The kitchen had a counter table, with few round chairs. "Madam Rejoice", Damaris called and a middle age woman appeared.
She wore the cloth that the helps in the house wore, but she had a beautiful designer apron on. Her blonde hair was tied in a loose bun, she had visible dark brown hair growing from the roots. She didn't look as old as the rest of the older maids Audrey had seen.
She really kept herself well, Audrey thought.
Rejoice walked to where they stood, her dark brown eyes staring at both Audrey and Damaris.
"Good evening young miss, How may I be of help?", asked woman as she bowed slightly.
"why do you still bow? i told you - you don't have to", Damaris asked.
"I work under you lady Damaris, it's common courtesy ", she replied, her voice calm and light.
Damaris just let out a sigh of giving up, raising up her flag. Damaris had known Rejoice ever since she was little, she was like a mom to her.
"Audrey is really hungry, can you please prepare something for her?".
"what would you like to have?", Rejoice turned to ask Audrey.
"Anything that'd be easy for you to prepare this night ", Audrey said. "Please make it in a 2 persons portion. Thank you".
Rejoice nodded her head, then walked away.
Audrey was in awe as to how Damaris treated her helps, gave respect to everyone. She treats them like people and not servants, with so much respect and courtesy. I doubt her step sisters did the same, Audrey thought.
"So…. What do you want to do as your food is being made?" Damaris asked turning her seat to face Audrey.
The round sitter chairs rotates, it made it easy for Damaris to turn towards Audrey direction.
"Rest.... I want to calm my head down", Audrey said placing her head on the countertop. Her head still ached from the impact, Only God knew how she survives everything.
Audrey closed her eyes, trying to get herself, the pain she felt in her head didn't subside.
The noise of the kitchen was much more busy, Audrey opened her eyes to see more maid than she had seen when she stepped in. Was there an occasion? Or did Marie need something?, Audrey asked herself. Audrey turned to asked Damaris, but she wasn't sitting beside her anymore.
"when did she leave?",Audrey asked herself really confused.
"only I can inherit the Lucaine's will", someone spoke in a low yet audible voice.
Audrey traced the voice to see a woman on the other side of the counter. The woman sounded really familiar, but Audrey couldn't see her face. She wore a black gown, her hair tied in a bun.
She stared long at a little bottle filled with clear liquid. She looked around before pouring it into a bowl, a smile wide on her face.
She fixed her expression, then hid the bottle in her gowns pocket.
"Jenin!", the woman called.
"Yes Madam", answered a young brunette dressed in maid outfit, as she rushed towards the woman.
The woman picked up the bowl, then handed it to the girl, "Take this to Rosemary. It's the soup she's meant to take, before taking her medications".
With out question,the girl took the bowl, then walked away.
Audrey couldn't see the face of the woman who spoke because it was like a blur memory, Before she could try and uncover who she was, Audrey woke up.
"Audrey... your food is ready", Damaris said tapping Audrey gently.
Audrey raised her head to see right in front of her a plate filled with chips and egg by the side, and beside it a glass of water.
"I also helped clean your wound".
Audrey raised her hand to her head to feel a small plaster on the side of her head. She was surprised that she didn't feel a thing.
"Thank you for the meal", Audrey smiled at Rejoice, she replied her thanks with a smile.
When Audrey was done eating, she tried washing her plate but Rejoice was persistent on not allowing. Saying something about her being a guest, and guess shouldn't do chores. Audrey didn't argue further, she let Rejoice have the plate.
Audrey walked over to where Damaris sat. "It's already late. I'll take you to the nearest room on the down floor".
Damaris nodded her head, she was already fighting to keep her eyes open.
Audrey tucked Damaris in bed properly, not wanting to inconvenience her, she slept on the sofa in the down floor living room.
Audrey was exhausted, so sleep wasn't hard to come. She was getting to the good part of the sleep when she felt heavy cold splash of water all over her face and body.
"What the frickin fish!", Audrey gasped for air sitting up. She used her hand to wipe the water from her eyes, then looked up to see who the maniac was
Standing beside the chair were the two sisters, the girl with the lighter brown hair, what's her name, held a bucket in her hand.
"Who do you think you are laying on our couch like you own the place?", the dark brown hair girl spoke.
Audrey let out a great sigh, without saying a word or sparing either of them a glance, she walked away.
She dragged her wet heavy body to Damaris's room.