Melizza Obuga

“By the way,” I say. “When I was at work today, this nurse checked my blood pressure while I was all keyed up over something, and it was apparently really high. She was making such a big deal out of it.” Enzo is usually sympathetic when I tell him stories about my day at work. But this time, he frowns at me. “Why is your blood pressure high?” “I don’t know.” I scrape the mac and cheese into the garbage disposal and stick the plate in the dishwasher. “Hey, let’s get the dishes going.” “But the dishwasher is not full.” “Yes, but Martha is coming tomorrow, so I want to get these dishes washed and put away before she comes.” He scratches his chin. “I do not understand. Why do we have to clean the dishes to get ready for the cleaning person? And before dinner, you were vacuuming.” “I just want to make sure everything is clean for her.” “But she is coming to clean!” He shakes his head. “Maybe this is why your blood pressure is high, yes?” “Whatever,” I mumble. “It wasn’t that high.” “You said ‘really high.”
― Freida McFadden, The Housemaid is Watching