The sound of the piano grew the farther Ebony ventured the path. It was an unexpected, yet delightful surprise to hear her father's piano playing this early in the day.
"I'm glad I decided to pick flowers today," she thought, "Now, I can listen to Father play while sorting the flower arrangements. If I had it my way, that is how every morning would be."
She brushed the velvety petals of the flowers with the tips of her fingers, wondering what Father would think of the flowers she picked. Upon reaching the back of the house, Ebony walks off the path and ascends the steps to the kitchen door. She dusts herself off one last time and looks back to the beautiful world she just left. And for a moment, allows her eyes to wander and appreciate it's vast beauty, before opening the door and entering the house. The kitchen was bustling with activity as the daughters of the housekeeper, Vera and Vanessa, were busy at work preparing the day's breakfast.
"Good morning, everyone!" Ebony smiled. She placed her basket on the counter and was welcomed with the sisters' bright smiles as they gazed upon her.
"Ebony!" The plumpest of the sisters, leaving her current task at the table, ran to Ebony with open arms. Her apron was covered in flour, and just as fear filled Ebony's eyes, the young woman engulfed her in a firm embrace.
"Vanessa!" Ebony squealed. "You shouldn't hug me! I just came from outside! And you're covered in flour!"
"But I'm so happy to see you!"
As Ebony continued to protest and try to free herself from the solid grasp of her friend, Vera, the eldest of the two sisters, held an amused smile as she watched the two of them from her place at the stove.
"You came at a good time, Ebony." Vera stated. "Breakfast is almost ready." She glanced at the two and doubted her words were heard.
"The poor soul." She thought, for Ebony was still struggling to remove Vanessa from her and proceeded to smack the girl's head with the gardening gloves she pulled out of her basket, as the final attempt to escape.
Vera chuckled and shook her head at the two while continuing to fry the food. Pops and crackles from the cast iron skillet clouded the sounds of the commotional girls. The strong savory aroma filled the room more and more as she stirred the pan's contents.
"Vanessa! Get off! What has gotten into you!?" Ebony shouted.
"I'm sorry, Eb! I can't help it! The fact that you're here is nothing short of a miracle!" Vanessa wailed.
"What on earth are you going on about!? What's wrong!?"
"Nothing's wrong," Vera spoke with an amused tone. She took a fork and tested the food's flavor before applying more salt. "She's only being dramatic."
"I'm not being dramatic!" Vanessa shouted, spinning on her heels and giving an angry pout to her sister.
The act caused Vanessa to finally release Ebony, but the sudden removal of her hands caused Ebony to stumble and almost fall backward. Luckily, she was able to grasp onto the counter's edge in time to steady herself. Ebony closed her eyes and sighed in relief, as banters and bickers were spoken between the two sisters.
"Why do you two always do this?" Ebony grumbled while dusting the flour off her dress. "Can't you just get along?"
Ebony's words silenced the sisters, and both looked at her with puzzled faces.
"What are you talking about?" Vera asked. "We always get along."
"Yeah," Vanessa chimed in, resting a hand on her hip. "What you talkin' about, Bony? Did you think we were arguing?"
"Never mind." Ebony sighed, waving them off. She proceeded to walk to the other side of the kitchen, with her basket in hand. Sitting down in an empty chair that happened to be available, she placed the basket on the floor beside her, then lifted her leg to rest her foot on the chair to begin untying her boots.
"Can you two just tell me what's going on?"
"She's hoping to convince you to do her job for her." Vera plainly stated, while applying her oven mitts.
"That's not it!" Vanessa whined, as Vera, with a heave, lifted the hot skillet off of the old fire-burning stove and onto a wooden cooling rack that was resting on the counter.
"Then how would you describe it?" Vera teased, glancing her head back to display a suggestive look. "Pushing your tasks onto someone else?"
Ignoring the question, Vanessa walked over to Ebony, who had just finished untying her other boot. She knelt, clasping her hands dramatically as if about to enter prayer, and begged, "Ebony, could you please help me finish baking the muffins!?"
"Muffins?"
"Yes! For breakfast, I have biscuits, muffins, and jam to make!"
"All things that she willingly volunteered to do," Vera added, who was now collecting plates and glasses from the cupboard.
Ebony rose from the chair and walked over to the armoire resting near the kitchen door. She opened its only door and reached down to pull out a beautiful pair of closed-toe sandals. She returned to the chair and began to put on the shoes, as Vanessa continued.
"But I just finished the biscuits, and I don't have enough time to make the muffins and jam!"
"She would have though, if she prioritized her time better."
"Will you stop with the added commentary!"
A fit of giggles escapes Ebony's lips and she quickly covers her lips to try to contain them. If only her friends knew just how comedic their chatter can be.
"Ebony, please." Vanessa grasps Ebony's hands in hers. Her big beautiful brown eyes pleaded, with the summer light gently casting its rays on them. "Please help me."
Ebony let out a soft whimper as she gazed longer into her friend's beautiful eyes. She hated when she did this.
"...I'm sorry, Vanessa." Ebony's voice was soft as she avoided eye contact. She was such a softie when it came to her friends, but just this once, she wanted to be selfish.
"Any other day I would, but Father's playing the piano right now. And I really want to make these flower arrangements while listening to him play."
"Oh, that's a wonderful idea!" Vera chimed, having collected all the plates, cups, and silverware to set the table in the dining hall. "It's not every day that you can spend time with your father in the morning, huh Ebony."
Ebony gives a bashful smile. "Yeah."
"Then enjoy your time then!" Vera cheered, walking over to the two women and gracefully stepping in front of her sister, separating the two. A wimpy protest was given by the youngest as she was forced to make room for her intruding sister.
But her protest fell on deaf ears as Vera held Ebony's hands and helped her rise to her feet.
"Ignore my sister," she instructed, handing Ebony her flower basket and guiding her to the kitchen door. "She needs to use this opportunity to take accountability for her mistakes, and you need to take this opportunity to spend time with Mr. Ibre."
"Wait, what about me?" Vanessa whined, still standing where she was abandoned.
"Oh, hush!" Vera scowled. "Stop trying to gain sympathy and start working!"
Finally out the kitchen door, Ebony smiled warmly at Vera as she stood in the hallway, grasping tightly onto her flower basket. The sound of the piano was much louder here, and she instinctively looked into its direction.
"Go! What are you waiting for?" Vera whispered, shooing the lady of the manor away, who thanked her with a small nod, before walking up the long corridor to be united with the marvelous pianist.
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
END OF ACT 2
THE HOUSEKEEPER'S DAUGHTERS