15 lets go on picnic...

Cristine smiled back at her and said, "And you must be Claire?''

Claire nodded and shyly put her hands at her back with her eyes looking at her like she was stars strucked.

"You are very beautiful just like how Joseph described you to be", she giggled a little but still did not go near her.

"Really? And you are so beautiful as well, we are indeed sisters", she said with the smile plastered on her face.

"Are you not mad at me?'', she asked directly with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. She got her eyes from her dad, her porcelain-like skin from Celine as well as her nose and lips.

She was taken aback by her question.

"How can I be mad at you? You are my sister and we are both beautiful", she teasingly said to ease the tension that she felt from Claire. She is only four years old and how could she know what being mad is all about?

"Come here, I am not mad at you why would I do that?'', she said extending her arms urging Claire to go near her.

Claire slowly walked toward her and her eyes full of anticipation. Cristine squatted on the floor to be leveled with Claire. When she got close, Cristine hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheeks. They looked at each other.

Claire touched her face with her little hands, she is now more relaxed than earlier.

"You are so beautiful just like on the TV", she said adoringly at her big sister.

"We have the same eyes", Cristine said lovingly at her.

"Why did you ask if I am mad at you?'', Cristine asked her again.

"Because mom is always mad at me, she said she hates me", Claire said innocently.

Cristine was a bit surprised and she frowned. Why would Celine hate her own daughter? She thought Celine only hated her for reasons that she is not aware of and now she hates her own daughter?

"She had an accident, she is not feeling well so just bear with her", Cristine explained.

"But…", Claire did not finish what she was about to say.

"Are you ready?'', came Joseph who came from the back door. He was wearing a pair of tattered jeans, a white shirt that hugged his gym perfect body, with the sleeves slightly rolled up and a pair of boots. He looked perfect, Cristine thought but dismissed the idea immediately.

"Good morning Joseph", said Claire and ran toward him. Her mood changed immediately upon seeing Joseph.

Joseph lifter her up and pinch her nose. "Good morning beautiful, so you already met your big sister?'', he asked Claire before putting her down and glanced at Cristine who slowly stood up from squatting on the floor.

"You need to hurry up, it is not good to go on picnic with the sun on its peak", he said and took the picnic basket from the maid.

"Picnic? Who is going on a picnic?'', she got confused, she did not know about it.

"Joseph planned a picnic for you big sister so you can see the whole farm", Claire excitedly exclaimed.

Cristine looked at Joseph but he just smiled.

"Come on, hurry up", he went out of the door leaving her no choice but to follow. Claire also followed them. Joseph was walking fast toward the stable at the back while Cristine and Claire followed, trying to catch up with him.

When the girls arrived at the stable, Joseph was already preparing two horses. One black and the other is white. They looked so beautiful but the black one was like Joseph, standing so tall and mighty while the white looked gentle and feminine.

A helper came bringing saddles for them. He mounted the saddles on the two horses.

"Hi Uncle George", Claire greeted the helper who returned her greeting gleefully and continued to gear the horses.

"Hey bunny, you will be late with your ballet lesson so it is better that you back to the mansion I'm sure Nanny Eve is already looking for you", Joseph said as he squatted to look her in the eyes.

"Okay, I will go now", she said and took a glance at Cristine beside her. She whispered something to Joseph which made Joseph chuckled and pinched her nose.

"Yes your highness", Joseph playfully bowed down at her and she giggled before turning to Cristine and bade goodbye. Cristine kissed her on the cheek.

"Claire'', Nanny Eve was already at the entrance of the stable holding a bag and waved at her.

"Coming Nanny Eve", replied Claire and ran toward her.

"Shall we?'', Joseph asked making Cristine turned to look at him. He was smiling at her with his left hand extended toward her urging her to go near him.

George and Joseph led the horses out of the stable while Cristine followed them. A maid handed her a wide-brimmed hat and a scarf. She took it from the maid. She felt so unsure realizing that she will be riding a horse. The first time she rode a horse was a disaster.

"Come on, I will help you up Snow", Joseph said extending his hand toward her. The name of the horse is snow just like its mane which is as white as snow.

She hesitated and stared at Joseph. Fear can be seen in her eyes and Joseph realized that she is scared. He remembered the incident from 5 years ago when the horse has gone rouge. He sighed.

"George, we will only be using Lightning today, put Snow back to the stable.

"Yes sir", replied George confusedly. He just started working with Joseph 2 years ago so he had no idea of that incident.

"You don't have to do this", Cristine said to Joseph.

''The last time you were here, you were not able to tour around the farm and it is high time that we do that now so you will get familiarized with it", Joseph explained with a trace of regret on his eyes. She was only at the farm for a few months before she was sent away.

"I don't have to, who knows I will have to be sent away again", she can't help but be sarcastic when she said it.

"That will not happen", he said as if giving her a promise.

She shrugged her shoulder, dismissing her thoughts. She wondered why Joseph seemed to be in a good mood. He was smiling a lot, different from the person she met 5 years ago. She liked this version of him but she doesn't want to get used to it because deep down inside she knew that sooner or later, she will be sent away again.

''Come on", he quickly lifted her up the horse. She adjusted herself in the saddle while Joseph immediately followed her. Her back touched the chest of Joseph which made her gasps. She tightened her hold on the saddle, fully aware of Joseph's presence at her back.

"Yah…", Joseph commanded the horse to move. The horse started to gallop causing her to gasp and tighten her hold. Joseph felt her body tensed a little so he tightened his left hand around her waist to secure her.

After a few minutes, they reached the mango plantation.

"hooo….", Joseph commanded the horse to slow down so they can take a good look at the mango trees.

There were workers wrapping the fruits of the mangoes with papers. Some of the workers who noticed them bowed their heads as a sign of respect and they continued on what they were working.

"There are 3,000 mango trees in this plantation. We harvest twice a year and we export them to New Zealand", Joseph explained as they continue to tour around the plantation.