Carole
by
Karen Anne Summerfield
Part III ~ Julia's Maid
Copyright © September 2004
"You may ride in front with me, Carole." The maid had reached for the passenger door after her mistress unlocked her car and thought Julia's instruction was rather odd.
"Where else would I ride?" she asked as she fastened the seatbelt.
"In more formal households and, especially in the old days, the maid would ride in back if her mistress was driving," Julia explained.
"In the 'old days', you'd have a chauffeur, Miss, and I'd ride together with you." Julia sensed that Carole wasn't really arguing and continued in the same light manner.
"No, you'd then ride in front with my driver, girl."
"Nay, I bay a roight propa loidy's maid, mum – I bay h'accompanin' me mistress," Carole grinned.
"If you talked with an accent as bad as that, you'd be lucky to be selling flowers in Covent Garden, gel. You'd not even be able to get a job as a shop girl, much less as a maid," Julia giggled. She was very pleased that her maid was relaxed and able to joke.
"I've been thinking about a lot of things since you started your job, Carole. I'm not entirely pleased with everything," Julia said.
"What am I doing wrong? You've not told me, Miss."
"Not you, me. Several times I've caught myself ordering you about, much as I imagine a drill sergeant would with a raw recruit. I'm rather new at having a maid, so give me a little time to get accustomed to it."
"OK I'd really not noticed, Miss." Carole chuckled.
"Keeping servants can be such a bother, at times," the maid quipped.
"Too roight, babe!" They both laughed.
Being Saturday morning, the traffic wasn't heavy and Julia only slowed to transit the Lincoln Tunnel. She parked in a lot between 9th and 10th. They walked to the Port Authority Terminal then went down to the subway.
"We'll be shopping for clothes today, mostly for you, Carole." She'd turned from the booth and handed her some tokens. "I looked through your closet and think that there's a lot of things you'll need before the weather turns cold.
"Don't be shy and tell me the things you like." At Penn Station they got off then walked to Macy's®.
"Since you don't have one, let's start with a jacket."
Her shopping experiences buying female clothes had been limited to the few times she'd gone out that summer with Karen. The senior maid hadn't gone into the Macy's® in Hamilton Mall, but aimed for bargains in KMart®, Target®, Value City®, Burlington Coat Factory® and Big Lots®. Karen had a knack for finding nice things at low prices.
Carole experienced a bit of sticker shock as she looked through the racks of jackets; none were what she'd consider cheap.
"What's the matter," Julia questioned, "isn't there anything you like?"
"They're all so expensive, Miss."
"Nonsense," her mistress dismissed her maid's concern. "Accompanying me as my maid, I can't have you dressed shabbily; that would reflect poorly on me, don't you think?" Julia had asked in a joking manner, but was one hundred percent serious in her conviction.
"Let me be concerned with the price tags and only worry about style and sizes. Better, stop worrying all together.
"Try this on," Julia extended a light weight wool, hip-length one. It was black and lined with white satin.
Carole tried on a dozen different styles, but none satisfied both of them completely.
"We don't have to buy one here. I know several other shops where we can look."
Walking towards 5th Avenue along 34th Street, they window shopped. Displayed in one store was a long skirt that caught Carole's eye. "I like that, Miss. What do you think?" Five minuets later, Carole modeled the off white and gray plaid wool skirt, still wearing her knit dress under it.
"Try this on." Julia helped her put on the soft, bulky knit sweater. Its color matched the white background of the skirt.
"Needs a belt. Come over here." A wide, black leather one set off the outfit and emphasized the maid's corseted waist. Julia refolded its long turtleneck, high up under her maid's ears to frame Carole's face and adjusted the knit to blouse over the belt somewhat.
"That looks very nice on you, Carole. What do you think?"
She'd removed her dress from under the sweater and skirt in the changing booth while Julia purchased them, and then wore them out carrying her dress in a bag.
"Miss, may I have a pair of boots, please?" They were looking at the window display in the third shoe store they'd come upon.
"Which ones do like?" Julia asked.
