Lorraine approached her niece, who was sitting on the backyard steps.

"Please, forgive me, Roxanne."

Roxanne looked at her with surprise.

"Don't look so mystified. I know you hold grudges on me for letting that happen to your mother, but you must know if it had been in my power, I would've done anything to prevent it."

"I do not blame you at all," said the girl, astonished, more than anything, that her aunt discerned her emotions better than she did. "How could I possibly?"

She felt awful because, in truth, she was exactly doing that. And it was totally unfair, she now, at last, realized.

"I love you, Mama. I'm sorry if I'm acting strangely. It's just that so many horrible things have happened."

"I know. And you're also going through a lot of changes. You're not wearing red for one thing."

"No, I'm not," Roxanne smiled. "And Celeste has compromised with Blanche that when she feels ready, they will both change their clothes too. Blanche can't do that yet. She must go slowly."

"That's very sweet of Celeste."

"Indeed. I'd never known how good she was until I proposed that we run away."

"She's changed. I don't mean she wasn't kind before, but she's really very different now. Very, very different. She's become much more mature. She's had to, I guess. Just like you."

Roxanne didn't know if Lorraine was aware of Celeste's loss. In case she wasn't, she didn't mention it, and they both stayed for a while simply enjoying each other's company until the doorbell rang. They had no electricity in the castle, so this kind of things always amazed her and her sisters.

Roxanne went to open the door, glad to have discharged some tension. From now on, she promised herself to make a bigger effort, always remembering that she wasn't the only one who was suffering here.

When she opened up, she was expecting to feel awkward, for new faces still overwhelmed her, in spite of the additional strength the exceptional nature of the situations faced up till now had given her to cope with it. However, on this occasion, such particular strength was not going to be necessary since there were no new faces outside the door. She would need an infinitely greater one, to confront, to face, the two men she found standing in front of her.

Fear left her speechless.

The men didn't say a word either until Lorraine appeared at the entrance, behind her daughter.

"Well, well, well. What have we got here? The devoted Mummy who has returned from the dead. Rescued from the waters, Moses style?" Leonard and Mr. Harris invited themselves in. "Or I would sooner say she's back from a poorly planned expedition. Did you know she's not even your real mother?" he told Roxanne, closing the door behind him.




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