Chapter 41

December 12th, 2016.

Two weeks.

Two weeks till I see Luke again. It meant sleeping 14 times. If I kept myself busy enough, I could live through it. I walked down the street to Anabelle's house. Seeing the kids was on my list of things to do to pass time until Luke got here.

I walked into the block of flats and noticed decorations everywhere. It wasn't even a week to Christmas, yet people were doing things based on the theme. I even heard a Christmas Carol from a neighbor's flat as I walked down the hallway to get to Anabelle's flat.

I heard the sound of the TV and I knew the kids were in. Based on their schedule, their sister was at work and would be home in a couple of hours.

I knocked on the door.

The door opened, barred from moving further by a chain. I saw Jessie's curious face. When she saw me, she brightened up, closed the door, removed the chain and opened the door without missing a beat.

"Ophelia!" She hugged me.

"Hey, Jessie." I ruffled her hair. "Where's Aubrey?"

"Aubrey! Ophelia's here!" She screamed.

Thundering feet was what I heard until a very adorable six year old wrapped herself around my legs. "Ophelia!"

"Hey, sweetie." I knelt down to her level and pulled her into a hug. "I've missed you." I really did miss the atmosphere, the serenity, the innocence, the peace and quiet.

"That's because you don't drop by anymore."

"Yeah, that's true. Things have been really busy back at my place."

"Did you talk to your friends about bringing me over?" She asked, so full of innocence.

Shoot! I totally forgot I told her that. I searched for a suitable lie in my head.

"Yeah...I did. I talked to some friends and they're okay with it. Its just this mean Boss Lady that owns the place I'm scared to ask."

Aubrey gasped. "How mean is she?"

"Very mean but don't worry, I'm sure you can charm some cuteness into her and make her less mean." I rubbed my nose against hers.

"You really think so?" She laughed.

"I know so." I changed the topic. "Have you guys had lunch?"

"No, but Anna says its okay to order pizza."

"Let's make a deal, why don't we make lunch now, bake some muffins then I'll make pizza later."

"You can make pizza?" She asked wide eyed.

"Yes."

I walked into the kitchen with Aubrey trailing behind me.

----------------------------

The kids ate lunch, then dinner while I tidied up the house, listing necessary grocery items, doing their laundry and vacuuming their rooms.

It was five minutes past 8pm and there was still no sign of Anabelle.

"Are you waiting for Anna?" Jessie asked when she saw me glance at the clock for the millionth time.

"Yes."

"She's got another job now, so she comes home very late, didn't she tell you?"

I pursed my lips, not wanting to say anything to upset Jessie but Anabelle and I needed to sit down and have a long talk about spending quality time with her sisters.

Aubrey had fallen asleep on me while watching a movie, Jessie was buried in her books.

By ten, I put the kids to bed and busied myself replacing missing buttons and mending shirts. Anabelle walked in by 10:30pm.

"Hey." She said, a little bit surprised.

"Welcome." I said without looking up. "There's food in the kitchen."

She walked into the kitchen and put food on her plate, then she walked into the living room.

"You cooked and baked?" She asked after chewing and swallowing.

"Yeah. You need to stock up some groceries I can use to make pizza. I made a list, its on the fridge. Aubrey likes pizza." I still didn't look up.

"You cleaned the house too." She observed.

I didn't say anything.

"What did I do wrong this time?" She asked after a while.

I looked up and raised a brow, thinking she was talking out loud.

"Don't give me that look...you behave in a certain way when you want to admonish me."

My brow went up further. "So you think you know me now?"

"I know you enough to tell when you're mad or happy... And that look on your face, tells me I'm in for some real lecturing that may end in an argument. So why don't we get it over with, what's on your mind?"

"Jessie tells me you've got a new job."

"Yeah." She answered with uncertainty, not sure where this conversation was heading. "What about it?"

"I should be asking that."

She pursed her lips for a moment. "I got a night shift job from a restaurant just down the street."

"So you dumped the job at the ice cream shop?"

"No." She shook her head. "I can't afford to do that. I work at the café in the mornings and the restaurant at night time."

"Why?"

"I need the extra income Ophelia, I need to be independent. Besides, Christmas is coming and it used to be a very big thing for our family. I want my sisters to be happy even though our parents aren't here."