"Those knee boots," Carole pointed to a pair of smooth black leather ones with semi-rounded toes and four-inch blade heels.
"Good choice – they'll go very nicely with what you're wearing."
Though it had been a few years since she'd been in the city with her father, Carole knew of a great little delicatessen nearby where she suggested they go for lunch. Being of Germanic heritage, she'd been raised knowing just how good, a good Jewish deli could be.
"I'd like the nova lox on an onion bagel with cream cheese, please?" she requested when Julia asked.
"I've not had that since college." Julia grinned and ordered one for each of them.
"Mmm… You are going to have to find somewhere near home where you can buy lox this good, Carole, or you're going to find yourself taking the bus to the city on a regular basis," she pronounced after her first bite. "This is really good."
The pair shopped their way up 5th then went into the fancy boutiques in the 50's. "I really like this cape, Miss." Carole modeled the fingertip-length garment."
"It does look very nice on you," the salesgirl encouraged enthusiastically. She was counting on her commission before she'd sold the five hundred fifty dollar wool item. Holly found the matching charcoal gray beret and placed it on Carole's chestnut bob.
"Five hundred for both," Julia offered.
"I'll lose money." Holly protested then counter offered, "Five fifty for the cape and the hat." It was growing late and Julia wasn't really in the mood for bargaining that much.
"Five twenty five."
"I can't accept less than five fifty, Ms."
"Take them off, Carole. Well find another shop that wants to make a sale." Reluctantly, her maid started to unfasten the hidden buttons.
Holly decided that Julia was serious and accepted her offer. Twenty-six dollars, instead of twenty-seven fifty, was far better toward paying her rent than nothing.
As her maid was laden with shopping bags, Julia elected to take a taxi back to where she'd parked that morning.
"Thank you very much for buying all of these nice things for me, Miss," Carole curtseyed when they'd set the bags on the maid's bed at the house.
"We're both tired, call out for pizza, Carole.
"Yes, Miss."
*****
"This afternoon there will be a meeting at the hospital for all of us having privileges there," Julia stated as she ate breakfast Wednesday morning. "I'll probably go out for a drink or two afterwards, so don't wait up if I'm late."
"Don't forget that you have a tonsillectomy scheduled early in the morning, Miss," Carole reminded.
"Thank you, Carole."
Among the clothing that Julia had brought on Saturday was a slender, black denim, knee length skirt, which the maid chose to wear over a pair of black tights with her new boots and a soft yellow, ruffle-trimmed blouse. Her chores completed, Carole drove to the beauty parlor.
"Good morning," she greeted. "Carole West…"
"Yes Miss West, follow me please?" Cathy escorted her to a room towards the rear of the salon and introduced her.
"Carole, this is Vicky, she'll attend to you this morning."
"Hello, Carole," Vicky, a thirty-eight year old technician, greeted. "Please have a seat."
Once the maid was settled, Vicky lightly rubbed her hands over her chin and lip against the grain. Her face formed a frown. "You've not given me much to work with, Carole.
"Do you shave only once a day?"
Carole was a bit embarrassed that her secret wasn't a secret to the technician. "Yes, only in the morning."
"What's your natural hair color?" Vicky asked. She removed the light coat of foundation from the maid's upper lip.
"I was a light blonde."
"I might have guessed that. I don't normally start on the lip, but that's all I have to work with this morning. I can't zap what I can't see and I'll mostly be shooting blind this morning.
"For you next appointment, please don't shave here." Vicky traced the sideburn area on the right side. I think I'll need at least a full day's growth. You're hair is just long enough to cover there."
The technician adjusted the arm holding a large magnifying lens and turned on its light. "Don't talk while I work. I'll need your lip still."
An hour later, Vicky applied a soothing cream and helped her client to stand.
"No one told me it hurt this much." She lightly rubbed under her nose.
"Did anyone ever tell you it didn't?" Vicky grinned.
"No," was Carole's truthful answer. "I never asked."
"My next client isn't until twelve. Join me for a cup of coffee next door."
