Chapter Three

Gertrude

	Gertrude walked out of Dorthy’s room and let out a breath of air, she tossed the other Tea Members a forced smile and walked the opposite direction. She headed down the mail elevator to the first floor, then ducked into the library to make two quick cups of chamomile tea. After she set the tops on the cups, she drew in a deep breath and picked up the two teas. 
	She walked down to room 114, she grimaced to herself at the thought of having to enter Patricia Mots room. ‘It has to be done’ she reminded herself and righted herself. She shook head slightly, to shake off all her bad vibes. Restoring the smile to her face, she beamed light by the time she reached the door. She rang the bell and heard the indoor chimes to “Deck the Halls”. Christmas was Patricia’s favorite time of the year.
	“Hold on, I’m coming.” a whirring noise could be heard, then door unlocking, then whirring again. “Okay, you can come in now.” Patricia called out.
	Gertrude juggled the cups and went inside.
	Patricia’s room is very cottage core. All her furnishings are solid cherry, even her sofa had a cherry frame with cross stitched cushions. They were made to look like Chinoiserie Toile, upon closer inspection you could see an actual farm scene taking place. Workers in the field harvesting wheat with a scythe.  Milkmaids milking in the barn, and the farmer plowing the field with an ox and whip. It was very intricate and took someone a huge part of their time to make it. She only had the one couch, to either side of it were end tables with neoclassical cut crystal and brass table lamps,  fringe on the lampshade to match the couch. The coffee table in front of the couch had a doily spread out on it and a fake floral centerpiece, there was nothing stacked under it. Each wall had a bookcases that looked like they had been custom made for the room. Over and under the windows were even a row of shelves. The top row was completely barren, but the rest were littered with family pictures a few books and three house plants. 
	Gertrude always found her choice of plant mates interesting. Jade Pothos, an easy to care for plant, isn’t picky about sunlight. Rather hard to kill, but spreads like wildfire, also it’s harmful to pets. Silver Leaf Philodendron, it like indirect sunlight, and like the Pothos it likes high humidity, and growing like crazy. Unlike the Pothos it’s lethal to both humans and pets. Last but not least Zamioculcas zamiifolia, this one is a lot harder to maintain, grows slower, but like it’s counterpart it’s deadly to humans and pets.  An old steam vaporizer, from the early seventies, sat on a wood stool near the trifecta of death.
	The house is always clean, but the Alpine has housekeeping come in twice a week. The doors to the other rooms were shut, they were always shut when Gertrude visited.
	Patricia wheeled around til she was facing the couch from the other side of the coffee table.