The Cinder Bullies (12)

"Who is Xavier?" Cindy asked Millie, as they worked together on dried, floral arrangements for the welcome home party. She assumed that Millie would be familiar with the name and thus, able to tell her something about him.

"I have no idea!" said Millie. "Why are you asking?"

"I heard Nadia saying that he would be coming to the welcome home party, and she seemed to be very excited about it."

"Maybe he is one of the estate owners?"

"I don't think so, as I have met them all before. They are wonderful, kind, compassionate and caring people, but there is no one in the family with the name of Xaviar."

"Then, he must be someone very special to Nadia. I guess we will have to wait and see!" said Cindy, as she worked with different kinds of dried flowers. She had learned how to do make bouquets and corsages with them, because there were never any roses in the garden where she was a scullery maid.

"I simply love what you do with these dried flowers," said Millie. "You do have a magic touch!"

"Almost anything can be made to look beautiful," replied Cindy. "Many of them have a wonderful scent, too!"

"You have an eye for beauty!" replied Millie, who had decided to give her the new shawl she had made. She would bring it over on her next visit.

"Would you like a bouquet for yourself and one for Rosa?"

"That would be wonderful, but don't you need these ones for Nadia?"

"There are lots more!"

So, Cindy gave Millie two, scented bouquets of dried flowers to take home with her. Millie was delighted and knew Rosa would be, too.

"Maybe Xavier is the kind of young man that women swoon over?" suggested Millie.

"Maybe even Nadia swoons over him?"

The two young ladies giggled happily, as they worked on the dried floral arrangements.

Nadia was eaves dropping, but decided not to intervene.

"By the way," said Millie, quietly. "Yesterday, I went over to see Maddie."

"You did? How was she?"

"Maddie is in a very, difficult position right now, caught up between two different worlds, so she is not very happy."

"I did not think she would be."

"Rosa says that she will need more time to adjust."

Millie almost regretted bringing up the topic of Maddie, as immediately, she saw the sadness return to Cindy's eyes again.

"I left a bouquet for her," said Millie.

"That is very kind of you, but if I recall, she was not very nice to you before."

"I remember that. Sometimes, a random act of kindness can make things better. Someone has to take the first step. By the way, Maddie won't be invited to the welcome home party, either. Your other sisters and their friends may show up so be prepared, because if they do they may give you a difficult time."

Cindy laughed aloud.

"What else is new?" she responded.

"I think it is more fun to try to figure out who Xavier is than talk about sad things. I hope he will be tall, dark and good looking."

"That he is," said Nadia, with a grin. "And he just loves beautiful young ladies!"