"Sure thanks." Julia had given her maid the money and once she'd paid, Carole went with Vicky to the coffee shop a few doors away.
The technician went straight to the point once they'd been served. "You're the youngest client I've ever had, Carole, and one of the prettiest too. Most of the … girls, couldn't pass a utility pole without raising one of their legs," she smiled.
"That's not nice," Carole admonished.
"You're right. I apologize. I've heard all of their stories and only understand a few of my clients, those who come close to passing.
"Want to tell me yours?"
Carole thought a moment before she replied, "I suppose you've heard it all before…"
"Honey, I've heard a lot - some I believe and others are outright liars."
"I was born this way, Vicky," Carole hesitantly began.
Her new friend breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm happy you didn't try to make me believe that someone like your mother, an aunt or your girlfriend forced it on you.
"No, nothing like that… Unknowingly though, my father did force my current situation actually, he rushed me into it much sooner and more quickly than I would have wanted."
"How's that, Carole?"
"Last spring, I accompanied my parents to a party at the home of friends of theirs. I really hadn't wanted to go, but my father insisted that it was all part of gaining the social skills I'd be needing to succeed in business." Carole chuckled, "I can laugh about it now…"
"Anyway, their friends have a maid. She's absolutely incredible. I couldn't keep my eyes off her all afternoon. She mesmerized me. She is one of the most attractive persons I've ever met." Vicky listened carefully to what she was being told.
"Finally, I just had to get close to her… I so much wanted to be in her place."
"Yes, I can understand that. Go on," she encouraged.
"Well, Karen read me, even though I wasn't dressed."
"Karen? This maid is named Karen?" Vicky was definitely very interested. She kept silent about knowing of her.
"Yes…
"Karen guessed what I am. Together with the help of her employers and her master's sister, they concocted a story that allowed me to spend my spring break at the house, playing junior maid.
"It was great – the best week I'd ever had and it helped to convince me to be a girl, full time, after I graduated college."
"When did you graduate?" Vicky asked.
"I didn't. I was forced to leave the university after my junior year."
"Forced? What do you mean by that?"
"I'll get there… As I just said, I was allowed to play at being the junior maid, doing everything with Karen for a week. I was in heaven. The following weekend, I had to change back to the other me before returning to school. I took my finals then moved everything back home for the summer before the start of my senior year.
I just parked all of my bags and stuff in my room then went to visit my friend, Jerry. We just talked about things and brought each other up to date. I returned home about four in the afternoon.
"My father usually didn't get home until nearly six, but his car was in the driveway. I didn't think of why he was home earlier.
"Before I went inside, I heard my father yelling, he was blaming mom for something, but I didn't know what. I found out as soon as I'd gone inside."
Carole paused. She gave no thought of telling Vicky, a near stranger, the story.
"What was wrong, Carole?" Vicky coaxed softly.
"Mom was happy I was home, at least she had been. Being my mom, she took it upon herself to unpack my luggage, do the dirty laundry and put all my stuff away. You might guess that she found all the nice things Karen and her employers had bought for me when I'd spent the week with them over spring break.
"I suppose if I'd been there, I could have explained what she'd found." Carole shrugged, "No… probably not.
"How does a twenty year old explain to his mother three maid's uniforms, one of them a black satin French one, a corset, breast forms, high heels and a big bunch of stockings and panties in one of her bags? If you figure that out then tell me how I could explain it to my bigoted WASP of a father?"
"I don't think I could begin to, Carole."
"Well my father literally rubbed my panties in my face and demanded an explanation. He has a very mean temper, but I'd never seen him so angry before and some of it was directed a mom for raising 'a f'in' cock-suckin' perverted queer'.
"Nothing I was going to say could have ever changed his mind about what he'd concluded I was, even though he was totally wrong. I'm sure you've heard that Krauts can be pretty damn stubborn. He was more of a stubborn ox than a logical Kraut that afternoon.
"In his rage, he started to destroy all my male clothes. At first he used brute strength to tear them into rags, but good German logic finally kicked in. He lit a fire in the fireplace and burned everything, until all that was left was what I was wearing. I should have run out long before then, but hadn't thought to, I was just too upset, I guess.
