This is the 2nd part to http://www.The Missing Twin Monday’s post.
“Would you like me to pour some more tea into your cup, that way you would actually have something to stir?”
Belinda looked up at Lisette’s eyes. Warmth was shining out of them. She looked back down at her empty cup that she had been aimlessly stirring for the past several minutes.
Lisette had been such a pleasant hostess to her. She didn’t treat Belinda any different from the other guests. For why should see, Belinda doubted that she knew who she was.
Her perfume line was popular in the states but she kept a low profile, and rarely came to the States. It was fine with her to be inconspicuous, she preferred it that way.
Now though Lisette might be starting to wonder what kind of guest Belinda really is. She had been so quiet the past couple days. Sadness had enveloped her like a dense fog, ever since she had heard the news.
Belinda got up from the table. “No thanks, I think I will take a walk. Check out the woods nearby.”
She made her best effort to smile at Lisette, She guessed that it looked as shaky as a toddler’s drawing of a smile, for that was how she felt inside. Her emotions shaking inside of her.
“The woods are so peaceful, one of my favorite places to go. Enjoy!”
Belinda managed to say Thank you to Lisette, before walking out of the room.
Staring after her Lisette wondered what her story was. When Belinda had first come she was upbeat and had a cheerful spirit around her.
The past couple days though made Lisette wonder what had happened to change her. She had stayed up in her room and barely talked to anyone. The one day she had requested meals brought to her room. Her joyful spirit had deflated, like the air going out of a balloon.
While cleaning up the breakfast dishes Lisette couldn’t get her out of her mind. When Belinda had come she asked for directions to the orphanage, but she hadn’t said why she wanted to go.
Now Lisette wondered if she had been hoping to adopt a child and maybe it fell through. That would have been devastating news for sure.
The orphanage had gone through a total remodeling that it had badly needed. It was in such disrepair when the new owners bought it.
Lisette didn’t know a lot of details but there had been rumors of the previous owners messing up records and kids falling through the cracks. It had been a huge mess but now for the past several years things were running smoothly.
The orphanage didn’t even look like a orphanage. It was a beautiful home and the owners were so caring and loving. The children meant the world to them. It warmed Lisette’s heart to know the orphans were loved.
Belinda kept walking. The coolness of the woods felt good and she was beginning to feel herself relax. Tears still threatened to fall, but she felt more in control than she had these past couple days.
Anna was dead. The owner of the orphanage, Mrs. Rose was so sympathetic and Belinda knew it had been hard for her to share about Anna.
If telling Belinda that she was dead wasn’t a strong blow, telling her about Anna and the life she had led knocked the wind out of her!
Shaking her head, she kept walking. The brisk pace helped her think more clearly. What Belinda had joked about before had come true. She had an evil twin! A murderer!
Lisette was dusting the furniture when the doorbell rang. She put down her cloth and went to open the door.
She was surprised to see Mrs.Rose standing on her porch.
“Hi! Mrs. Rose, what a nice surprise. Would you like to come in?”
‘Hi Lisette, ” Mrs. Rose gave her hand a warm squeeze and followed her inside.
Looking around Mrs. Rose’s green eyes were bright. “This Inn is so charming, the eye you have such a keen eye for decorating.”
Warmed by her praise, Lisette thanked her. “Would you like to have some tea and visit for awhile?”
“That would be most delightful someday but I am afraid I am here on a more serious matter. I really wanted to check on one of your guests, “Miss. Belinda, is she here?”
Lisette’s heart quickened , “She left some moments ago for a walk in the woods. Is there something wrong?”
Mrs. Rose’s eyes filled with distress. “I just haven’t been able to get her out of my mind. I need to go find her. “
With those words she turned around and walked out the door, leaving Lisette bewildered.
Belinda sat staring at her reflection in the water. She had stopped to rest awhile by the lake.
Was that a murderer’s face staring back at her? Was evilness in her blood too, was it inevitable how she would end up?
She heard footsteps coming towards her and looked up.
“Mrs. Rose, what are you doing here?”
“I thought you may need someone, you been dealt a heavy blow. I went to the Inn to speak to you and Lisette said that you had come to the woods. Before you ask, No, I didn’t tell her about you.”
Belinda felt grateful, she just wasn’t ready for anyone else to know yet.
“You aren’t her, you know. She was your twin, but that doesn’t mean you are like her.”
They sat there in silence, for a little while. Then Mrs. Rose spoke. “After all, Anna didn’t have a line of perfumes made by her.” She winked at Belinda.
“Your “Magic of the Sea” is my favorite perfume! And I want you to know something, you being Anna’s twin , is a secret that I will never tell. Its entirely up to you if you want anyone to know.”
Tears brimmed in Belinda’s eyes. She would be okay. Mrs.Rose was right, she wasn’t her sister and noone needed to know.
For the next hour they talked and by the end Belinda was laughing at a crazy story about a cowbell. She definitely had to talk to Lisette when she got back.
Belinda ended up staying for 3 more weeks. It had been a truly, remarkable time and Belinda felt at peace when she flew home.
Six months later Mrs. Rose smiled when she saw Belinda’s new perfume in the store. “Secrets of the Heart”.
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