The moment those words left his mouth, Georgette's composure crumbled. "No, no, officer, this is all a misunderstanding! I'm Ms. Henson's housekeeper. I take care of her meals, her home, everything. My daughter's school is on break, so she's staying here for a couple of days. The smart lock malfunctioned, and when the repairman came, the code got reset by accident. Nobody's occupying anything."
She gestured toward the open front door with an ingratiating smile. "See? I came right out to let everyone in, didn't I?"
The officers looked at me, then back at her. "Ms. Henson, do you want to press the matter?"
I was about to answer when Georgette leaned in close, her voice dropping to a desperate whisper.
"Please, Miss Henson. Cora's father died when she was little. I raised her all by myself, and it wasn't easy. She just started college. She's at that age where appearances mean everything, and she's always been starved for affection, so her temper runs a little hot. If she found out her mother was just a housekeeper, it would destroy her."
"I only did this so she could feel a little better about herself."
"I'm begging you. For the sake of twelve years I spent taking care of your parents. Let it go this once."
The mention of my parents softened something in my chest.
Georgette had been with our family for twelve years.
My mother's health had been fragile for as long as I could remember, and Georgette was the one at her side every single day. She brought her tea, adjusted her pillows, anticipated her every need.
The day my mother passed, Georgette wept harder than anyone. She knelt beside the hospital bed, clutching my mother's hand, and swore she would take care of me.
And she had kept that promise. After my mother was gone, Georgette ran the household with quiet efficiency and looked after me as if I were her own daughter. Every holiday, when I handed her a bonus, she would wave it off half a dozen times before finally accepting.
Three months ago, her daughter Cora Fox got accepted to the same university I attended. Georgette was overjoyed and worried in equal measure.
She was proud her daughter had done well for herself, but the cost of college tuition weighed on her. She simply couldn't afford it.
I understood how hard it was to raise a child alone, so I offered to cover her daughter's tuition for all four years.