The women got to work at once and cleared the table under the watchful gaze of Pablo who looked at them with hawklike intensity. Flora observed how fine the porcelain was. The plates and cups were quite thin and flawlessly white. They were light and would issue clear clinking sounds like little bells when they hit each other. They were translucent under the light of the chandelier unlike the thick cups and plates that Flora was used to. At her house in Cardena, she had broken what little porcelain cups that they had when she was little and were content with eating using metal cups which later became dented and rusted that they were replaced with plastic cups. Her plates were of cheaper melamine that she bought from the market and were already discolored with plenty of scratches from use.Flora picked up the spoons, forks and knives and placed them on a metal tray that Eva carried next to her. The metal utensils were polished and reflected the light from the chandelier. Flora observed t
The woman entered the kitchen and closed the door gently behind her. Then, she surveyed the room and its three occupants, her eyes lingering on the little girl who seemed to be following her mother as she mopped the floor.“Now which one of you is Eva?” the woman asked.“That would be me, Ma’am,” answered Eva politely.“I’m Rosa, the cook. You will be working here with me,” said Rosa, her voice soft yet commanding. “And who would you be?” she asked Flora as she continued to eye Nadi.“My name’s Flora, Ma’am and this is my daughter Nadi,” answered Flora who had stopped mopping momentarily.“You may go. I shall call for you when I need you,” said Rosa nonchalantly as she turned to walk towards Eva.Flora did not know what to do but stood still with the mop still in her hand. After a while, Rosa turned her head and noticed Flora still standing motionless with the mop.“I said you may go. You don’t belong in my kitchen,” repeated Rosa with some edge in her tone. “Why Pablo would leave you
Then, Maya spoke, “I couldn’t care less where you bring your daughter.”Flora lowered her head and looked at the food she was eating. Then, Nadi reached out a hand and asked her mother to cut a piece of meat for her. Flora did so and remained silent as she thought about what she had been told. Flora remembered that Maya tried to take Nadi earlier to the nursery and only refused when Nadi hid behind her. Flora was beginning to doubt if there really was a nursery where she could leave Nadi. Is there really a nursery? Flora asked herself. Who will watch over Nadi if there is?After Flora had finished eating, she rose with Maya who had given her general instructions on what she would need to do inside the house. Flora would be cleaning all the hallways and the common areas. As for the rooms, access would be given by Maya who would unlock the rooms that would need to be cleaned. Flora would do the laundry at least once a week and could start that very day
Flora stood motionless for a few seconds as she tried to process what she was seeing in her hand. She pulled out the white sleeve from under the pile of colored clothes but did not expect to see a man’s white shirt with the whole front part covered in dried blood. She tried hard to explain to herself what she saw. Perhaps the man had cut himself, but to have that much blood could mean that the man could have died. Perhaps the man had helped someone else who got heavily injured and knowing that they were on an island, the poor victim could have bled to death. But that would still mean that someone had died. Why was it that each explanation she thought of seemed to point to someone dying, Flora asked herself.Flora realized that her hand was shaking as she held out the shirt in front of her. She tried to control herself as she thought of what to do with the thing that she held. “Told you it was red!” said Nadi, pointing at the bloodied shirt that her mother was holding.“Oh, Nadi!” said
Flora pulled her daughter towards her as she looked at Emil. Nadi played with her veil and started covering her face with it. “Just place your clothes there with the others,” said Flora motioning at the pile of clothes.“Thanks,” said Emil, placing the basket he was carrying on the floor. Then, he noticed the pile of soiled clothes that Flora assumed to belong from the master and his guests. Emil stopped and spoke to Flora without looking at her.“I also have a little girl,” he said.“You do?” asked Flora. “Where is she? Maybe she can play with Nadi.”Emil stayed silent and slowly stood up straight, turning towards the laundry room door. “My wife. She’s with my wife,” said Emil, his expression as blank as his words.“Are they here? Did Pablo also allow you to bring them here with you?” asked Flora.“Yes, they’re here,” answered Emil an
“So, you two are on first name basis now?” said Eva in a sarcastic tone. Emil had already left with the trolley after depositing Eva’s bags and the two women stood in the corridor with Nadi. They were standing in the corridor of the servants’ quarters and Eva was unlocking the door to her room. The keys jangled and she opened her door. “He did tell me his name when he stopped by the laundry room earlier,” replied Flora who also opened the door to her room. Nadi ran inside as soon as the door opened. “I got in first!” Nadi cried, but the two women ignored her. Flora closed the door to her room.“He didn’t go to the kitchen,” said Eva, looking at the end of the corridor through which Emil had walked out. She then crossed her arms and leaned back on the wall.“He said he forgot to bring in his laundry this morning, so he came to drop off his laundry bin.” Flora rested her back on the door and felt the knob on her back. “By the way, just so you know, he’s married with a kid. He also told
Eva led Flora and Nadi inside the anteroom to the kitchen and had Flora change her slippers with those that were provided in the open shelves. At first, Eva was undecided on Nadi’s footwear, but Flora suggested that she just stay at the anteroom and play with her doll.“Are you okay playing here, Nadi? Mommy’s just inside this door to help your Auntie Eva,” said Flora.Nadi looked at her mother and asked, “Why can’t I play inside?”“Well, Auntie Eva and Mommy will be cooking dinner. There will be boiling water and knives and we don’t want you to get hurt,” replied Flora.Nadi sat on a stool and stayed silent for a moment. “I also want to cook dinner,” she said sadly. Then, she lifted her head and looked at her mother. “Is the wrinkled lady inside?” she asked.Flora tried to suppress a laugh but could not when she heard Eva laughing at her side.“O
Flora had to blink before she could confirm that it was really her that Rosa was looking at. She stood at attention and looked at Rosa’s face wrinkled face. The old woman’s brows were knitted, creating deeper lines on her forehead and making her gaze even more intense.“Take off that dirty thing you wrapped around your waist,” Rosa commanded, slicing the air with her hand. Flora realized that Rosa was referring to the apron that Flora used while cooking the food and preparing the dessert. Rosa turned to her side and opened a drawer from which she took out a folded white cloth. She then proffered it Flora who was still could not believe what was happening.“Wear this so that the master’s guest won’t see how filthy you are,” Rosa added and crinkled up her nose as if disgusted at seeing Flora dress.Flora stole a glance at Eva who stood at one side with her head bowed and was staring at the floor. Then, Flora hesitatingly untied her stained apron at the back and reached for the clean one