me? Good luck with that.」
I hung up.
「Fine. Then I won't report you. I'll fire you myself. Take your daughter and get out of my house. Now.」
「You? Fire me? You don't sign my paychecks! Besides, this is Murray's house. I'll bring whoever I want to live here, and there's not a thing you can do about it!」
「If you don't like it, you're the one who can move out!」
「Have you lost your mind, or have I? This is my home. Why on earth would I leave?」
「Fine. You say I can't fire you? Then I'll call Murray.」
The call had barely connected and I'd only gotten out a single "hello" before Eleanor snatched the phone right out of my hand.
「Murray, sweetie, your wife is trying to throw me out!」
Eleanor wailed into the phone, crying as she spoke.
