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“Camilla? Corinne?” Caitlyn stepped into the foyer and shrugged off her jacket. Next to her, Vi did the same. Caitlyn scanned the room. When no footsteps or voices were heard, Vi echoed louder “Cam!? Cori!?” When there was no response, they began their trek through the home. Caitlyn checked the sitting room. Vi checked the family game room. When there was no sign of the girls, they continued their search.
“Cori?” Vi peaked around the corner into Cori’s room. “Cam?”
Caitlyn did the same across the hall. Still no sign of the girls. Where could their daughters be?
Caitlyn searched her and Vi’s shared bedroom. She knew better than to find the girls there without her or Vi’s permission. But she checked anyway. In another part of the house, Vi checked the main bathroom. Dry. And most importantly, empty. She walked out of the bathroom and down the long hallway and knocked on a large door. After a moment, the door opened to Tobias’s curious expression.
Tobias softly smiled when he realized it was Vi. “Oh. You’re home. How was the banquet?”
Vi sharply exhaled through her nose and rubbed the back of her neck. “You know how those things are.”
Tobias huffed a small laugh. “Indeed I do.” Tobias scanned Vi’s face. “Something you need Violet?”
Vi softly nodded “You seen the girls?”
Tobias’s brow furrowed. “Now that you mention it, it’s been rather quiet on this end of the house.” A beat. “Last I saw them, they were attempting to play Ko Shogi again.” Tobias gave Vi a look and she softly chuckled. “Yes. That went about as well as you expected.”
Vi gave a heartier laugh. “I keep telling Cam that Cori is too young. But she insists that Caitlyn taught her at that age.”
Tobias hummed. “She may in fact have been younger. Caitlyn was quite excited to show her the ropes. But even so, I’ve tried advise my oldest granddaughter that her younger sister may not be the strategist that her mother is.”
At that, Vi couldn’t help but smile. “At any rate. I better find them. Thank you Baba.”
Tobias politely nodded and closed his bedroom door as Vi turned around and started down the hallway. Within a few minutes, Vi was in the kitchen. Surprise flashed on the faces of everyone in the room, Vi included, when she made eye contact with the night staff.
“Did you need something Mrs. Kiramman?”
Vi stood wide eyed and, before she could speak, all eyes shifted behind her.
Kieran spoke again. “Oh! Mistress Kiramman!” All of the staff in the room stood a little straighter. “How can we help you?” Vi turned and Caitlyn softly smiled at her.
Caitlyn addressed Kieran directly. “I imagine Violet is here for the same reason that I am. Looking for Corinne and Camilla.” Kieran turns to the other women and they all shake their heads. She turns to Caitlyn.
“Sorry, Mistress. We havena seen the young ladies of the manor tonight. However, we did leave their favorite finger foods in the dining room in anticipation of your evening out.”
Caitlyn softly hummed. “I see. Thank you, Kieran.”
Caitlyn turns towards Vi and gently takes her hand. “Come, Darling. Let’s see if the girls are in the dining room.”
Vi gently strokes Caitlyn’s knuckles with her thumb, then gives her a slight nod. Caitlyn walks towards the dining room with Vi in tow. When they enter the room, it’s quiet. And empty. Vi takes this moment to give Caitlyn a cheeky look.
Caitlyn responds, already slight exasperated. “Wut?”
Vi’s smirk widens into a grin. “I still can’t get used to people calling you “Mistress.”
Caitlyn scoffs and rolls her eyes. “It’s been years.” She cuts a look at Vi, who doesn’t stop grinning. “It’s a term of respect, Violet. Not a sign that I’m domming the staff.”
With the hand not held by Caitlyn, Vi reaches over, grabs a popcorn kernel and pops it into her mouth. “That’s a shame. I’m sure a few of them have fantasized about it.” Caitlyn regretted that she’d also popped a bite of popcorn into her mouth. Because she almost choked.
“Violet!” Caitlyn let go of Vi’s hand to grab her chest.
