Soon it was morning. Ciara rushed out of the room when she realized Cindy had been long gone. Unable to hide her worry, she rushed down stairs when she saw Vanessa resting in one of the sofas in the living room.
"Vanessa, have you seen Cindy this morning?" Ciara asked immediately she reached the living room.
"Is there any problem? Why do you seem so worked up this early?" Vanessa asked looking confusingly at Ciara.
"Listen, Cindy was out of bed when I woke up. And it seems she's been out of bed for a while now" Ciara said worriedly.
"I don't think you have to be that worried. I'm sure she's fine. I think she only needs some space" Vanessa said nonchalantly.
"How sure are you?" Ciara asked unable to hide her displeasure with how Vanessa was handling the situation.
"Check the kitchen if you have any doubt" Vanessa said and turned her attention back to the necklace in her hand.
That was when Ciara noticed the necklace.
"That necklace looks like the painted necklace on the wardrobe in Mama's room" Ciara observed. "How did you get that?"
"You sure about that?" Vanessa asked.
"You know, when you were a 'regular' at papa's room, I was also 'a regular' at mama's room. And I still remember, vividly, that painted necklace on here wardrobe" Ciara answered honestly.
"I see" Vanessa said as she turned her attention back to the necklace in her hand. "Thought you were going to the kitchen"
"Yeah" Ciara said and headed towards the kitchen.
****
Ciara slowly pushed the gate at the entrance of the kitchen and peeked in. What she saw was not what she had anticipated.
'Theodore?' Ciara thought. All her ill feelings for him soon dissipated when she saw how Cindy stood beside him, beaming with a smile. It's been a while she saw Cindy that happy. Without saying a word, she decided to leave quietly.
Before she could close the gate, Theodore asked;
"Are you going to leave without saying hello?"
'Hell no!' Ciara thought and widely opened the gate and stood confidently at the entrance, as if trying to officially announce her presence, wearing a serious expression.
"Hello" Ciara said waving at Cindy, ignoring Theodore.
"It's been a while, Ciara" Theodore said ignoring Ciara's rudeness.
"Cindy, can you let the man beside you, i mean your husband, know that i am not going to talk to him" Ciara said looking at Cindy passively.
Cindy raised her head apologetically, only to see Theodore smiling at her.
"You don't have to convey it, if you don't want to. I can hear perfectly well" Theodore said looking at Cindy.
Cindy turned to look apologetically at Ciara.
"Oh yeah? You can flash me all the collection of puppy eyes you've got in stock and I'm still not going to talk to him!" Ciara objected and turned to walk away.
"Breakfast is ready. We'll have it served in a jiffy" Cindy said as she watched Ciara's retreating.
"Roger that!" Ciara replied without turning to look in her direction.
****
Ciara entered the dinning room, only to be greeted with the sight of beaming faces.
"What do we have here? Full house?" Ciara chuckled.