L E O N A R D O
"Leo!" I heard my mom's voice from outside.
I strolled outside and saw my mom standing beside her car while the guy who was cleaning the pool earlier struggled to bring out something.
"Help him with the tree." My mom ordered.
Tree? What tree?
I peeked inside the car and saw a big long fir tree itching to be decorated.
"What's the need to put up Christmas decorations? Christmas is already days away." I face palmed myself.
"Regardless! It wouldn't hurt to bring out that Christmas spirit." My mom encouraged. "Now bring out the tree." She frowned.
I passed through the other door and successfully pushed out the trees from the opposite side.
After formally introducing himself to me as Daniel, the driver, gardener and pool cleaner, he offered to carry the tree inside while Riona and Martha carried a couple more bags inside.
"Mom why did you make Winter stress so much? She had a meeting this morning and yet you took her places to buy ornaments." I complained to my mom.
"If it makes you feel any better, I was the one who bought everything, she waited inside a restaurant." My mom pouted.
"Let's just go inside." I sighed.
My mom walked in front of me with slumped shoulders making sure to let me notice. My mom always tends to get sad when scolded and she doesn't even try to hide it. She's like a little kid looking for attention.
After reaching inside, I gasped at how many paper-bags were sited on the tiled floor.
"I'll get you all some refreshments," Riona announced before heading to the kitchen.
We all gathered at the living room where everyone comfortably sat.
This is the first time so many people are in the house and it feels kinda nice.
Wouldn't it feel so much better to have kids running around here?
Wait, what was that thought?!
I could feel heat spread across my face.
"Leo what are you doing?" Rachel questioned and everyone looked at me with blank faces.
"Uh..nothing." I lowered my face to avoid any of them seeing my red face.
"So why were you staring at Winter and you even turned as red as a tomato?" She smirked just as Riona arrived with cups of juice for everyone.
"I uh..." I tried to piece my statement together but as if on cue Riona dropped one of the glasses on the floor causing the glass to shatter before everybody's eyes.
"I'm sorry." She apologized almost immediately and went down to pick up the pieces.
Her hands were trembling as she attempted to pick up the pieces.
"Why's she so jumpy?" Rachel turned to Winter.
"Emilia, relax." Winter warned Riona. "Pick it up carefully so you don't cut your hand." She added.
"Yes, I'll-." She looked at Winter before letting out a scream.
In a matter of seconds, red liquid dropped from her hand into the white tile. She isolated her fourth finger and used her other hand to wrap it up quickly.
A look of concern appeared on everyone's face as we all rushed towards her. I grabbed her and pulled her up to her feet. She just stood there in shock, her eyes widened.
"Emilia! Are you okay?"
"Are you alright?"
"Riona are you fine?"
A daunted expression appeared on her face, her hand and body were shivering.
"It's no good, Leo help her to the sofa, I'll go get a first aid box." Winter instructed me before rushing upstairs to get the box.
"I'll get a bowl of water to wash the blood off her hands." Rachel announced before she rushed off to the kitchen.
I took Riona in my arms and carried her to the sofa.
After Rachel returned to the living room, I unwrapped her hand from the finger and put it in the bowl.
Most likely due to the shocking effect of the cold water, she shook her body and when she saw everyone staring at her, her eyes widened.
Winter brought the first aid box and I opened it. Taking out cotton wool, I soaked it in methylated spirit and cleaned the wound.
I was handed a plaster which I placed on the cut then used another cotton wool to clean up the blood that dripped down her arm.
"I apologize for this behavior, it won't happen again." Her cracked voice apologized.
"It's alright Emilia," Winter shifted a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You should be more careful." She added.
"Thank you ma'am, I will." She smiled. "Now let me clean this up." Her eyes darted to the spilled blood on the floor.
"You shouldn't." I voiced out. "You should test." I suggested.
"He's right. Where's everyone anyway?" Winter looked back and around.
"Rach could you please call anyone you find in the kitchen or the quarters?"
"Sure." Rachel immediately responded.
"There's no need, I'll let someone know, I'm going to my room now." Riona insisted.
She pinched my arm as she got up, "Thank you." She smiled before walking away.
We all watched her exit the living room until we couldn't see her anymore.
"She's quite the helper." My mom sighed. "Since it's already getting late, I'll be on my way now." My mom announced.
"I think I should also be on my way." Rachel voiced out.
"I'll walk you both out." Winter offered.
"I'll join you all." I insisted.
"Don't forget to set up the tree and put up the decorations. Doing activities together helps strengthen the relationship between lovers." My mom preached.
"Will do!" Winter laughed.
We both watched them drive out of the house until we couldn't anymore.
"So what now?" I asked Winter whilst still looking towards the direction of the gate.
"Well how about we have lunch then start setting up everything?" She smiled, her eyes sparkling under the sun.
"Sounds like a plan." I smiled.
We both went back into the house and once again the whole place was quiet.
"Where are the girls? I'd really love if we all could decorate the house together!" She clasped her hands together.
"I think Iris should be returning any moment now and Cassidy is probably asleep." I answered her.
"Let's have lunch then."
**