"My father is a half foot taller than I am and outweighs me by at least one hundred pounds. There is no way that I'm so stupid as to challenge him to a physical altercation. He threatened to beat me to a pulp if I didn't get undressed and he just went positively ballistic seeing the lace trimmed panties and camisole I was wearing under my sport shirt and jeans.
"I was ordered to get my perverted self out of his sight and his life forever. Thinking about all of it, I still don't understand what logic he used to not destroy my girl clothes and other things either, but they were all I'd left to cover myself with. I put on a pink working uniform. At least it was better than just the undies I was wearing.
"I never got to say good-bye to mom, she was crying hysterically and had locked herself in the bedroom. The phone number has since been changed to an unlisted one."
"Listening to my father scream at me the entire time, I gathered my computer and everything, packed my car and left in tears."
"Where did you go?" Vicky asked.
"Nowhere right then. I slept in my car that night. When the bank opened first thing in the morning, I withdrew all my money and closed my account.
"Were you still wearing the uniform?" Vicky asked.
"Yeah, but I did clean up and put on some makeup. They didn't seem to take notice." Carole shrugged, "I never gave any thought to why the women at the bank hadn't.
"My best shot was to call Karen, and ask if I could come there. I really had nowhere else to go, Vicky."
"So you did?"
"Yes, but with conditions," Carole giggled for the first time since she started to retell her story. "I was accepted as a junior maid.
"In exchange for my room, board, uniforms and training, I worked without pay this past summer learning how to be a good maid."
"Is that what you are now, a maid?" Vicky questioned. She glanced at her wristwatch.
"I need to get back. Good talking with you. We can talk more when I see you next Wednesday. Same time, Carole?" Vicky dropped a few bills on the table to pay for her coffees and the tea Carole had drank then left hurriedly.
The maid took the opportunity to use the ladies room then dove back to Julia's. She felt emotionally drained after telling her story.
After changing into one of her day uniforms, Carole started to wash the windows. She wanted them all cleaned, inside and out, before cold weather prevented her from doing the full job. She was pleased that her self-assigned task was much easier because of the tilt-in windows on the second floor
*****
"Johnson residence. This is Karen, the maid. How may I serve you, please?" Karen answered the phone at ten o'clock.
"Hello, Karen. This is Ethel Westerberg."
"Good morning, Mrs. Westerberg." Karen had not spoken with Carole's mother since the party in April. "Mr. Johnson is at work and I believe Mrs. Johnson is out shopping," Karen informed.
"Karen, I called to talk with you." The maid became instantly on guard.
"Do you know where my son, Roger, is?" Ethel had gone straight to the reason for her unexpected telephone call. It wasn't in Karen's nature to tell an outright lie.
"Yes, ma'am, I do."
"Oh, thank God! I've been worried sick since that incident at the beginning of the summer. You do know about what happened, don't you?"
"If you are referring to what transpired when your … son returned from the university, yes, ma'am, I do." Karen exercised caution with how she responded.
"I've left my husband. What he did then and after…"
Mrs. Westerberg changed the subject. "How is Roger?" she asked. "Is he alright?"
"Yes, ma'am … just fine."
"Is he living there with your employers?"
"No, ma'am."
"Karen, stop giving me 'yes' and 'no' answers! I want to know about my son! I love him and want to be with him!" Ethel was rapidly becoming frustrated and her voice evinced it.
"Ma'am, I'm a maid. It is inappropriate for me to discuss the personal affairs of others," Karen tried to politely back away from the conversation.
"Cut the crap with me, girl! Tell me what the Hell is going on! I'm his mother and I love him. I've heard nothing in four months."
The maid sighed deeply. "I understand, ma'am."
"I wish to God that I did. When I found all … all the other clothing, I just didn't understand, I didn't know what to do, I called my husband, but now know that was the biggest mistake I could make in this.
"Do you understand why my son would have a suitcase full of lady's underwear, maid's uniforms and high-heel shoes?"
