Ovelia's POV
As soon as Ace left with Ray, Chief Gareth, and Philip, Ann, Mrs. Melinda, and I started washing the dishes in the kitchen.
Once the plates were scrubbed clean, we began drying them—an array of colorful plates, glasses, spoons, and forks lined up before us. A sense of camaraderie filled the air, and I could tell the task brought us all closer. After tidying everything up, I thought about all the free time I'd have later. Maybe I could do some laundry.
"Mrs. Melinda, where can I wash our clothes later?" I asked, drying a plate with careful precision, hoping to keep the conversation light.
"At the back of the house; I'll show you after we finish here," Mrs. Melinda replied with a warm smile, placing the dried dishes into the cabinet.
