"Hello, Lauri." Sir Luke entered the kitchen after a while when Larcy left. His greetings left Lauri stunned. "H-hi, Sir Luke." It took her a moment to process what he just said. "What's wrong with him?" Lauri felt odd. "Have you had breakfast? If not, would you like some?"
"I did, but it wouldn't be alright to not accept your invitation." He moved closer to her and sat by the table. "Invitation? What invitation?" Lauri felt uncomfortable by his words. Normally, he would greet her with "Good morning/ good afternoon/ good evening/ good night/ and good day" he would also not enter without asking her first if he could.
She prepared him a plate of some pancakes, a few sandwiches and a new brew of hot coffee in the largest mug she could find. A good thing she did not dismiss her intuition, she was so on guard she almost stabbed him by the neck. "That smells go—" Lauri turned so fast when she felt him brushed her clothes. "I apologize for the wait. It's so late for breakfast, you must be hungry already."
She pushed him away intentionally using her elbow when she lifted the tray to put it in front of him on the table. "Ahahaha. Yes, thank you." He gave her a dry laugh as well.
His action made Lauri even more alert. She did not take away her eyes off of him which made him feel uncomfortable but he did not dare to show it.
"The arrival of the officers might have gotten in your way of finishing your task, Sir Luke." Her smile somewhat menacing made him feel chill running down his spine. As if drawing a line between them.
"Is it because i still haven't finished fixing the things that should be finished yesterday?" Lauri treats everyone equally, even Xandra who's the daughter of Madame Dusragh, was treated like part of the family, so is Sir Luke.
"I was told, they would do a regular visit. Though they are not sure if it would be every each day of the week...." She looked at him meaningfully. "...But they did reassure me on one thing. They will be visiting without. Any. Possible. Notice. They may visit more than two or three times a week to check on. Our. Cousin. And. Our. Condition." Finally, after saying those things she let down her guard.
Sir Luke finished eating and bid to leave. "Then i should finish my work as fast as possible." He gave her a toast with the mug of coffee in his hand and turned to leave with it. "I have come this far, a few days should not bother me this much. No pressure, shouldn't be acting rashly." "I ain't a professional for nothin' mate." He mumbled to himself.
Lauri breaths a sigh of relief. The danger she felt had subsided and the realization hit her harder than she thought. She always had a hunch but now she felt even more alert about him even more.
"Kitty, kitty." Lara played with the kitten under the observation of Xandra for fear she might get scratched and got an infection. She kept glancing at Rye who was still silent by the couch when normally he would be talkative around his big sister, Shine. Xandra also finds it amusing that the twins are talking, facing each other. Rye would always sit next to Shine, but he sat next to Ray. She was even more surprised to see them together a while ago.
After the four girls, Shine, Mistane, Larcy, and Lara finished their business in Mistane's room they headed to the lounge. Coincidentally, Ray, Xandra, and Rye were also heading there. They all met in the hallway and went there together.
"It's great to see you looking better." Shine complimented Ray. "It's good to see you moving a lot more? No, no, no. He might think I'm being sarcastic."
"What does she mean by that? She's looking at big brother Ray, not me right? Not me!? Does what she said had a different meaning? No, does she mean "How dare you put your big brother's health in danger!" Aaaargh. Hope not." Rye's thought of the mother cat disappears as soon as his sister's words finally enter his ears.
The twins have been chatting for a while and only now did Rye show some change in mood again. Ray noticed right away.
He looked at Shine and smiled brightly at her. "Thanks, Rye accompanied me to get some fresh air and bath in the sunlight this early morning." Although he meant to put some good words about his brother, Rye thought otherwise.
"Aaaargh, why do you have to remind her that. Now what, what if she gets mad at me?" Rye didn't have the courage to raise his head and meet his big sister's gaze.
Ray felt amused, seeing his brother so flustered. "Is that what they called bullying?" Xandra said to herself as she observed the three interact with each other. "That's great, it's good for you to take a stroll early in the morning. Maybe you should consider making it a habit. It might help to make you feel better." Shine looked at both of them. "Do i sound like i mean well, i hope he didn't misunderstand."
Shine was oblivious of Rye's worries. If it were before, she would be the first to notice even with just a little bit of hint. As if their roles have changed, Ray is more aware of his little brother's reaction.
"You should be glad my twin brother covered up for you. If his health were to go high wire, you have yourself to blame." Ray didn't think much about it, yet Rye, which isn't even the receiver of his sister's message kept overthinking.
Somehow, the sibling's relationship doesn't seem to be like what the other's thought. In the eyes of the other family member, Shine had always spoiled Rye and ignored her twin brother. But to Rye it was more than just that, or maybe not even like that.
Even though it was such a peaceful atmosphere, their conversation was too formal. Like a conversation between two grown adults that just reunited after a long time and don't know what topic to talk about. Neither of them seems to want to open up and share some things they deem interesting.
Just as they were out of what to talk about, something unexpected happened. "What happened?" Larcy said as she copied Mistane's way of asking questions while looking at her. Mistane showed her her finger that had a cut and was bleeding.
"I thought, we had to look after Lara. Nobody informed me that their cousin also needs to be observed." Xandra abruptly stands up while holding the kitten.
"Kitty, kitty. Up, up. Andra bad! Ara wants to carry kitty too." Lara said as she throws a tantrum at Xandra. "Does she have any allergies?" Shine asked as she remembers Ray also has allergies. "Big sister Laurice didn't say anything." Ray answered.
Hearing that, Shine's panick subsided. "The medicine box was here, right? Help me find it." She asked Larcy for help. "U-uh, i may have left it in the art room." Rye said nervously. "Right i wasn't feeling well last night, it was more of a convenience to leave it there." Thankfully, the art room is also near Ray's bedroom. He was able to cover up for Rye and also for him not to overthink that his sister might get mad at him.
"Alright let's go there, big sister is still in the kitchen." Since the lounge entrance was near one of the staircases, they immediately went there. They felt that it's their obligation to look after their cousin, since she's also their guest and not bother Laurice with something they can solve on their own.