"Yes, ma'am, I do... Your son is transgendered."
"Is that another way of telling me he's homosexual? That I can understand."
"To my knowledge, your son has no interest of engaging in sex with a male. I do not believe he is homosexual."
"What then? Why did he have girls clothing like that?"
"Mrs. Westerberg, inside, where it really counts, your son is a woman – he is not a man and never was, regardless of his anatomy indicating to the contrary."
"I love him… Should I start saying her? Should I start thinking I've a daughter and not a son, Karen?"
"That would be most appropriate, ma'am."
"I want, no, I demand to see her! It is my right as her mother!"
"With all due respect ma'am, Carole in an adult and that decision is hers alone to make." Karen heard Mrs. Westerberg exhale loudly.
"Alright…" There was a pause as Carole's mother tried to calm down. "You are in communication with … Carole?"
"Yes, ma'am, I am."
"Please tell her I called and that I love her dearly. Let me give you my phone number…"
Later, Karen related the conversation to Mrs. Johnson.
"Hank and I are planning to visit Julia over Columbus Day weekend. Plan to come with us. I know you chat with your friend on the computer regularly, Karen, but I think it might be best if you come with us, so you can discuss this with Carole, face to face, and say nothing of it until then, please?
'We'll be driving up Saturday morning and don't plan to return until late Monday."
"Yes, ma'am."
*****
It was Saturday morning before her mistress noticed. "When did you wash the windows?" Julia asked.
"I started Wednesday afternoon, Miss, and finished them yesterday.
"Next week, I plan to thoroughly clean the entire house, one room at a time, after my morning chores, unless you wish to establish other priorities for me, Miss."
"No, but right now, I want you to start planning for something else. Hank and Judy will be arriving next Saturday around noon. He has Columbus Day off and they'll be staying until Monday. You'll need to plan the meals and go shopping for them, Carole."
"Yes, Miss. Will Karen be coming too? I look forward to seeing her."
"You miss her, don't you? Yes, they are bringing their maid."
Carole grinned, "I'm looking forward to all of your guests, Miss."
"I imagine you are. However, be assured that Karen will be here in a guest status, not as a visiting maid. I made that quite clear to my brother." Her maid giggled.
"Perhaps you should have made that clear to their maid, Miss."
"What does that mean?" Julia demanded. She wasn't angry, but curious.
What Carole had just been told about the visitors was no surprise. Just as Karen had Internet and email access, Julia provided a broadband connection for her maid too. The two maids had become close friends during the summer and chatted on ICQ when their schedules permitted. They both tried to do so in the afternoons when they were off duty or before going to bed, even if it was only for a few minutes.
"Karen will be uniformed and helping me that weekend, Miss."
"I should be angry," Julia grinned, "but I can't. You two enjoy, but I expect only the best of behavior from you and excellent service."
"Certainly, Miss." Carole dipped a curtsey.
*****
After Carole had done the grocery shopping for the weekend and put everything away, she went to her quarters and changed into a formal, black evening uniform and her highest heels. Julia supervised her maid's makeup, she wanted Carole to not be out shown by her sister-n-law's maid, but the contest wouldn't be even close. Carole was still very attractive regardless.
The guests arrived at eleven forty-five and Carole met the Johnson's with a deep curtsey.
"Good morning, Carole," Judy greeted her first with a smile.
"Good morning to you, ma'am." She bid to the others in kind.
"There's more luggage in the car; Karen will attend to it," Hank stated. Carole escorted the guests to the living room where Julia rose to embrace her brother then her sister-in-law.
"Your house is lovely, Julia," Judy complimented.
"Thank you. Would you like to freshen up then I can give you the grand tour?
"Powder room is off the foyer and a bathroom is at the top of the stairs to the right.
"Carole, help Karen with the luggage and show her where to put things, please?" Her maid acknowledged with a curtsey and went to carry the bags upstairs.
"Hi, I missed you, Karen."
"Missed you too. How's everything going, Carole?"
"Very well.
"Maid's quarters is to the left. You'll be rooming with me. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson will be using the guest room on the right, just past the bathroom."
