Is this destiny?

Sylvie waved at the departing car and as soon as the car turned behind the corner, the arm which waved enthusiastically, dropped by her side limply and her face darkened.

Sylvie stared without a focus in front of her while rage swelled inside her. How dares that insolent girl just show up and introduce a fiancé?! What is she thinking? Bridgette didn\'t even say his full name. Steve? Steve what? Does he not have a last name? And is Steve his real name or a nickname? What about his family? Sylvie gritted her teeth while thinking that Steve\'s family must be rubbish with no standing. Why else would Bridgette not bring that up? Ah, didn\'t she teach Bridgette that she needs to marry well? What are they going to live from? How is Bridgette going to have kids and take care of family if she needs to work?

"Madam?", Camille\'s voice pulled Sylvie out of her thoughts.

"What?!", Sylvie snapped.

"We should go inside…", Camille said timidly. Based on Sylvie\'s crazed expression, she can guess what is coming.

Sylvie walked inside house and she was not shaking how she did when Bridgette was there.

Camille knows that Sylvie is not so fragile, and she probably does not need that cane either, but she didn\'t dare expose Sylvie in front of Bridgette. It will not bring much good and she would only pull Sylvie\'s wrath on her.

Camille needs this job. With so many young and capable caretakers available, not many will hire a fifty-four year-old woman. Taking care of Sylvie is not easy, but the job comes with a room included and the paycheck is good. No matter how difficult Sylvie\'s temper is, for a single woman like Camille, this job is as good as it gets.

Camille is a widow and her daughter is married with a family of her own. Camille\'s daughter called her to come and live with them, but Camille prefers to be independent, if possible. This job allows her that.

Sylvie stood in the middle of the living room for some time before turning to Camille.

"My son has a daughter I never saw. And his wife is pregnant again…", Sylvie said dryly.

Camille was not sure if there is a question hidden in there, or is she expected to give her opinion, but based on Sylvie\'s sharp gaze, she knows that staying silent is not an option.

"Those are happy news, Madam."

"Happy news?", Sylvie asked with a confusion obvious in her voice.

Camille confirmed. "Yes. I know that you care about your son. And I am sure that there is a way for you to be part of their lives."

"Grandchildren?", Sylvie mumbled. "Part of their lives? Why would I want that?"

"There is no greater joy than grandchildren.", Camille responded with a gentle smile while thinking about her grandson. "Their laughter fills up the house and lifts the mood of everyone present. Their innocence and desire to explore is infectious, making the whole family livelier."

Sylvie sighed and her gaze landed on the cane in her hand.

He eyes narrowed for a second before she started swinging the cane wildly around her. In a second, the room turned into a mess… The lamp fell down, the vase shattered, decorative owl-figurines were broken… and when there was nothing to break in the reach of the cane, Sylvie started moving through the room. She yanked the paintings of the wall and tore the canvas, tugged on the curtains until the rod came out of the wall… Sylvie grabbed the largest piece of the shattered vase and started slashing the furniture… and she did all this without saying a single word.

Camille took a step back and tried to diminish her presence. She knows that when Sylvie gets into this state, getting attention to herself means attracting Sylvie\'s wrath. Sylvie will not stop until everything is destroyed and then she will act like everything is fine, they will buy new furniture and the other décor and things will be back to normal… until Sylvie\'s next outburst.

"Ungrateful spawns!", Sylvie screamed when she stopped demolishing the living room. "They left me and are enjoying their lives while keeping me in this house to rot! This is the thanks I\'m getting after I gave my best years on raising them! I taught them to think for themselves, and they used that to rebel! Where did I go wrong? Why don\'t I have filial children who will stay by my side and take care of me now that I\'m old and fragile? It must be that bastard\'s fault! Damien turned them against me! He found himself that slut and took my kids away as well! ..." Sylvie\'s rants and incoherent rambling continued for some time.

Sylvie\'s crazed eyes landed on Camille. "You say that I should enjoy my grandchildren? How can I enjoy when they are keeping me out of it? They obviously don\'t want anything to do with me!"

Camille looked at Sylvie and there was again that tense silence when Camille should say something. "Madam… Didn\'t Bridgette stop by to share the good news and invite you to be part of their lives?"

Sylvie snorted. "She did, but Felix didn\'t!"

"Felix is a boy and they have difficulty expressing their feelings. That is why Bridgette came to talk for the both of them."

Sylvie moved torn canvas from the sofa cushion which had only one tear on it and she sat there before looking at Camille inquisitively. "You think so?"

Camille responded with a nod.

"You really think that Felix will let me hold my grandchild and take care of her and teach her the values a proper lady should have?"

Camille wanted to say that she would not go that far, but she didn\'t dare say that at loud. "Madam, I am positive that if you show your good intentions, they will reciprocate favorably."

Sylvie tilted her head slightly while her eyes dimmed like she lost her will to fight.

Camille sighed in relief. It seems that this episode is over.

Camille was startled when Sylvie stood up from the sofa abruptly.

"Clean up the mess. You know what to do.", Sylvie ordered.

"If any of my children find out about this, I will make it so that you lose your job. Don\'t think that I don\'t know that you are sending them reports behind my back!", Sylvie said while walking down the hallway into her bedroom.

The door slammed shut, startling Camille.

Camille\'s sight fell on the broken owl figurines. She thought how it\'s a pity they are broken. She liked them: two large and one small owl. They looked like an owl family. Camille told herself that when she orders a replacement, she will get something she does not like. Then she will not be sad when they are ruined.

Camille wondered if this is as good as it gets. Can she get a better job? If she leaves, they will probably find another caretaker, and what about her? She went to get her notebook. That is where phone numbers are for the company who offers services to take out the mess, and also for the furniture gallery from where she orders replacement furniture.

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