I wanted to ask if the girls were complaining but I held my tongue. "Don't you think your sisters need more of your time than an extra income?"

"So that's what this is about? They aren't complaining..."

"How do you know that?"

She pursued her lips, holding back the reply that may lead into an argument.

I took a deep breath, calming myself down. "Anabelle, you only get to know if a tree is good by it's fruits and right now you're not even sowing enough time into your sisters’ life. They may not show it now but the consequence will come out in the long run. They need someone to talk to, someone to share their daily experiences with, they need someone to motivate them, someone to cheer them up...."

I sighed deeply, wanting to say a lot more but knowing I'd said enough. "You're officially a parent now."

She dropped her plate of food, obviously fed up with me.

"So you're saying I should quit the job at the restaurant?"

"No. I'm not saying you should quit, I'm saying you should be here for your sisters. Make lunch in advance, I don't see how a ten year old can take care of a six year old, even though its the other way around, a six year old taking care of her sick ten old sister."

"I have the weekends off, I'll do my best Ophelia."

"I know you will Anabelle." I reached over to pat her hand.

I spent the entire week with the kids since they were on holidays, leaving the piaceré house immediately I was done with my chores. I was drifting further and further away from Arabella and the girls. I could tell it worried them but no one approached me to say anything.

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December 20th, 2016.

The week to Christmas arrived sooner than expected...and with it came Desmonda's new regulation, that no one was to leave the house, except those assigned with special assignments, till further notice. No explanations whatsoever were given.

With that regulation, my plan of keeping myself busy by seeing the kids was flushed down the drain. It was alright at first but gradually my mind was filled with thoughts of Luke, constantly expecting him to drop by.

One night I turned to see him smiling, laying beside me on the bed, when I reached out to touch him, my hand brushed an empty sheets.

I opened my eyes to realize I was only dreaming lucidly.

And that one time I heard his voice in the hallway, I ran out of my room and bumped into someone else— I was disappointed when I realized it wasn't him.

The next incident was the BMW I spotted outside my window, the same model as the one Luke drove, I would have flown out of the window if it wasn't too small. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces when a strange man stepped out of the vehicle.

----------------------------------------------------

Sitting in the shower stall with my knees drawn up to my chest, I recollected the events of the past days. Its official, I was losing my sanity. My left eye twitched constantly, I had more hallucinations and being locked up in my small room made me feel like I was locked in a mental institution.

I knew I had to leave this house in order to get a breath of fresh air.

The plan was to use Arabella, go out with her when she wanted to go out for grocery shopping or to run errands for Desmonda, then slip out of sight. It turned out Arabella had fallen out of favour with Desmonda, she didn't have special privileges anymore. Now Carlotta was next in command.

Even the Christmas party was cancelled.

I was crushed but I didn't lose hope, instead I took the bull by the horns and walked out of the house one early morning to see the kids, damning the consequences.

I got to their flat and heard the commotion inside. The door was open so I just walked in. I found Aubrey wrapped in a bundle of Christmas lights and Jessie struggling to hang decorations on the wall.

"I told you she'd come Jessie." Aubrey said when she spotted me by the door and ran to meet me but she tripped, falling on her face.

I rushed over to help her and ascertain damages done. When I found none, I untangled the wires around her. "Hey, baby."

"You finally decided to drop by." Anabelle said, bringing in more boxes of decorations.

"Things have changed at the piaceré house. There's a new rule now, no one is allowed to leave the house anymore"

They looked at me for explanations on how I managed to leave.

I just shrugged. "I had to get a breath of fresh air so I sneaked out."

"Won't you get in trouble?" Anabelle asked.

"I'll know the answer to that when I get back."

Three worried pairs of eyes looked at me.

"Does that mean you won't come here any longer?" Aubrey asked sadly, holding my hand.

I cupped her cheek. "Maybe."

That reply dampened the mood, I didn't want to infect them with my gloom.

"Alright, I'm here now! So what's the plan? Christmas is in two days."

"Err... we usually decorate the house in preparation, then we visit the orphanage and help the helpless on the eve of Christmas, exchange and unbox presents on Christmas morning then go out, watch movies and have general fun..."