"Those two bags are mine," Karen referred the ones Carole carried. She went to the guest room to deposit the other luggage. "It will take me a few minutes to unpack." Carole placed Karen's bags then went to assist.
Mid-afternoon, after they'd served lunch and finished their kitchen chores, that the two maids were given a break. "No tobacco is permitted in the house, Karen. If you want to smoke, you must go outside."
"I do, but I want to get my cape. It's too cold without it." They went to the maid's quarters where they both donned their capes then went out on the rear deck. Karen's was reversible with heavy black satin on one side and bright red latex on the reverse.
"I took a phone call from your mother last week, Carole," Karen began
"My mother!" Carole exclaimed. "Why did my mother call you?"
"Because she loves you and was very concerned."
"You didn't tell her where I am, did you?" Carole had become instantly upset.
"No, I didn't. But I also didn't tell any lies either.
"Carole, she is very concerned and would really you to resume your relationship."
"I'm not going back to my parents … ever!" The young maid proclaimed. "Not after that last scene with my father!"
"Calm down," Karen urged. Carole's loud protest had drawn the attention of her mistress.
"What's going on?" Julia asked.
"I'm not going back to my parents," Carole repeated.
"Carole's mother called and spoke with me last week, Miss Johnson." Karen went on to relate the nature and substance of the phone conversation.
"I think you should call your mother and at least let her know you are OK, Carole," Julia stated her belief.
"Right! And just what is she going to think when I tell her that my name is now Carole West and I'm working as a maid, Miss."
"She already knows your name is Carole and that you're working as a girl," Karen offered. "I didn't say what sort of job you have, but remember, she did see your uniforms."
The young maid's resolve was weakening. "Can we drop it for now, please? Give me a chance to think it through."
"Certainly," Karen quickly answered then changed to subject.
"You've a very nice home, Miss Johnson."
"Thank you Karen," Julia returned. "And a very good maid to care for it. You did a splendid job training her.
The girls prepared dinner and served. After eating their own supper and they had the kitchen spotless. Julia, with Judy's permission, dismissed them for the evening.
"Please remember what I told you and don't disobey me, Carole," Julia cautioned.
"Good night, girls."
"Good night, everyone," Karen curtseyed and the junior maid repeated it.
"What was that last bit about, Carole?" Karen questioned.
"Miss Julia told me that she expects me to be on my best behavior while you're here. Translate that to mean, no intimacies, not even a kiss."
Karen's face contorted to display dissatisfaction and she muttered, "Spoil sport.
"OK. There's only your bed, where am I supposed to sleep if we can't share?" It was logical question.
"You get my bed. The chair unfolds to form a bed. I'll sleep there," Carole explained. Karen stared at the chair then nodded her acceptance of the offer.
"What time are we expected to be on duty in the morning?"
"Seven o'clock, Karen."
"It's almost eight thirty. I'm going outside for a smoke. Get your cape and join me."
"Have you got a cell phone?" Carole asked. "I guess I should call my mother, but I don't want caller ID to let her know where I am just yet."
Karen went to the corner where she'd placed her purse, crouched and retrieved the phone. "Wait until we're outside."
When Carole started to press the keys to place the call, Karen politely moved away.
"Stay, please? I don't mind if you overhear," Carole wanted her friend close.
"Hello?"
"Hi, mom," Carole's pulse had risen markedly. "…It's Carole."
"Carole? Carole who?"
"Carole West, mom… That's my name now."
"Er… Oh yes!" Anguish was clearly evident in Ethel Westerberg's voice as she spoke, "I've been very worried … since you left … Carole.
"I wish you hadn't..."
"Mom, it isn't like I'd a choice then…"
"No ... no of course you didn't. I've just been so worried, not knowing anything."
"Mom, I'm OK. I'm fine."
"Where are you?" her mother asked.
"I'm home. I've a nice job now and everything is fine."
"I'm so relieved. I was worried sick … not knowing. Why didn't you call?"
"I couldn't … that's not true. I didn't want to. Mom, my entire life was turned upside down and inside out the night dad through a fit and kicked me out.
