Chapter 75

Third Person POV

‘That’s it,’ Vera thought.

Vera always wanted a mom.

Her dad tried. But he was always kind of awkward with emotions. He tried to make up for it by getting everything she ever wanted. She liked them.

Yet…no toys or pretty dresses could fill that void.

Vera loves her dad…but Vera had been lonely before.

Then one day they came into Vera’s life. A girl with her face. Her secret twin.

Patti.

She had never asked for a sibling. But somehow that made it even better. For Patti had also brought Vera’s wish to life with her.

Nan…a mom for Vera and Patti.

It was also so perfect. Vera and Patti’s hard work had paid off! They got their parents together.

Those months were the happiest of Vera’s life. Her dad actually spend time with them. Nan was everything Vera had hoped for in a mother.

She made breakfast for them. She read them bedtime stories and tucked them in. She helped them with their homework and took them out to the park to play.

It was great. Until it suddenly wasn’t.

Vera did not understand how everything could go so wrong.

Nan was just gone one day. Gone forever. Vera hadn’t even gotten to see her!

Vera misses her mom.

But Patti was even worse. Patti was always so sad now. Her wolf ears and tail always drooped.

Vera tried to make Patti smile. But nothing worked. Vera couldn’t even turn into a wolf yet to be with her!

And her dad…Vera still has not forgiven him.

Nobody would tell either her or Patti why their mom was gone. But Vera had often caught a strange look in her dad’s eyes. She just knew he was to blame.

Vera did not like being mad at her dad. But it was his fault that their mom was gone. And he wasn’t doing anything to fix it.

Couldn’t he see that they just wanted their mom?

‘But grown-ups are stupid.’ Vera reminded herself. ‘Always making stuff hard.’

If they wouldn’t do anything…

“Don’t worry Patti. I’ll fix it.” Vera strokes her sister’s furry head.

Patti’s ear twitches. It’s the only sign she gives that she had heard Vera. But Vera smiles anyway.

So Vera waits for days. She waits and plans. Then one day her patience is rewarded.

It’s the first day in a while that Patti is in her human form. The entire staff and dad have spent most of the time fussing over her. Patti eventually begs to be left alone.

Her dad agrees after the doctor warns how confusing it is for her after being in wolf form too long. Vera waits until everyone else is gone. Then she turns to her sister.

“Patti, do you have your aunt’s number?” Vera asks urgently.

Patti blinks at her. “Yeah. Why?”

“I have an idea how to find mom.” Vera announces.

Patti sits up. A sparkle in her honey brown eyes at that. Something Vera is all too happy that she put there.

“How?”

“You said mom has some sisters. Wouldn’t they know where she is?” Vera concludes.

Patti tilted her head in thought. “I don’t know. I know auntie Dena and mom did not talk for a long time.”

Vera was not deterred. “What about the other one?”

Patti’s eyes lit up. “Yeah! I’m sure auntie Kay knows.”

Vera pulled out a phone. “Here, use this phone.”

Patti gave her an odd look. They both knew very well that wasn’t Vera’s phone. But she let it go.

It took several tries. Patti was able to reach her auntie Kay first. The woman was stunned to hear from her nieces.

Vera thought the woman sounded rather warm…despite the flash of barely concealed anger when their dad was mentioned. It confirmed Vera’s theory about her dad. Vera only became surer of her decision.

Yet Patti was not quite right. Kay had kept her mouth shut about their mom’s location. Patti had been in near tears until Kay spoke up again.

“Listen, it’s not for me to say sweetheart. I promised not to get involved. But there is someone you could ask…” Kay hedged out.

“Who?” Vera demanded. Upset at her sister’s teary eyes.

“Try Dena. She’s the one who would know.” Kay finally said.

The call with auntie Dena went nearly the same. Vera threatened and cajoled. Patti pleaded tearfully.

Until they finally heard her sigh and mutter. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“I can’t tell you what happened. You’ll have to ask her yourself. Patti…do you remember the old playground near Rosewood?”

“Yeah. Mom said not to go there without an adult.” Patti replied.

“She’s in the apartments one street over. Second floor, apartment 21B.” Dena revealed.

Patti gasped. “No…mom said it was not safe. She can’t stay there.”

“And it’s not. You really should not go there.” Dena cautioned.

But Vera was curious now. “If you did not want us to go, why did you tell us?”

Dena sighed once more. “Because you two were right sweet girls…you need Nan. And Nan needs you too.”

“Don’t worry Ms. Dena, we’ll save our mom.” Vera asserted.

Dena snorted. “Vera, just call me auntie Dena like your sister. No matter what anyone says otherwise…you are my sister’s daughter too.”

That claim made Vera blush. ‘Now I have two aunties.’ Vera thought. ‘My family is only getting bigger!’

Then auntie Dena’s voice became stern.

“I am not just going to let you run loose on the city. You two are only children. So here is what you will do…”

It took a few more days longer than Vera would have liked. But both girls thought it was a good plan. Safer than anything Vera could have made.

They waited for the day that their dad returned to work. Then they grabbed their bags and snuck out of sight. Within minutes they were on their way.

On their way to bring their mom home.

Lionel’s POV

I am frantic.

My daughters have gone missing. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. Made only worse by their near kidnapping.

I interrogated every servant. Everyone who even remotely came into contact with them. Making sure this was not a kidnapping.

But I came up empty. No one had taken part in this. Yet no one knew where my girls were either.

I sent out search parties everywhere. Yet I did not dare bring in the police. I did not want to advertise the fact that two heiresses had gone missing.

It would only invite genuine kidnapping attempts.

The next place searched was there belonging. It was then that I found some of their items missing. Bags…clothes…chargers.

I knew then that they had run away.

It hurt more than I ever thought possible. I knew I was failing my girls. But had I failed them so badly that they needed to run away?

Their search history was cleared. But that was not enough to stop my top hackers from recovering the date. Evidence of transportation tickets and a credit card were used.

I had no idea where they are going…but I would find them.

My worry is interrupted by a phone call. It is not one I recognize. But I answer anyway.

“Hello?”

“…Dad.” Patti says.

“Patti! Where are you?” I immediately ask.

“I’m sorry. But I need my mom. We’ll come home when we get her back.”

She hangs up before I can reply. I am shocked. I try calling back…only to be met with a dead tone.

‘Nan…they’re going to see Nan.’ I think.

It is only a matter of having my investigators pull up her new address. I am immediately on the trail. A strange mixture of worry and hope churning my stomach.

‘Was I wrong about Nan?’ My mind whispers. Doubts I have been suppressing rising at the idea of seeing her again.

The neighborhood I arrive in is…poverty stricken, to say the least. My worry for my daughter increases the more I take in the dilapidated building and sketchy figures. And guilt as I think about Nan living here.

The inside of the building is somehow worse. An out of order elevator and poor lighting only make that clear. Not even mentioning the unmaintained safety regulations I catch as I walk upstairs.

My apprehension is high. I reach the apartment number listed under her name. I knock on the door.

There is a shuffling of feet. The sound of multiple locks being opened. Then the door opens.

And there she is.