"Sounds like a plan... Are you having any friends over?" I asked.

"Well, no one else...except you." Anabelle said.

"Then let's get started." I picked up the Christmas lights and got to work.

Everyone got to work doing what they could.

"Things are too quiet around here." I said, noticing the bleak atmosphere. I walked to where the radio was and tuned in to a station playing Christmas songs. "That's better." I said, moving my body and singing along.

Half an hour later....

Everyone was laughing and singing out loud. I picked Aubrey and twirled her around, bumped hips with Anabelle and rubbed backs with Jessie.

We cleaned the house, hung Christmas lights and a mistletoe in every room, decorated the front door and set up the Christmas tree. We didn't buy anything new, Anabelle's mum kept decorations for all events in a special room.

Aubrey did the honour of placing a crystal star at the top of the tree with the help of a ladder. After that, we sat down by the chimney hanging socks. Anabelle hung a white sock, Aubrey hung a pink one, Jessie hung a purple sock.....

Aubrey pushed the box towards me. "Your turn."

"What?"

"Come on, put one up so Santa can fill it." Anabelle pushed the box closer.

"You may not know it but you're part of this family now."

I swallowed. If she only knew the meaning of her statement, I wouldn't stay here forever. A time would come when I would pack up and go back home, forgetting they existed. I couldn't break their hearts by telling them that, so I picked a blue sock and hung it on a nail. "There."

Anabelle smiled sadly, she picked a brightly coloured yellow sock, a dull red one and hung them. "For mum and dad."

That brought back the bleak mood. I let them have their moment of silence. When Anabelle started crying, I squeezed her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug, soothing her affectionately.

Jessie pulled off her glasses, rubbing her eyes furiously. I knew the signs so I guided her head and placed it on my shoulder. Aubrey joined the group hug, hugging her sisters.

When the moment was over they pulled apart, well Anabelle pulled apart, wiping her eyes. I still held Jessie.

"Alright, let's move on to other things." She said with an unsteady voice.

"But we aren't done yet." Aubrey said.

Anabelle turned to her for an explanation.

"What's his favourite colour?" She asked me.

"Who?" I asked, confused.

"Luke!"

I laughed. Touched, I ruffled her hair. "It's blue, baby blue."

She searched the box until she found the perfect one and hung it. "Alright we're done." She clapped her hands. "When are you bringing him over?"

"Once he gets here." I frowned. "He's already a week due."

We walked to the kitchen where Anabelle and I prepared lunch. When we were done eating, we had a little recess. The kids dashed off to the living room while Anabelle and I discussed more things over a cup of coffee.

"So...what are you buying? The gifts for the orphans and homeless?"

"Nothing. Well, I don't have enough money to buy gifts but we're not going empty handed either. Yesterday, we put Aubrey in a costume with a placard around her neck and had her charm people into giving us things; clothes, toys, some people even dropped bills."

"That's great! We can bake some things to add to that, I noticed you stocked up."

"Yeah. I don't wanna be tongue lashed again."

I laughed.

We spent the rest of the day sorting through clothes, discarding the ones that were really bad and folding the useful ones into boxes and most importantly baking: cupcakes, muffins and a lot of cookies. I made a chocolate cake that Anabelle could cut and give slices to neighbors who donated stuff.

I cleaned up and left to go back to the piaceré house. Luckily, it was deserted, and all the lights turned off. I snuck back quietly into my room without attracting attention.

-----------------------------

December 24th, 2016.

The next day, I slipped out of the house again without trouble.

Jessie, Aubrey and Anabelle were up but in their PJs. They were happy I came back. I prepared breakfast and let them freshen up. Anabelle and Jessie picked the boxes of clothes while Aubrey held the envelope filled with money.

By 10 we were ready. I packed the snacks individually and put them in a bag which I carefully slung over my neck.

Out of the house and in the street, the sky was gloomy and covered with dark clouds. The air was cold and biting: signs of winter, Jessie and Aubrey were covered up in thick jackets and wrapped in scarves.

We walked down to the orphanage since we didn't have much money to pay for a cab and the bus didn't take the route to that side of town. We didn't really notice the distance to our destination. We arrived at the rundown building housing orphaned children.