"Besides, the phone number at the house was changed to an unlisted one."
"You could have written," Carole's mother argued.
"Mom, that afternoon was just the climax of twenty years of bad memories…"
"I've left your father and filed for divorce. Our marriage hasn't been very healthy for many years."
Carole cut her off, "I know, it wasn't much fun for me either.
"Mom, I must go. I'll be in touch."
"Carole, please…"
"I love you, Mom.
"Good night." Carole pushed the 'Off' button; she didn't want to hear any more.
"Thanks. May I have cigarette, please?" she asked as she handed the phone back. Julia came outside as the flame illuminated the streaks of mascara trickling down her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?" her mistress asked. Karen signaled for the mistress to be quiet.
Carole inhaled deeply and coughed once.
"What's going on, Karen?"
"Carole just telephoned her mother, Miss Johnson." Julia observed the situation for a moment then took away the cigarette when her maid coughed again on the unfamiliar smoke. She flicked over the railing.
"You don't need that. I know what you need right now." Julia pressed the two maids together; facing each other.
"Comfort her, Karen. You know what she needs." Julia went back inside.
*****
The two maids slept in each other's arms in Carole's bed, but were no more intimate than snuggling comfortably.
Of course, Carole soon had discovered the senior maid's steel panties. Other than carefully examining it, she asked no questions then. Karen didn't volunteer to explain it either.
They were teasing and giggling when Judy entered the maid's quarters unannounced on Sunday morning.
"What going on?" she kept her voice soft, but tried to sound stern. Judy made no attempt to restrain her smile. Her sister-in-law had informed Judy and her brother of what had transpired.
"I apologize…"
"Just shut up, Karen!" The maids were only wearing their corsets, stockings, heels and panties – Carole's a satin thong and Karen's stainless steel. They'd just finished lacing each other in and tied the knots.
"Finish dressing each other."
When they'd completed their makeup, fixed their hair and pinned on their headpieces, Judy ordered them to the kitchen.
"Make coffee, Carole," she ordered.
"Be seated, Karen." They both sat at the kitchen table. Carole served and was permitted to make tea then join them.
"Let me hear a plan for Carole reuniting with her mother, girls."
"I don't…"
"I don't want to hear that, Carole. She's your mother. Was it her fault that your father kicked you out?"
"No … but…" the young maid began.
"OK It wasn't her fault, period! Now, she cares about you, enough to search you out. She loves you no matter what. It's something that mothers do with their off spring.
"She is making the effort and I'll not permit you to deny her love.
"Here's what I think we should…"
*****
"I'm worried, Miss," Carole was extremely nervous, in addition to being concerned about what might possibly happen. It was cold and starting to snow by the time Julia had parked at her brother's house late on Thanksgiving morning.
"Tend to the luggage" Julia ordered after opening the trunk, locking her car and walking away towards the front entrance.
Karen greeted Julia and Judy opened the kitchen door to admit the maid. The aroma of roasting turkey filled the kitchen at the Johnson's.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Carole."
"Happy Thanksgiving, Ma'am," she returned with a curtsey.
"Your mistress has the green guestroom. You may use the same room you first occupied here, Carole," Judy instructed.
"Thank you, ma'am. I'll not be long." Carole hurried upstairs.
She unpacked and set up the guest room for Julia then went to her room and was doing the same when her friend knocked softly and entered. Karen wore the same taffeta uniform that Carole had first seen her in.
"Hi," she greeted. "Finish that, we haven't much time." Karen moved to the closet and started to set out a uniform identical to hers with the same accessories.
"I'm really nervous, Karen," Carole admitted.
"I'll bet. I'll be there along with your mistress, my master and mine.
"Pucker." Karen applied the last of the makeup to Carole's lips to duplicate her own. "You're ready."
"I doubt I'll ever be ready for this."
The maids had been downstairs twenty minutes, tending to dinner and assuring that everything was ready. The dining room table was set for twelve. The door chimes signaled the arrival of guests and Karen ordered her assistant to admit them.
