The shining rays of the morning sun peered through the window of Lea and Nicole's room reflecting on Lea's face making her squint her eyes.
She sat up on her bed and rubbed her eyes with the back of her left hand. Her hair was messy and her face looked pale.
"Nic, Nicole...it is morning, you need to get up, it's time for work," Lea said in a soft, but husky voice.
She removed the duvet that covered her up to her waist level and sat upright facing Nicole's bed, her feet touching the cold marble floor.
"Mmmm..mmm...Lea, let me sleep some more." Nicole said in a sleepy voice and twirled in the bed.
"We will be late for work, Nicole. Get up and get ready."Lea said in a not-so-strict voice.
" Just five minutes, Sis" Nicole requested and she pulled the blanket up to her chest.
A small sigh passed through Lea's lips and she stood up. She walked unremittingly toward the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
After a few minutes, she came out after brushing her teeth and saw Nicole still lying in bed.
She walked over to her moderately sized bed and tapped her.
"Nic, we're running late. Stop sleeping and wake up." She said in a gentle voice.
"Mmm, alright sis...I'm waking up." Nicole said and stood up wearily from her bed.
There were dark circles around her eyes and Lea commented on noticing them.
"See Nic, you have dark circles around your eyes. I've been telling you to sleep early and stop using your phone very late at night. You need to have good rest." Lea said in a mild berating manner.
"Oh Sis, don't worry. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm eighteen. I can take care of myself." Nicole said and walked past her older sister to go to the bathroom and Lea could only sigh again.
Lea and Nicole worked in the same company-The Stark Company. Lea worked as the Secretary of the CEO and Nicole was an administrative assistant.
Both girls got ready and stepped into the small dining room where their mother had prepared breakfast already.
"Good morning, my precious princesses." Mrs.Camille greeted her two daughters when they stepped into the dining room.
"Good morning, mom" both of them replied in unison.
"How was your night?"She questioned them while she was still setting up the table.
" It was good," Lea responded
"Same here" Nicole was the next to speak and they both sat down next to each other.
" Where is dad?"Lea asked her mom realizing that their father was not at the table.
"He went out for a morning walk, I'm sure he'll be back before you finish your meal." Mrs.Camille replied to her daughter's question.
"Mmm," Lea nodded her head and started eating her food.
Lea and Nicole finished their breakfast and got up to leave. Their dad was not back home yet.
Lea wore a royal blue full-sleeved blouse with a white-fitting skirt and black heels. Her hair was tied in a neat bun behind her making the dimples on her smooth face prominent whenever she smiled.
Nicole was also clothed in a knee-length yellow-fitting dress that hugged her womanly features tightly exposing her curves. she wore black heels to match.
"We are leaving, mom. Dad is not yet home and we're running late."Nicole said as she picked up her bag from the table.
" Alright, girls. Take care."Mrs.Camille said and waved at her two daughters. A hint of pride glimmered in her brown eyes as she watched her two daughters leave the house.
Her chest felt full of thoughts of how she first accepted Lea as her child.
**Flashback**
"Mama" little Lea called out to Mrs.Camille, who was surprised to hear those words tumble out from her lips. she sat up on her bed with baby Nicole in the cradle beside her.
"Is she my new sister?" she heard little Lea's small and soft voice question her.
Mrs.Camille stared at the little girl for a short while before she nodded.
"Yes Lea, she's your little sister."
"Can I hold her?" Little Lea asked innocently.
"No dear, she's too little and her body is very delicate. You'll hold her when she is a bit older and stronger."
Little Lea's sullen face brightened when she heard Mrs.Camille's words.
"Come here, Lea." Mrs.Camille called out to little Lea stretching forth her hand toward her and little Lea walked around the bed to the other side and climbed the bed and went to sit by the woman she called 'Mama.'
Mrs.Camille wrapped her hand around little Lea's fragile shoulders and made her lean in on her bosom.
Within the few days that she had lived with Lea, she had felt a growing fondness in her heart toward her.
She began to pat her small head and uttered under her breath.
"I accept you, Lea...I accept you as my daughter, as my own."
Coming back to the present, Mrs.Camille's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on her door.
She went toward the door and opened it.
She saw her husband being helped by two men, his arms spread out on their shoulders using them as support.
Mrs.Camille was shocked and she exclaimed, "What happened to you, Gord"
Mrs.Camille panicked.
"We found him lying on the bench unconscious, it seems he passed out from all the arduous exercise." One of the men informed her.
Mrs.Camille opened the door and allowed the men to come inside the house.
" Oh! Gordon," Mrs.Camille mumbled, worry marring her features.
She led them to the sofa and they placed the partially unconscious man on the soft fluffy sofa.
"Thank you so much for bringing him home. I'm so grateful." Mrs.Camille thanked the two men feeling thankful to them.
"It's alright, Mrs.Camille, we're happy to help." one of the men said and both of them left the house, leaving Mr.Gordon in his wife's care.