Two years later. It was noon of the spring. In the Guryon manor Leonardo was running rampant in the staircase towards the hall wearing only the long shorts, while Jennifer was trying her best to catch him so that he could wear his shirt. She was panting really hard, "Huff! Huff! Huff! —Leonardo! Sweety, I am tired, so why don't you listen to your grandma and wear this shirt. Okay?", poor granny requested from afar.
Leonardo turned and looked at Jennifer attentively after reaching the end of the staircase. He shook his head, "Uh-huh! you need catch me first grandma!" and ran away towards the hall like a tiger's cub.
Seeing a mischievous smile on his grandson's face Jennifer cried out in annoyance, "Come back here right this instant Leonardo!" but Leonardo didn't seem to listen and went in the kitchen. Jennifer shrugged her shoulders in helplessness. She went down the staircase while holding on to the shirt and laid down on couch in the hall to catch her breath. She rubbed her forehead and grumbled, "Oh, God! I am too old for this!"
"My lady!", a maid called Jennifer from her aside, she seemed a bit older than her. Jennifer was quite friendly with her and often chats with her when she had time. "Oh, Rebecca it's finally time!", Jennifer realized that Rebecca had been standing there for a moment while holding on to the table trolley which contained delicious pastries, tarts, pies and tea cups.
Rebecca was expert in bakery products. She was serving in the Guryon family for a long time. Since, Jennifer was not a diabetic patient, she could enjoy a lot of handmade fresh bakery products at home.
Jennifer sat on the couch and smiled gleefully, "Perfect timing Rebecca! I really need a boost up in my system right now. I've been chasing my grand-son like a crazy person."
Rebecca chuckled, "Looks like our lady is accepting the fact that she is getting old."
"Hmm—hmm, you can say that, and I can't deny this fact! But I feel a lot better staying at home with Leonardo rather doing office work. Even if I die like this, I won't regret a thing."
"My Lady! Please, don't say that!", Rebecca reprimanded. She poured some tea in the cup and served it to Jennifer, who was feeling a bit awkward for what she just said recently. "Think about our young master!", Rebecca reminded.
Jennifer laughed on herself, "It's a fact Rebecca! We can't just run away from our death. You and I, we both have come so far. I think it is an age where you feel your vision is getting blurred, you are consistently forgetting things, your hairs gone grey, your hearing is gets weaker every day, your teeth sways, your face is covered with wrinkles, you don't feel strength in your arms and legs anymore—these are the signs that indicates to prepare yourself. Because death is around the corner. It can come for you anytime without letting you know. Just like my daughter. Sigh! I thought I would be able to see her when I close my eyes for forever but she left before me—"
Rebecca kept listening to the lady in front, "you know— I find it quite strange that there is an order of coming into this world but there is no order when we die."
Rebecca observed Jennifer who was lost in her thoughts. She was quite depressed and grew really old in these two years. Her face was covered with wrinkles. She lost a lot of weight. The demeanor she had, all vanished like it never existed in the first place. Even though she retired form the family business and spend her remaining time with her grandson but there were some moments when Jennifer spaces out. She often forgot what she was doing or saying.
'Maybe the death of Lady Jasmine hit her really hard', thought Rebecca.
Rebecca picked a pie plate with one hand while holding cake slicer with another. "So, which one would you like to eat my lady?", she asked. But Jennifer didn't respond, instead she was lost in her thoughts.
Rebecca glanced at Jennifer who was lost in thoughts; she had this sad look on her face and was about to cry. Rebecca couldn't bear watch it any longer therefore, she immediately put everything back on the table and crouched in front of her and swayed Jennifer lightly by her shoulder, "Jennifer! Jennifer!"
Jennifer's looked at Rebecca with unfocused gaze and replied blankly, "Yes!"
Witnessing Jennifer's blank response Rebecca pursed her lips, "Jennifer! I know it is hard for you. I can understand what you are going through right now—but please don't let your guilt take the best of you. You need to overcome this—"
Jennifer frowned in helplessness, "What should I do? My daughter died because I refused to listen to her. Back then if I had accepted—"
Rebecca held Jennifer's hand gently. "It's okay Jennifer! What happened is happened! You cannot change the past but—what you should be doing—is to focus what is a head of you rather than dwelling on the past. Think of your Leonardo, he needs you livelier than before—if you keep on acting like this and get bedridden—than you'd be doing the same thing over! So—"
Rebecca caress Jennifer's cheek and said with a warm smile, "—Live! Not only for lady Jasmine's sake, but for your own sake too!"