To minimize the possibility of an unpleasant confrontation when Ethel united with her daughter, Judy had invited four other couples, all close friends of theirs, to Thanksgiving dinner. They were all liberal minded. While not knowing Karen's full story, they'd all attended parties when the maid was fully presented and had no problems with accepting her in her revealing uniforms.
"Tend the door, Carole," Karen ordered when the chimes announced the next arrivals.
Intentionally, Judy had instructed Ethel to arrive two hours after the others. She wanted her house full before Carole greeted her mother at the front door.
"Happy Thanksgiving, ma'am. Please come in?" Carole invited her mother with a curtsey.
"I don't think we've met. I'm Ethel Westerberg. Where's Karen?"
"Let me help you with your coat, mom." Carole forced a nervous smile
"Oh my God!" Mrs. Westerberg exclaimed.
They didn't hesitate to embrace. "I love you, mom. Thanks for coming."
"I love you too," Ethel hugged tightly. "You don't know how much I've worried about you."
"I'm fine, mom."
They broke their embrace and Carole assisted with her mother's coat then hung it. When the maid turned from the closet, her mother had already gone to join the others.
"How'd it go?" Karen asked in the kitchen.
"So far, so good," Carole forced a smile. She still worried about the encounter with her mother.
With so many guests and the large dinner to attend to, both maids were quite busy until everyone was seated and served. They positioned themselves on opposite sides on the dining room and stood to serve anyone's needs as those arose during the meal.
Judy and Julia had planned with Karen that Carole's mother was seated in the middle of the table so that her new daughter stood directly opposite unless serving. Carole was afforded no choice, but to accept this and endure.
Mrs. Johnson had also carefully planned that her other guests were ones that Ethel was friendliest with.
Carole was serving seconds to one of the men when a woman asked, "How is your divorce proceeding, Ethel?"
"Martha, Thanksgiving is not the time to bring that up," Hank stepped in to block the question. "This is a day of happiness and thanks."
"What is your son up to? I heard there was some sort of … incident and he left college?" a man questioned.
"Everything seems to be going quite well. Thank you for asking, James. I think my child is doing exactly the things needed to achieve a successful career and seems to be quite happy with the situation." Ethel met Carole's eyes briefly as she answered. Her daughter acknowledged with a very slight dip.
"Have you spoken and been together since Roger threw him out, Ethel?"
"Charles, this in not the place…" Hank's temper was growing short and his statement clearly showed that.
Ethel lingered until all of the other guests had departed. "Judy, may I have a few moments alone with my daughter, please?"
"It grows late. Hank and I are going to bed. We'd a wonderful day. Thank you for coming, Ethel."
"Thank you for inviting me."
"Good night, Mrs. Westerberg." Carole's hand lashed out to grab Karen's wrist.
"Please stay, Karen?"
Carole's mother sensed her daughter's anxiety and invited the other maid to stay also.
"I'm going to have a drink. Would you like something, Mrs. Westerberg?"
"No thank you, Karen."
The maid quickly returned and served a snifter of port to Carole and set her Scotch on the end table then sat next to her friend.
"You know I never expected any of this to happen, Carole."
"I regret that I caused you any upset, mom. It is something I must do for me. Please try to understand..."
"I am trying, believe me, that isn't easy.
"I've been watching you all day…"
"Really, mom. I'd not noticed," Carole giggled.
Never mind," Ethel smiled. "You seem quite at home here. Not only do you and Karen work together like a precision drill team, but my host and hostess treat you as one of their staff, just like Karen?"
"I spent the summer here, mom. Karen trained me, but I'm not on the staff here."
"What sort of work do you do? Where do you live?"
Seeing her friend beginning to fidget and become more anxious after not responding immediately, Karen answered, "Carole is Miss Julia's maid, Mrs. Westerberg."
Ethel smiled at her daughter. "Congratulations. You've a very nice mistress, Carole.
"Do you plan to make being a maid a career?"
"Yes, mom, I do," Carole fluffed her petticoats and smiled her answer.
The End of Part III
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