Chapter 72
A WEEK LATER…
With a backpack, Samantha got into the living room and looked around. She was struck by the coldness of the elegant living room. Damn! It's been like forever! She thought as she idolized everything. She shut the door mildly.
Jasmine had just gone to carry the dishes from Elodre's room and as she got into the kitchen she gasped in astonishment. "Samantha?!!"
Samantha veered around with a grin. "Lady Jasmine!!" She assessed Jasmine. "Been a while."
"Yeah!" Jasmine went to drop the tray of plates and tumbler in the sink. She turned to Samantha. "Never expected to see you…."
"Yeah, I know," Samantha shrugged. Her eyes were fixed on the big bandage on Jasmine's upper right arm. That must hurt excruciatingly. Well, bravo, mom!! "I was just concerned about you, Jasmine."
"Concerned about me?" Jasmine was surprised to hear that. "Why?"
"Your arm," Samantha gestured to the bandage.
"Oh," Jasmine smiled.
"Cayden told me what happened," Samantha said.
"Oh," Jasmine gasped. "He did?"
Reaching Jasmine's arm, she gently touched the tight bandage. "Well, I'm sorry about that. But, how did my mom starve Elodre?"
Leaning against the cupboard, Jasmine said, "She restrained me from serving her breakfast for two days…"
"Two days?!" Samantha exclaimed.
"Yeah," Jasmine rubbed the bandage. "And you know what that means"
"So, my brother wasn't even aware until you told him?" Samantha folded her arms.
"Sure he wasn't," Jasmine said. "Cause he could've mentioned it…but he never did."
Samantha sighed and gazed in another direction.
"I…I never meant to tell him, Sam," Jasmine's eyes fluttered. "But I had to. I had no other alternative."
"Of course," Samantha lifted her glittery gaze upon her.
"Mr. Brooks could've punished me, I swear," Jasmine said, gazing into Samantha's eyes. "And he told me."
Samantha raised a brow. "So he said he would have fired you or what?"
"I dunno," Jasmine shrugged. "But I know he wouldn't have just fired me…but punished me."
Samantha nodded slightly and blew out heavily. She shrugged and said, "Well, well well…" She placed both hands on Jasmine's shoulders. "It's all good." Her gaze was fixed on hers. "Bravo on your success of making Cayden kick my mom outta his home though." She winked and walked off.
Jasmine gasped in surprise. She watched Samantha leave the kitchen and her heart began to pound in her chest.
******
***
Jasmine had prepared dinner and had served Samantha in the dining room. She took Elodre's food upstairs and knocked.
"Come in," Elodre answered dryly.
Jasmine came in and shut the door mildly. "Good evening ma'am!!" She kept the food on the little glass table.
"Good evening, Jasmine," Elodre said faintly and got out of bed. She was in her nightgown already.
Quietly, Jasmine served her and left the room.
***
She came back in a couple of minutes to carry the dishes. "Are you alright, ma'am?"
"Sure," Elodre nodded slightly.
"Urrm, ma'am," Jasmine said. "Sam is here."
Elodre shot a gaze at her. "Sam?"
"Yeah, Sam," Jasmine said.
"Wait," Elodre said. Her heart had begun to thump in her chest. "You mean Sam?"
"Yes, ma'am, Samantha," Jasmine.
Elodre blinked and muttered, "Sam is here?! Oh my God! I'm finished!"
"Ma'am," Jasmine said curiously. "Are you okay?"
"Jasmine," Elodre quivered, lifting her watery gaze upon her and Jasmine gasped, looking confused. "J…Jasmine…" She wept.
And Jasmine's eyes widened. What's wrong?! She wondered, not knowing if to hold her mistress or not. "Ma'am…please… What's going on? Sh…should I…perhaps call Mr. Brooks?"
Her husband's name frightened her and she trembled. "D… don't you…dare, Jasmine…" She was all ruddy and damped with hot sweat. The one that seemed to burn the life out of her.
So what now?! Jasmine wondered in confusion. Why did she suddenly cry when she mentioned Samantha? What's going down between them both? "I… 'm sorry, ma'am…perhaps you have a problem with Samantha…"
"Jasmine, I'm finished…" Elodre wept. Her face was damp with tears as she trembled terribly. "I'm dead. Oh, God!!" She placed both hands on her head as she sobbed.
Jasmine opened her mouth to speak but no word came through. Her head was blank. For the life of her, she'd never seen her mistress like that until now. "Ma'am, please… it's alright…"
"No it's not, Jasmine," She whimpered and sniffled. "Y…you dunno half of it…"
Jasmine sighed. Half of what? Is something wrong between Mr. Brooks and her for real? If so, Bianca was right then. But what's up with Sam? She wondered and moved closer to Elodre who was already on the floor crying her eyes out. She wanted to touch her but paused halfway. "Ma'am, please…c…could you trust me with your burden? Hopefully, I might have a way to help."
But Elodre was crying and coughing hard.
Alarmed, Jasmine knelt by her side. "M… ma'am, please, it's alright. Mr. Brooks will be back soon…"
"Please stop, J…Jasmine," Elodre sniffled. "Don't mention his name…"
With wide eyes, Jasmine gasped upon hearing that. She hesitated briefly and opened her mouth to speak but no word aired out.
"Oh, C…Cayden…" Elodre wept bitterly, coughing violently.
Swiftly, Jasmine picked the glass of water from the tray and stretched it to her. "Ma'am, please…you must have some water."
But Elodre declined.
Jasmine heaved a quiet sigh of distress and said, "But ma'am, no matter what this is about, crying like this won't change a thing. It's just gonna stress your nerves and muscles…please…"
Elodre was still coughing violently.
Oh, good Lord, save my soul! Jasmine prayed inwardly. "Please, ma'am you gotta take some water. Even though it's a sip…please…" She could see veins striping on her forehead and this concerned Jasmine. "Ma'am, please…"
Elodre wept for a while before taking the glass of water from Jasmine. Trembling, she gulped down the water till she choked, coughing violently.
"Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am," Jasmine said as Elodre handed the glass to her. "I'm so sorry…"
Jasmine couldn't help but watch her weep. She couldn't stop wondering what the problem was either. Elodre was crying out with her whole strength. She'd flushed pure red and this startled Jasmine….
……