Pappy yo stares at Ella for a moment without uttering any words, then finally asks stuttering. "Was that her own method of getting back at him?"
"I guess so." Ella sniffs. "You have to leave the country, probably go to your children over there."
"Why?" He laughs gently. "They have tried everything possible for me to come over but I keep on refusing because I do not wish to leave my fatherland."
"It concerns you safety now sir." Darifa chips in.
"My safety?" He asks again.
"Yes." Ella nods. "I won't sit back and do nothing, I will start playing my cards, and Jessie won't allow you live if she finds out you told me something."
"So, I am going into hiding?"
"But I promise you it won't be long. Just hold out for me."
"When do you plan on visiting your parents grave yard?" He asks and the atmosphere changes.
"You shouldn't be asking her such questions now, you just told her the most heart breaking
thing on earth and you are saying this too now?" Shamim nags.
"Whether she likes it or not, she has to go there. It is a must."
"I will go there after the storm, I don't think I am worthy to do so now." Ella replies whispering.
"Please let's leave this place, you don't look good." Asma whispers to Ella.
"Call this number as soon as we leave this place, he will help you leave the country peacefully without any problems." Darifa hands a lot piece of paper to the old man.
"Thank you." He collects the paper and sighs. "Sometimes, I wonder what Cecilia has grown up to be like. By any chance, if you happen to meet her, will you accept her as a sister or desert her because of her mother?"
The question leaves every one thinking. Should Ella really accept her as a sister? Or just desert her?
"That is a question I cannot answer until I come in contact with her." Ella stands. "That will be all for now, I will give you a call later."
*************
"Is she still drinking?" Darifa asks as Asma walks out of the room.
Asma nods. "She won't stop crying too."
"It must have been so hard for her to take in that much." Shamim says pitifully.
"But crying out loud and drinking won't solve anything." Darifa adds.
"Let her be this night, after all these years, she can finally cry her pains out." Says Abdullah.
"Should I call her out to eat?" Darifa asks again.
"Just let her be, nothing can soothe her pains for now." Abdullah advices.
"What is this?" Shamim asks looking at his phone.
"Is everything okay?" Asma asks moving close to him.
"Everything about Linda being a bully suddenly disappeared, even my source deleted it off his page too."
"Are you for real?!" Darifa asks at the top of her voice.
"How did she manage to shut all of those people up?" Abdullah asks too.
"Obviously, her mom is behind all of it." Ella cuts in holding a bottle of liquor. "Just like every other mother would do, she cleaned up her daughter's mess."
"So what is the way forward? This woman seem too powerful for us." Asma whispers.
"I need to get someone a gift." Ella says a bit tipsy. "A very nice gift."
"What kind of gift?"
"Flowers." Miss Smith nods. "Flowers, beautiful flowers."
"What type of flower?" Shamim asks.
"Chrysanthemum." She replies sternly now sounding very sober.
"The white ones?" Asma asks too and Ella nods. "Ella! What do you have in mind?"
**********
"Good morning ma'am." Cecilia greets with smiles as she shuts the door and walks towards her mom on the bed.
"Morning dear." Jessie grunts and stretches, making loud noises.
"I hope you slept well."
"Of course I did, what about you? Did you sleep well? It's your first time sleeping here."
"Yes."Cecilia nods. "Your bath is ready, what do you want them to prepare for you this morning?"
"Hmm." Jessie yawns and covers her mouth with her palm. "Is Linda awake?"
"I don't know about that, I haven't seen her this morning."
"What did she eat last night?" She asks.
"Other than the noodles she requested for yesterday evening, she didn't take anything else."
"Did she finish the noodles?" Jessie asks again.
"No." Cecilia shakes her head. "She ate just little, I even heard some of the girls discussing it amongst themselves that Genevieve ate the little."
"That means she has some sort of relationship with her already?"
"Something like that ma'am."
Jessie laughs hysterically. "Such a kid! She is getting bored already." She stands and sits on the wooden chair facing the dressing mirror, looking at her first daughter through the mirror. "Are you prepared for our outing?"
"Yes, we have two hours left ma'am."
"Tell the girls to prepare pasta for everyone in the house, alongside with the guards and attendants. I will have the breakfast with both of you on the dinning table. The domestic workers can have theirs elsewhere."
"Yes ma'am." She says with a nod.
"I will have my bath now, you can go."
"I have a question for you ma'am." Cecilia whispers with a bit of fear in her voice and eyes.
Jessie turns to face her daughter. "What is that?"
"When can I start calling you mom and show it to the world that you are my mom?"
Jessie stares at her for a moment, then stands and faces her. "Cecilia Smith, there is time for everything. Now, it's time for business and getting things right, is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am." She nods.