During the past month and a half Trevor had gone on two lengthy business trips. When he was home, Liliana stayed home every moment that she could in a futile effort to shelter me, but Trevor simply took me out of the house to the edge of his property before hurting me.
When Trevor was away Liliana spent much time alone, leaving me to care for Henry. I didn't know what she was doing, and when I asked all she said was that she was working on a way to free both of us, and that for the plan to succeed it was better if I didn't know it in advance. There were times that she even left the house when Trevor was there. She'd beg my forgiveness and tell me that it was necessary for the sake of the plan. In those times Trevor took extra relish in hurting me inside the house, but I didn't complain. Knowing that Liliana was trying her best to help me, as well as watching Henry discover the world for the first time, were all the comfort I needed.
Today, however, something was different. A few days had passed since Marcus left, and since my small attempt to resist Trevor failed so spectacularly. Liliana summoned me to her room in the morning, while the master was out. She was pacing back and forth and fidgeting, but she stopped when I entered.
"Please take Henry to visit father-in-law today during lunch-time", she said.
"Is something the matter? Is there a special reason?" I asked.
"Yes, I need to talk to Trevor alone. I believe I can finally get him to stop", she said.
'Then why do you seem so nervous?' I thought but did not say. Whatever Liliana was going to do must be something that was difficult for her, or something that would have severe consequences, but just like when I suffered constant pain for 3 days in order to give her plan a chance to succeed despite not believing in it, I wasn't going to get in the way now.
"What will you be doing for lunch, then?" I needed to know who would prepare it, serve it, or clean up afterwards.
"I will be cooking it today. You can skip laundry and leave right now if you'd like, and you don't have to come back until it's time to prepare supper", she said while wearing a tremulous smile.
I put together a bag with all the things that I needed to take care of Henry: diapers, towels, clothes, blankets, a few of his favorite toys, and closed wooden bottles with nipple-like openings on the top that contained Liliana's milk. After the bag was ready I dressed him to go out and then changed into my nicer clothes and put on the silver earrings I received from Liliana and the gold armband I received from father. Although for the past several months I never felt in the mood to dress up, I wanted to believe that Liliana would succeed, so I dressed as if preparing to celebrate.
Liliana seemed sad when I took Henry to say goodbye to her. She held him for a long moment, resting her cheek on his head with her eyes closed. Then she resolutely placed him back in my arms.
"I love you. I'll see you later", she said to both of us.
"We love you too, and good luck", I said. I held up Henry's arm and made him wave to his mother. Then I left while carrying him in my arms.
"What are you doing here so early, and with Henry?" mother asked when I entered father's house.
"Liliana wanted Henry to visit his grandfather today", I said.
"And where is she? Did she not come with you?" mother continued her interrogation. I shook my head.
"She said she had something that she needed to discuss alone with her husband". I was loathe to say his name needlessly.
"Well, it's a welcome surprise. Why don't you come in and wait in the sitting room? I'll go tell master that you are here with his grandson", she said.
I nodded and went in to sit on the couch. I put Henry and the bag on the floor. It wasn't the first time I was here with him, but always before I was accompanying Liliana.
I watched Henry crawl around on his stomach, using his legs to push forward as if trying to use his body to sweep the floor. The floor was already clean, of course. Mother didn't allow a day to go by without cleaning the whole house. Henry found the leg of the couch and grabbed it, using it to pull himself forward. Then he lifted himself up with his arms and tasted the upholstery.
I smiled. Not for the first time I wondered what it would be like to be so innocent, so ignorant, not knowing the cruelty and suffering that the world had to deliver. Everything was fresh and new and full of wonder for him.
I heard father and mother coming down the stairs, and a minute later they entered the room. Father gave me a guilty glance, as always, before turning his attention to his grandson.
"Hello! How is my favorite grandson?", he cooed while bending down to pick up Henry. Henry giggled and twisted around to slap his grandfather in the eye.
"Owe!", father exclaimed exaggeratedly. Henry giggled and slapped him again. Father started making strange faces and noises, which had Henry laughing uncontrollably.
Mother watched from the side for few minutes, smiling sadly, then came to sit on the couch next to me and hold my hand. She had no grandchildren yet, and I wondered if father would be so affectionate towards the grandchildren that he will have from her as he was towards his human grandchild. Perhaps she was thinking the same thing.
Father played with Henry for a long while before handing him back to me so that he could go finish some of his work. Mother also left to prepare lunch. Once they were gone Mark, Emma, Beverly, Martin, and Phillip came in to play with the baby. With the five children, some of them already adolescents, playing with Henry, I could lie back on the couch and relax while supervising them. That left my mind free to wonder about what Liliana could possibly be discussing with Trevor, but I could think of nothing that she hadn't already tried.