The place was sparsely decorated and the children were dressed in their best, which were rags when compared to the clothes of the visitors around them.

The visitors themselves were few in number, giving out what they could. While everyone celebrated and got wasted during this season, these kids were on their own and no one remembered they existed.

I tuned out the conversation between Anabelle and the nun who ran the place. I walked away instead to a room filled with babies and toddlers. Some teenagers were taking care of them but their attention was off one crawling away in nappies.

I blocked his way and squatted down to his level. He looked up at me with big brown eyes, studying me for a second before giving me a toothless grin.

It warmed my heart. "Hey there, little fella." I picked him up and took him into the room.

"Season's Greetings!" The teens said when they noticed me.

"Yeah. Season's greetings to you too." I held the baby out to a girl. "Err...he was crawling away."

She made no move to take him from me. I couldn't blame her, she was trying to soothe a crying baby in a crib with one hand, while changing the nappy of another with the other hand.

"Oh, that's Damien. You can keep him in the crib over there." She said.

I moved over and dropped him in the crib. The moment I left him, he started whimpering. I picked him up again and bounced him on my hip. "I'm so sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry..." I apologized until he stopped crying.

"You just looked for trouble." A boy bottle feeding a baby said to me. "He won't let you put him down ever again."

I looked at Diamen who was attracted to my dangling earrings. I wouldn't mind carrying him all day, in fact I would take him home if they'd let me. As I played with him I noticed another baby in a crib at the end of the room. He was moving so I took a peek to make sure he was alright.

His movements were sluggish and the blue colour of his face told me he wasn't breathing properly: the child was sick.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked the girl.

She looked over to see what I was talking about. "Oh...Sister Tessa saw him by the dumpster on a stormy night. Doctor says he must have been under the cold rain for more than two hours. He doubts the baby will survive the week."

I ran my fingers over the baby's features. How could someone do something so cruel to such a precious thing?

"What's his name?"

"We haven't named him yet, we don't want to show any attachment since we don't know if he'll die."

I bit my lip. "Benjamin. I call him Benjamin. Promise me if he does survive this... you'll let him keep the name?"

"Of course." She smiled.

I helped around, doing what I could with the babies.

A young couple walked in and cooed at the babies. "Oh my gosh, they're so cute!" The lady picked a baby.

"Ophelia!" I turned at the sound of my name, Aubrey came running into the room.

"Yes, baby?"

"I want to share the cookies!"

"Okay." I pulled the bag over my head and gave it to her.

"I want you to come with me!" She pulled me out of the room. I turned to look at the girl so she could take Damien from me.

She shook her head. "Take him with you."

So I followed Aubrey to the common room, carrying a baby in a nappy.

Jessie was already giving out clothes, toys and other stuff. Aubrey had gathered a group of kids around, sharing sweets, muffins, cookies, sandwiches.... While Anabelle sat with some visitors, discussing with the nun. She looked sad and afraid, I could understand both emotions. If the authorities found out they had no guardian, she and her sisters would end up here.

I sat down on a chair, bouncing Damien on my lap. I noticed a kid not less than five looking in my direction. I smiled at him but he turned away shyly.

I laughed. "Come on... I don't bite." I smiled, trying to coax him into coming over.

He did but took one slow step at a time, looking very shy. When he did get close to me, he balanced his hands on my lap, playing with baby Damien; who didn't have his time by the way, as he was attracted to my shiny artificial nails and babbling incoherently.

"What's your name, sweetie?"

"Chris." He replied not looking up.

I touched his silky dark brown hair. "What a nice name, well...my name's Ophelia."

He looked up. "Ophelia..." He pronounced it with a thick accent.

I smiled, nodding.

No one said anything for a while and I noticed he played with my gold wrist watch more than he did with baby Damien.

"You like it?" I asked him.

"Yes."

I took it off and put it on his tiny wrist, it was way too big for him and I laughed as I adjusted it.

He looked at me shocked, his mouth wide open.

"Promise me you'll keep it safe, and you won't let anyone take it from you."

He nodded so many times I was scared he would break his neck.

Immediately he rushed over to a group of children playing at a corner and showed them his new gift, they all gathered around him but he didn't let anyone touch the watch. I laughed at his over protectiveness. When he pointed in my direction, they all came over and gathered around me.

