"Call Linda out for me." Jessie orders as she sits to have breakfast, her eyes travels around, observing the meal.
"Yes ma'am." One of the attendants walks out and returns some seconds later without Linda.
"Where is she?" Cecilia asks as she sees the maid alone.
"She wouldn't answer me ma'am."
"Genevieve." Jessie calls still observing the meal.
"Yes ma'am."
"I heard you were in the room with my daughter for a while yesterday." She stops and faces her. "May I know what you girls were busy discussing?"
Genevieve clears her throat quietly and whispers. "Nothing much ma'am, she just insisted I stayed a bit with her."
"What did you say to my daughter?" She asks again.
"I didn't say anything to her ma'am."
"Genevieve." Jessie calls again sternly and asks. "I will ask you one last time, what did you say to my daughter?"
"Ma'am, please trust me, I didn't say anything to h-." She was stopped by a very hot slap from Jessie. Genevieve holds her cheek with tears rolling down her eyes and gently looks at Jessie who is now standing right in front of her.
"How dare you? How dare you mention your mom's medical fee to my daughter? Haven't I warned you to keep your mouth shut?" She asks burning up.
"How did you get to know about that?" Genevieve asks still holding her cheek.
Jessie returns to she seat and whispers. "You really think anything will happen in this house and I won't know about it? I can see you plan on turning my daughter's back at me." She faces the other ladies. "This should be a huge warning to you all, do not overstep your boundaries."
"Yes ma'am." The attendants says with a bit of fear.
"Call me Linda." Jessie orders once more looking straight into Genevieve's eyes.
"Y-yes m-ma'am." She stutters and walks in to Linda's room. "Your mom asked me to call you out." She says as she shuts the door avoiding eye contact.
"Why?" Linda asks bluntly applying oil to her hair.
"To have breakfast."
"Why do you sound this dull?" Linda asks and faces her. "Why are you looking down?"
Genevieve looks up in annoyance and says. "Just come out to have breakfast and stop making life difficult for everyone."
She possibly can't deny the fact that she can clearly see pain in the eyes of her new friend. "What happened to you?" She asks and moves closer to her. "Are you okay?"
"Come out for breakfast." She whispers and walks out, banging he door.
"Is she on her way?" Cecilia asks impatiently.
"Yes ma'am."
"What is the fuss about his morning?" Linda asks and sits, keeping a very obvious amount of gap between her and her mom.
"Let's have breakfast." Jessie says ignoring her second daughter's rude remark.
"Why is she on the table with us?" She asks again pointing to Cecilia.
"The food will get cold if you don't eat in time." Jessie whispers and starts eating.
An attendant walks in and holds a bouquet of flowers. "Someone sent these flowers to you ma'am."
"Hold on, I will check it once I am done eating."
"Okay ma'am." The attendant nods turns to leave the dinning.
"Where are you going to?" Jessie asks not looking at her.
"You asked me to hold on with the flowers that you are going to check them later."
"So?" She asks and raises her head staring straight in the attendant's eyes. "Where were you heading?"
"I am sorry ma'am." The attendant quickly apologizes with her head down.
"It's fine." Jessie whispers and continues eating her food.
Linda stares at her mom, then looks at the attendants standing too. "Does she really plan on having them stand all through?" She asks in her mind and stands, moving closing to the attendant holding the flowers. "Let me have the flowers, you can go and attend to whatever needs your attention."
The attendant resists politely. "No it's fine ma'am. I will hold it."
"Your kindness won't do them any good but to put them in troubles." Jessie whispers.
"But we can't have them stand for long, can we? That would be so ridiculous and stupid to do."
"Please mind your words." Cecelia cautions.
"Haven't I warned you not to mess with me anymore, Miss new puppet." Linda says mockingly and stressed the new name she gave her half sister.
"Please, mind what you say." Cecelia cautions calmly still.
Jessie drops her cutlery and looks at the attendant again. "What did you say your name is?"
"Rita ma'am." She replies holding on to the flowers tightly.
"Remain where you are until I ask you to move."
"Why do you act as if you aren't human to-" Linda plans on nagging real loud but stops immediately she sees the flowers clearly. "White chrysanthemum flowers?"