Todd went to a quiet spot to make the call. He didn't want to be an easy target for eavesdroppers. His mentor would be proud of him when he got the message, well that's if it was important. He hoped it would be because, the "patient" had pretended to be injured. If this wasn't important, why then had he done that? They probably knew each other. But that wasn't Todd's problem. Just wanted to impress his mentor and get his pay, after all, he had done his job. That was all that mattered.
The man he called his mentor, sounded in his forties. Todd had never met him. It was someone who introduced the mentor to Todd, by giving him his phone number. This was good as Todd was really in need of a job to help himself and his little sister. Their parents were living in a remote area, outskirts of the town. So, he hoped to be paid, after all, this wasn't illegal, was it? To tell someone about the strange activities in the hospital seemed fine with Todd. Therefore, he put the call through to his mentor. The man picked up on the fourth ring.
"The sun sets in the West." Todd said. This was their code in order to be sure they were talking to each other, as anyone could pretend to be either of them.
"The sun is the centre of the universe." The man replied. Having used their code, Todd relayed the message.
"That's very good." The mentor was impressed after he had heard everything that had happened. Todd beamed and waited for instructions.
"Now, you have done the first part." The man said.
"First part? Does it mean I have other parts to do?" The man chuckled.
"Yes, but the next part which is the second, is the last thing you would do."
"Oh, okay. What do I have to do?" The man told him and he listened attentively.
"Make sure you're not spotted, okay?"
"Okay."
"And as for your pay, you will have it as soon as you complete this second assignment."
"Okay thank you."
"I will make it up to you." The man said. After the call, Todd went back to his duty.
*********
Jane got home to see her mum, Olivia, dressed up. This was surprising as her mum was always dressed in her nurse uniform, too busy for her. Her job is too important to her, Jane thought. So why was she dressed as if she were going out? Olivia gave her everything she had ever asked for but the motherly care, she craved for, wasn't there. Jane really envied her friend Lily, who had all the motherly care she ever wished for. Maybe her mum had a date as she was a single mother. Well… whatever her mum was up to, she would find out, definitely. Olivia got up to hug her hen she got into the house.
"Baby, where have you been?"
"You know mum, mum I can't always be alone in this big house. So, I went shopping with Lily for my birthday."
Some emotion flashed on her mother's face but, before Jane could discern what it was, disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
"I'm sorry love, was busy with work. But baby, I sent you $1,000 for the shopping. You got it, right?"
Jane sighed deeply. This was the issue. Money wasn't her problem, if only her mum could always be there for her, she wouldn't feel so lonely.
"I got it mum. Thank you." Olivia smiled and soothed her hair.
"So, how was the shopping?"
"It went very well." Jane didn't see the need to tell her about Lily's incident.
"Baby, are you free?"
"Mum, free for ...?"
"We are going out baby, to have some girl-quality-time."
"Oh really mum?" Jane couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her mum was strange.
"Sure baby." Jane was glad, her mum actually wanted to spend some time with her, no work to come in between them this time.
"Wow mum, give me thirty minutes to dress up … please?" Asked Jane, blinking like a puppy, a cute one.
"Awwwnn my cutie." Her mum said, nodding. She pecked her mum's cheek and ran off to prepare, as her mum's laughter followed.
Jane whistled some music tune, as she took her shower. What she had longed for, was now in front of her for the taking, she felt so good. What had made her mum think about that? My mum is really cute, she thought smiling. Jane couldn't wait to be with her for their date. She knew Olivia really loved her and she was impressed at the zeal.
When she was done showering, she got dressed and sprayed her favourite deodorant, and applied her anti per spirant. Her hair was combed and styled. Having done that, She went back to the sitting room to meet her mum. Olivia was waiting for her and smiled brightly when she saw her daughter.
"You're all dressed up baby, looking so nice."
"Thank you mummy." Jane blushed at her mum's appraisal.
"Shall we move?"
"Sure mum."
They left the house and Olivia drove them away.
**********
Jane and Olivia sat down eating. They were in "Loreen" restaurant. Their seats overlooked the beach and it was so fun for Jane. She had always envisioned this moment, and here she was, to make good use of it. Her mum looked in her late twenties, when she was actually forty-five. People often mistook them as sisters.
"How's school baby?"
"School is very okay mum."
"Apart from Lily, have you other friends?"
"No… mum, one good friend is enough for me."
"True baby." Olivia said, nodding.
"So how's work mum?"
"Work is there, stressful as always," Olivia said, looking at Jane beseechingly. "But that is not enough excuse to leave my only child. Jane please forgive your mother."
Jane rolled her eyes, her mum was so dramatic, the only thing that mattered was that they were together at that very time.
"Mum, it's alright. I'm so glad we're here. But then … why did you decide to sit out mum?"
"Lets say … I realised it was wrong of me to place work before you. You're all I have."
"Awwwnn mum. I'm getting emotional." Jane said, tearing.
"Me too, but I mean it. You will always be first… I promise."
Jane nodded as they stared at each other. And went back to eating. Out of the blues, Olivia asked:
"Any love interest?"
"None mum."
Olivia was baffled. "And if I may ask, why?"
Jane sipped her drink. "I haven't seen the right person for me mum. My last relationship was toxic. So, I just wish to be single for now."
"Oh baby." Olivia knew about the toxic relationship, she had been the one who ensured that Jane didn't go into depression.
"But it's all in the past mum. I have you, Lily and Eucharia. A good partner will always come."
"That's right baby, a cool guy will always be there," Olivia decided to change the discussion. "How have your exams been?"
"Its been good. Just that I have to read more than I had ever done before, being my final exams."
"I'm glad to hear that."
As they discussed, Olivia's phone rang. Jane watched her mother glance at the caller ID and from her mum's expression, she already knew. It was work again! To Jane's delight, Olivia ignored the call and continued talking. Jane decided to tell her mum that it was okay if she went for work. But inwardly, hoped her mother would refuse.
"Mum, you can answer the phone, I will understand." The calls kept coming and her mum completely ignored them.
"No baby, I told you it's a girl-quality-time, so nothing is changing that. It wouldn't hurt to have mother and daughter moment. Now would it?"
"No mum. Thank you."
"No issues my love." For emphasis, Olivia turned off her phone and smiled at her daughter.
"Better now?"
"Absolutely better."
And there were no further interruptions.