13
"…Is that so."
"Yes. So please stop treating me like a child."
"I understand. My apologies, Miss McKay."
Before the atmosphere could grow heavy again, Nellie quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, did you sleep well last night?"
"Thanks to you, Miss McKay."
"Oh, that's nothing…."
Nellie waved her hands with a smile.
"Let's aim to be the best man at the wedding! At this pace, you'll surely make it happen!"
"Understood. Then, shall we go for another walk today?"
"Sounds good! Let's walk even more than we did yesterday!"
After lunch, Nellie and Chester went outside for a walk.
Chester wore a different striped three-piece suit from yesterday and a fedora. He kept saying it was from several years ago and felt embarrassed, but because the suit was of such fine quality, he didn't look out of fashion at all.
"The weather's even nicer today than yesterday."
"Indeed it is."
After walking silently for a while, Chester suddenly spoke.
"Miss McKay, about changing your boarding house earlier."
"Oh. I've already signed a one-year contract, so I don't really want to move."
"It's not that… Please don't misunderstand my offer."
"Yes, what do you mean…?"
"My house, well, the second floor has a spare room. If you're comfortable with it, Miss McKay…"
"What?"
"No matter how I think about it, that boarding house isn't good. I'm sure there will be more unpleasant people there. I can't feel at ease letting you continue to live in that place."
"You've already given me a house key, and now you're offering me a room as well? You'd be the first man to give me a room, Mr. Coleman. Shall we go ahead and hold a wedding, then? Just invite a few close family members and keep it simple."
"You must be joking."
"Of course, Mr. Coleman."
Chester stood silently, staring at Nellie. George, too, was gazing at her with her gleaming black eyes.
"I'm not joking, Miss McKay. I'm truly concerned for you. There aren't gangsters in that boarding house, are there?"
"Gangsters living in a boarding house? That's ridiculous, Mr. Coleman. Gangsters have plenty of money, don't they?"
Nellie snorted, but Chester's expression remained grave.
"You never know. If it's a low-ranking member, even a gangster might live in a boarding house."
"You're imagining too much."
"…Please think it over. My offer will remain open. And I have no intention of charging you any rent."
"No rent at all?"
"Wouldn't that be fair? It's not much different from working without ever clocking out, after all."
"…So you intend to keep calling on me endlessly?"
"That is my plan, yes."
"You really are terrible, Mr. Coleman."
"Just give it some thought, Miss McKay."
"I will. Now let's go."
Nellie handed him a handkerchief as he wiped away sweat.
"Shall we head back now? Can you still walk?"
"Could we rest a little? My legs are a bit…"
"Are you feeling worn out?"
"I can't exactly say I'm not."
"Stretch your legs out a bit."
Nellie sat on the bench and began massaging his calf.
"It's fine, Miss McKay."
"Fine? Your legs are trembling. You must have overdone it today. Later, when my legs hurt, I'll ask you for the same, so just accept it for now."
Nellie bent further down to rub near his ankle. At that moment, something shiny and round rolled out from her front pocket.
"Ah!"
She reached out to grab it, but Chester was faster.
The object rolled behind the bench, and Chester leaned down to pick it up.
"A ring…? Miss McKay, this looks very much like it belongs to me."
"……"
"Why are you carrying my wedding ring?"
"……"
"I distinctly recall telling you not to tamper with my belongings."
Chester spoke as if restraining his anger, his gaze sharp.
"You're right, you did say that."
"Then why?"
Nellie answered calmly.
"That came out of your coat yesterday."
"……"
"When I checked the pockets to wash the coat you wore yesterday, I found it. Since you hadn't worn that coat in years, you must've forgotten what was in the pockets."
"Even so, I don't see why that gave you the right to take my possession. If I hadn't picked it up just now, you wouldn't have said a word about it for months, would you? Or did you plan to sell it off to a jeweler?"
Chester sneered.
"Don't be sarcastic, Mr. Coleman. And don't belittle my profession either. I have never once coveted my employer's belongings."