When Jennifer felt a warm touch on her face, her previously dimmed pupils which seemed full of despair and guilt suddenly became bright. Jennifer closed her eyes for a moment and then opened her eyes; she smiled helplessly, "I am sorry for making you worry like this. I guess I am still younger than you in that aspect!"
"Its's okay!", Rebecca nodded and asked, "So which one would you like to eat first?"
"The apple pie with strawberry tart", replied Jennifer.
"Alright!", Rebecca got up and served Jennifer with apple pie and strawberry tart on the pie plate.
While Rebecca was slicing the pie, Jennifer looked at Rebecca respectfully and wondered, 'What would have happened to me if Rebecca was not by my side all these years!'
"My Lady! Are you alright?", asked Rebecca with a concern look while handing her the plate. Jennifer received it and took a bite. "Hmm~ its really delicious!" Jennifer praised. She was enjoying the texture and mixing flavors in her mouth. Seeing Jennifer's mood got better Rebecca heaved a sigh of relief in secret.
Jennifer faced Rebecca who was watching her from aside and invited Rebecca, "Why don't you join me? I feel awkward eating alone like this."
In response, Rebecca lowered head and said apologetically, "I am sorry My Lady! But my grand-daughter will get angry if I eat with you."
"Oh! –It's okay. I can understand. So, you brought her! Wasn't she in the school?", Jennifer inquired.
"…s-she was—until she dropped out few months ago—so, I brought her along!", replied Rebecca with a forced smile. Jennifer observed Rebecca's meticulous behavior and said, "Did something happened to her in school if someone's messing with her just tell me I'll ask Amanda to take care of it."
Hearing Jennifer, Rebecca sighed and briefed, "I didn't mention this before but my grand-daughter is a mute. So—it is hard for her to communicate with others."
"Where is she right now? I want to see her.", Jennifer demanded. "Well, she is in kitchen right now and receiving her culinary lessons from the chef."
...….
In the kitchen a little boy was hiding under the table, with his messy neck length dark black hairs. He was observing his surroundings. He crawled under tables, while the cooks were busy preparing food. Leonardo wasn't a troublemaker, instead he was a reserved and quite observant of his surroundings.
He eagle-eyed everyone in the kitchen. After a moment his gaze fell upon a particular figure. It was a girl, with fiery red wavy hairs below her shoulders. She was wearing a white cook dress with a chef hat on her head. Leonardo became really curious about her hat. He sneakily sauntered towards her and observed her from his position.
The girl was standing on a stool to reach the height of the table. She was busy mixing some ingredients in the transparent bowl with the help of the mixer. When Leonardo saw the batter, it seemed to him nothing more than chocolate. He licked his lower lips in excitement and moved closer to the girl.
As the little girl was still mixing the batter with her hand. She felt a slight pull on her torso. The girl looked below and found no one; she began mixing the batter again. A few seconds later she felt another pull on her torso. She looked again and found on one around her table.
After few breaths she felt another pull but this time it was a bit forceful than before. The girl stopped in her movements and got down from the stool. When the girl looked under the table, she became greatly astonished because there was a topless boy who was looking at her. The girl froze in her movements and kept staring at the boy.
Leonardo saw, the girl who was staring back at him, so he asked innocently, "Excuse me! Can you give me some of the chocolate you are playing with?" The girl didn't answer instead she kept staring at his handsome face. He had these messy thick black hairs, a sharp nose, flushed cheeks, mild-upward eye brows and a very fair complexion. What made the girl speechless was Leonardo's big deep-blue-ocean-turquoise eyes. Its color was very unique. She never saw eyes like that before. To her, Leonardo seemed like a 3-d animated character. She lifted her hand and tried to touch Leonardo with her finger which was covered in batter. She wanted to confirm whether he was real or she was just hallucinating.
Seeing her finger coming towards Leonardo's face, the latter thought maybe she was asking him to taste it. Leonardo opened his mouth and sucked on to her finger.
With such a response from Leonardo's side the girl was shocked to her core. She immediately retracked her hand. A moment later Leonardo came closer and whispered to her with a cute smile, "It's so yummy! Can I have some more, please?"
The girl was flabbergasted with former's such request. She couldn't say anything in return except for accepting his request. As for the boy he had this innocent smile on his face.