26. A secret...

Sometime back., after prayer girl first met Vanessa., she was going through Margaret's photo album, when she saw two beautiful faces in one picture... Both red-haired.. They were in their graduation gowns... They looked really beautiful.. One of them looked familiar.. It was the one with the Grey eyes.. But she could not pinpoint who she looked like...

She turned over to look at other pictures in the album.. And that was when it struck her... She turned back to the previous page.., looked closer at the picture.. And her mouth curved up into a big ohhhhh...

"Aunt Margaret..., Aunt Margaret.., Aunt Margaret... Her high pitched voice rang through the apartment..,causing Margaret to run out of the kitchen with utmost speed., to find out what was wrong with the child... They collided into each other, for prayer girl was already running to her too...

"Are you okay Em., are you alright?.. What's wrong why did you scream... Margaret asked as she bent down to the girls level, and checked for any torn muscle or broken bones.. But there was nothing of such.. In fact the child was grinning from ear to ear...

"Aunt Margaret.., who is this person in the picture... She asked happily., almost out of breath from the short race she just did.. Margaret looks at the picture..,

" that's Jenny my niece... You know who a niece is right?.. She asked the girl...

"Yes I know who a niece is... A niece is the female child of your brother or sister... She was a super smart girl..

" but I'm not asking of this one, I'm asking of this other one.., she points at Vanessa... That's Vanessa right??... She asked with shining teeth.. Not expecting a no for an answer...

" you know Vanessa??... Margaret asked surprised... Vanessa and Jenny had left Sitka long before Em was born., so how could she know Vanessa..

" so it's her?.. She asks, her eyebrows high up., her eyes wide open., her whole body ready to jump as soon as she gets a response..

" Yes that's Vanessa., but... Margaret did not have a chance to complete her words., the girl jumped up and screamed in joy.. She ran around shouting.." yes.. Yes..yes..yes... It's her.. It's really her... She was like a lightning bolt running around the house from corner to corner..

When Margaret asked her how she knew Vanessa., she just answered that.." it's a secret"... One she didn't plan on sharing...

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"Oh I'll be so happy to have you two here.., it's been years since you came home.. I would prepare for you right now... I'll come pick you up from the airport.. All right.., see you soon... The call ended..

God thank you, finally after six years., Jenny and Vanessa are returning home... Em who was busy doing homework, heard this, and her antenna suddenly turned., if she heard correctly., then..

"Aunt Margaret., did you say Jenny and Vanessa... She asked..

" yes honey., they just called me to tell me that they would be coming here tomorrow to spend some time...

"Ahhhhhhhhhh..... The girl suddenly screams... Shocking Margaret as she did..." Oh God... Thank you Lord.., thank you Jesus.. She said as she jumped up and down happily... Thank you Lord., my prayer is being answered... Thank you Lord... She screamed these words over and over again...

Margaret who was still confused as to how she knew Vanessa in the first place., was even more confused now.. Why was this child happy that her niece and best friend were coming.. And what prayers were being answered...

She knew asking the child won't produce any answer., so she just jumps up with the girl instead...

There was no one to drop Em with, while her father was away., so she took her along with her to the airport.. Much to Em's delight...

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"Jenny.., Vanessa.., over here... It was aunt Margaret...

Both girls smiled at the sight of the warm and beautiful familiar face... But then Vanessa noticed another familiar face next to Margaret... A face she could not forget...

It was the face of a little comforter...

There was a sudden movement in Vanessa's stomach... It was the kind that you feel when you see something unexpected, but pleasant nonetheless...

They walked over to Margaret who had her arms opened wide to embrace both girls...

"Aunt Margaret., it's so nice to see you.. I've missed you so much.. Jenny said as she filled herself with the warmth of Margaret's firm hug... Taking in the long forgotten scent of her hair and skin... Breathing in and registering it in her head that 'yes, she was home'...

" Aunt Margaret.., Vanessa said smiling at the woman who pulled her into the hug... It was very warm., very motherly.. Vanessa could not say she didn't like it cause deep down, she knew she did.. After her parents died, Margaret had been a mother figure in her life, and Vanessa knew that she loved her sincerely...

"Oh how I've missed you both so much.., My red-haired Angels... It feels just like yesterday when you were little girls, running around, and now you are lovely young Ladies... A tank of water had been opened up in Margaret's eyes... And it was pouring out, and wetting her slightly wrinkled cheek...

But you still look the same... You haven't aged a bit.. I mean look at you both... She places a warm hand on the faces of both girls... You haven't aged a bit... She said laughing...

"Well you haven't aged either Aunt Margaret... Jenny said placing a sharp kiss on the woman's cheek...

"Ahahah... Her words made Margaret laugh harder... Oh please., I know I have wrinkles now, you don't have to lie to me, I look in the mirror everyday you know...

" well then the mirror is a big liar.. Because you look the same.. As beautiful as when we left... Vanessa added., making Margaret blush...

Margaret felt a tugging on her dress... She looked down..

" oh gosh., sorry love, I almost forgot about you... She said looking at Em who was standing there all along, but felt like she was invisible... Ladies I want you to meet Emily.. Emily Bryan... She says pointing at the girl who was all smiles...

" So that's your name., my Little comforter... I always regretted not asking.... It's nice to meet you Emily... AGAIN... Vanessa said... Bending down to the little girl's level and shaking her hand...

So it's true, you know her?... Margaret said in surprise... I asked her how she knew you, but all she said was that it was a secret... Margaret said.. In a tone that said I want to know the secret...

"A secret huh... Well it's a really big secret between us young girls... Vanessa winked at the girl and Emily winked back smiling...

Jenny's head was busy doing the maths... Vanessa said 'my little comforter... Oh my gosh, could it be that...

" Ahhhh., oh my gosh Vanessa., is this the Rescue Angel., Jenny said bending down beside her... Oh my gosh it's so nice to finally meet you., I've heard so much about you from Van... You are really as beautiful and adorable as she said... Jenny said making the little child blush extremely...

Now Margaret was completely lost., Jenny seemed to know Em too, how in the world did they know her... She was so curious to know.., but unfortunately, all they said to her was... It's a secret..

Em was there looking at them all., now that she was seeing Jenny up close, she realized that her beauty could be compared to Vanessa's... She was also extremely beautiful... A mischievous thought came to her head... Having a mommy was always her main prayer., but now she would probably add one more to the list...

Having a beautiful aunt...