I gave out my necklace with the Cupid pendant to a cute girl with blonde hair and shared my bangles amongst other girls. Before I knew it, my jeweled comb, earrings, hairpins, etc, were no longer on me, at this point I didn't even know who I gave it to. Their smiles were enough for me, looking at them spurred something within me. Immediately I got home, I was buying the orphanage off the nun if it were possible. If it wasn't, then I would donate my monthly income, which was 12 times more than what they needed from the Empire Enterprises to them.

They needed a better life, Baby Damien broke me out of my thoughts, he was looking at me and his face was more like 'what are you going to give me?'

I laughed and kissed his cheek, leaving my lipstick print. He laughed, showing his dimpled cheeks.

"Aww....so you've got dimples." I said tickling under his foot.

At the corner of my eye, I saw the nun coming in my direction.

"Excuse me?" She said and I looked up. I saw her glance at the kids showing their gifts around, I immediately knew what it was about.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about the unruly attitude of the kids, I'll get them to return your things."

"No, don't do that, I willingly gave it to them."

"But..."

"Its Christmas, its the season of giving, let them keep it." She looked back at them. "Please." I added when she didn't look convinced.

She took a deep breath. "Thank you."

I waved her off. "Don't thank me, thank God." I said, repeating what dad usually said unconsciously.

By the time Anabelle said we were ready to leave, Baby Damien was fast asleep in my arms.

The girl came to pick him up. "Goodbye." She said as she balanced his head on her shoulder.

"Goodbye. Have a nice day."

I took Aubrey's waiting hand and walked out of the orphanage. "Where to?" I asked Anabelle.

"Mall. Time to shop for tomorrow's presents but we'll make pit stops on the way."

We walked to a dilapidated neighbourhood where many people lived in tents and homes made out of cardboard.

I'd been surrounded by wealth and abundance, that I could smell the poverty. I was disgusted to say the least but I swallowed it. Did people really live like this? Homeless living in alleys or between two dumpsters, without any shelter from rain or sunshine. It broke my heart.

Aubrey took some cookies, cupcakes and muffins to them and earned a heartwarming smile. When we were out of food, she gave jackets, blankets and a few clothes that the kids at the orphanage didn't take.

We got to the mall and dispersed in groups, Jessie with Aubrey, Anabelle and me on our own with a promise to meet at the entrance in two hours.

It was Christmas, there were a variety of things on sale and a lot of things caught the eye. Another good thing about Christmas was that things were always on discount. So, I didn't stop to shop till I spotted a shop that said 75% off!

I smiled broadly, thanking God that the coins in my pocket could purchase gifts. An hour later, we converged at the entrance all smiles, everyone holding bagged presents behind their backs.

"Alright, let's go home." Anabelle said.

I noticed how tired Aubrey was, sluggishly trying to keep up. I felt bad for her, I mean the day's activities were taking a toll on me, how much more on a six year old? She must be exhausted.

I squatted down. "Hop on." I implored her to climb on my back.

She did. Jessie looked at Anabelle expectantly and Anabelle gave her a look that said 'don't even think about it'.

I laughed. "Don't be a spoilsport Anabelle, you'll only do this once in a lifetime."

She grumbled and reluctantly carried Jessie on her back. The walk back home was fun as we took in the sights and sounds of Christmas Eve. Immediately we got home, we placed our wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree, the kids making a promise not to peek inside.

"Aubrey..." Anabelle called out when she realized Aubrey wasn't listening.

"Yes, Anna?"

"You promise not to touch the presents until tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Aubrey..." She emphasized.

"I promise I won't touch the presents, Anna... I cross my heart." She did so holding one hand out and the other across her chest.

I ruffled her hair. "I gotta go, I've spent too much time here."

Anabelle looked sad. "What time are you coming over tomorrow?"

"I can't give a specific time but I'll try and sneak out early when everyone is still asleep."

"Okay. We'll try and get an early start too, so we'll be prepared by the time you get here. We have so many things to do!" She clapped her hands together in excitement.

"Yeah, we do." Internally I hoped nothing would go wrong and I would be able to spend the day with them.