Vi couldn’t tell of it was due to the choking, or to clutch her pearls. But Vi bursted out laughing all the same. “What? You’re hot when you take charge, Cupcake.”
Caitlyn swatted at her. “We need to find our daughters.” Caitlyn started out of the room with Vi following closely behind. Still snickering softly.
As they walked, Vi thought out loud. “If they aren’t down here, in their rooms, or in any of the common areas, then there’s only one other place they could be.”
Caitlyn stopped and turned to her. “They know they aren’t supposed to be in our offices.” There was a new firmness to her voice.
Vi nodded. “That’s why they must be in the study. It’s the only place we haven’t checked.”
Caitlyn gave a single nod. Then Vi felt the slight twitch of Caitlyn’s palm in hers. A telltale sign of anxiety. Vi turned to face Caitlyn fully.
“They’ll be in there Cupcake. There’s only so many places that they could be.” Vi reaches up with her spare hand and caresses Caitlyn’s cheek. She can’t help but to smile as Caitlyn’s features relax.
“Yes. I suppose there is.”
And with that, they walked hand in hand towards the study.
As Vi and Caitlyn reached the entrance to the study, Caitlyn let go of Vi’s hand and stretched it across Vi’s front to keep her from entering. Vi looked at her wife curiously. Then she heard it. Camilla’s voice. Soft. But thrumming with excitement.
“And THIS, is our great grandmother Calliope.”
“Cuh-lie-oh-pee,” Corinne mimed after her older sister.
“Uh huh. She was really cool. She invented cars!”
In the doorway, Vi couldn’t help but laugh. And the girls quickly turned their heads. Caitlyn elbowed her for laughing.
“Mommy!” Corinne screeched and ran over to tackle Vi. Caitlyn bit back the urge to scold her for running in the study. But her mini me was on it.
“Hey. No running,” Camilla pouted as she walked towards Caitlyn.
Corinne was still wrapped around Vi’s legs. Caitlyn softly hummed as Camilla hugged her. “Did you enjoy your dinner Mama?”
Caitlyn wrapped her arms around her daughter. “Yes. I rather did.” Corinne giggled as Vi scooped her up.
“What are you girls doing in here?” Vi asked Corinne as she started to tickle her stomach. Cori giggled.
“Cammy is teaching me to be a Kiramman m…m…” Corinne scrunched her brows in a way that made her look entirely too much like Cailtyn.
“Matriarch?,” Vi finished for her.
“Uh huh!”
Caitlyn looked down at Camilla. “Is that what you’re doing in here?”
Camilla nodded up at her mother. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Well then.” Caitlyn announced to the room. I believe that calls for a little treat.” Corinne was already squirming in Vi’s arms and yelling “Yay!” before Cailtyn could even name the prize. Vi and Caitlyn both chuckled.
“Not too much though.” Vi cut in. “It’s almost your bed time.” Corinne only deflated slightly.
“Yes, Mommy.” Camilla replied obediently. Caitlyn took Cam’s hand in hers as she and Vi led the girls to the kitchen.
Caitlyn placed the dirty ice cream bowls in the sink as Vi gently picked up a sleepy Corinne, who was nearly half asleep in her chair. Vi turned to Camilla. “Come on, Muffin. Time for bed” Camilla started to say “Yes, Mommy,” but it was cut off by a yawn. She quickly covered her mouth.
Caitlyn huffed a small laugh. “Looks like you two wore yourselves out while we were gone.” Camilla nodded.
After she’d put Camilla to bed, Caitlyn walked over to Corinne’s doorway where Vi was leaning. She was watching her daughter sleep peacefully. Stuffed bunny tucked under her arms. Caitlyn leaned her body weight into Vi.
Vi softly smiled. “Ya know Cupcake, I wouldn’t trade this for the world.”
Caitlyn turned and gently kissed Vi on the cheek. “I know, Darling. I wouldn’t either.”