"You never know. You've likely never seen something this valuable before."
Chester rolled the diamond-set ring in his hand.
Nellie's face hardened. When her anger surged, it was her habit to lower her voice.
"Forgive me, Mr. Coleman, but do you really think I would steal a ring with a single tiny diamond? Not a chance."
"……"
"The woman I cared for, Mrs. Hudson, was immensely wealthy. Her bedroom safe was filled with contracts and jewels, and I even knew the combination. Do you understand what that means? If I had ever wanted such things, I wouldn't even have needed to come all the way to Newdane to find work."
"……"
"So stop insulting me. If you continue, I'll inform Mrs. James that I'm resigning."
With that, Nellie lifted her chin high.
Chester slipped the ring he had been turning in his hand back into his pocket.
"…Very well. Then explain to me why you kept it."
"When I found the ring in your coat pocket… I honestly didn't know what to do. I was certain you'd be furious if I told you I'd touched something so personal."
"And so?"
"So I planned to put it back in the pocket once the coat was washed."
"Then why did you take it with you?"
"Because just then you came out of the bathroom and told me to go home. I couldn't finish the laundry, panicked, and just shoved it into my pocket before leaving. That's all."
Chester said nothing.
"Anyway, I'm sorry, Mr. Coleman, for touching your things without permission. But pressing someone without hearing the full story first, that's a bad habit."
Nellie firmly added.
"But Miss McKay had been under considerable suspicion. This was the second time, too."
"That, as well, was a misunderstanding on your part, Mr. Coleman. Isn't it resolved now?"
Nellie replied with confidence.
"So, are you going to fire me?"
"……"
"Do as you wish. I won't back down anymore. You may not realize this, but I'm actually quite capable and can find a good job elsewhere. But you, Mr. Coleman… that won't be so easy. Mrs. James told me I'm the fourth caregiver you've hired. It will be very difficult for you to find a fifth."
"……"
Though no one had asked, Nellie went on questioning and answering herself.
"And why is that? Because few people can endure your unpredictable, mercurial temper. Except for Nellie McKay, of course. And besides, George likes me so much…. You once said she has unusual tastes, didn't you? You'll have a hard time finding another caregiver George loves as much as she loves me."
"……"
"For your reference, these days George probably prefers me over you, Mr. Coleman."
"And for your reference, Miss McKay, George never particularly liked me to begin with."
"Is that so?"
"To George and me, we're merely housemates who occasionally cross paths."
"Oh my."
"Woof!"
"See? George agrees. Let's head back now, Miss McKay."
Chester lightly held Nellie's arm as he rose from the bench. Looking up at his chin, Nellie asked.
"So, am I still employed, then?"
"I never intended to dismiss you, Miss McKay. I only wanted to know why you had that item. Forgive me for being so touchy."
As Chester took a step, his stride faltered unsteadily.
Nellie held on to his left arm as they walked. Chester wobbled, leaning against her as they went. His legs seemed to give way, leaving him slightly dependent on her.
Since she wasn't being fired, Nellie thought there was no need to stay angry. Everyone has their weaknesses and sensitive spots. For Chester, it seemed to be his private affairs. She decided to think of it that way and accepted his apology.
"In that case, I'm fine too."
Chester gazed at her silently, then limped forward. Nellie held tightly onto his arm.
When they returned home, Chester slipped into the bathroom before she could even offer to wash him.
So tidy, isn't he?
Nellie carefully wiped George's paws and gave her water. George gulped it down greedily.
"George, you must've been so thirsty."
She stroked George's head.
"Mr. Coleman definitely called it a wedding ring, didn't he? Then what happened with his wife? And that Barbara who once sent him a letter, who is she? George, do you know?"
George tilted her head, then returned to slurping her water.
"Mr. Coleman really does seem like a man with many secrets…. But I suppose I shouldn't be prying into all of them, should I?"
A sigh slipped from Nellie's lips. It wasn't the kind of fatigue that should come from a simple walk, yet weariness washed over her.
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