Carmen woke to the sound of children talking. She opened her eyes to a lacy canopy over her head. The voices were those of Destiny and Natalie but she had never seen a bed with a canopy before. She rolled over and the girls immediately ran to her.
"Mommy! You're awake!"
They climbed on the bed and began showering her with welcome kisses. Carmen hugged them. "Where are Daddy, Matthew and Jonathan?"
Destiny answered. "They went outside to see some horses. Daddy said we could stay in here if we were quiet. He didn't want us to wake you." She frowned. "Did we wake you?"
Carmen smiled. "No, I finally woke on my own." She sat up. "I must have been pretty tired. I don't remember coming in here last night."
Destiny looked up at her. "Daddy carried you up the stairs." She turned and pointed to a door. "He put some clothes for you in the bathroom."
Carmen pulled the blankets back and looked down to see if she was wearing any clothes. She was wearing a soft pink nightgown. Had Alex dressed her as well? She couldn't remember a thing after the taxi arrived. She tossed the covers aside.
"You girls stay in this room. I need to take a shower and dress before we go…downstairs."
She expected to find her clothes from the day before hanging in the bathroom, but instead she found a lilac colored silk dress with a wide belt. Who did they belong to? Surely Alex hadn't been out shopping.
She took her time in the shower, using the scented soap and samples of shampoo and conditioner. It was more like a hotel than a home. Who were these people? Were all of Alex's relatives wealthy? How did they gain that wealth?
After Carmen showered and dressed, she braided her hair, wrapping it around her head. She anchored it with a lilac comb that looked like it went with the dress. A pair of white sandals sat next to the door - her size. Once she was dressed, she took Natalie and Destiny downstairs. She looked down at Destiny. "Did you eat breakfast yet?"
Destiny nodded. "We ate with Daddy."
They descended the stairs to a large lobby with floor to ceiling windows on one side looking out on a veranda made of marble tile. A Spanish looking woman came into the lobby and smiled a welcome. Carmen had no idea if she was the owner or a relative. She smiled at the woman.
"I was looking for Alex." She offered a hand. "I'm his wife, Carmen."
The lady shook her hand. "I'm Karinda, the housekeeper." She eyed the dress.