Chance to tell the truth

Chloe

Remembering how shocked I was earlier today when I opened the room door where Molly was crying desperately, my hand hesitated on the handle this time. What if something happened? What if…?

What was I doing? Hesitating about entering my home? Snorting lightly, I pressed the handle and went in. Luckily, no surprises were waiting for me.

I found Molly in the living room, watching the news and munching on a bag of chips in front of the TV. Her head snapped in my direction when she heard me come in, and she smiled like crazy, making me worried about her mental health.

“Look! They’re all talking about me!” She motioned for me to sit next to her. “They’re calling me a runaway bride! Like in that old movie. Can you imagine how pissed off my parents must be now?” She switched off the TV and turned to me. “Sorry about the chips. I got hungry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I brushed it off. “How are you?”

“Oh, better than I have been in a long time. Thank you,” Molly’s voice was so thick with emotions that it could make me cry at any second.

I swallowed hard before I asked the important question. “Did you get in touch with your boyfriend?”

“Yes,” she nodded vigorously. “He’s coming over as soon as it gets dark. We don’t want anyone to see us.”

“Good. Good.” I agreed with their plan, and honestly, I was relieved. This meant she wouldn’t be staying for long. I wasn’t about to throw her out, but having a stranger in my home was a little disturbing. “Listen, you can take anything from the fridge if you’re still hungry; I don’t mind. I have to return to the workshop.”

“Can I help you?” she offered, ready to get up.

“No, no. Don’t worry. Just stay inside until the night falls.” I smiled at her, hoping she would understand what I meant.

Back in my workshop, I quickly got busy and forgot about today’s event. I had a few cakes to make for tomorrow, which could not be prepared too much in advance. One was for my old neighbor’s grandson, and I paid particular attention to details to create an authentic Spiderman. The kid was in the superhero phase, and I wanted it to be perfect.

From time to time, I thought about Molly and what I had pulled off. Why did I do it? I couldn’t explain it to myself. Maybe the fault should go to the compassion I was born with. I had a soft spot for people in trouble and would help whenever possible.

I had never met Molly before. LA was a big city, and we came from different social circles. We probably never visited the same places. And unlike me, she looked like a real-life princess with her long blond hair, blue eyes, slender body, and ladylike movements. Though, her mood swings were off-point.

Entranced with all the layers and fillings, decorations, and measurements, I never noticed that night came, and the darkness covered the ground. It wasn’t the first time I got lost in what I did. Only when I heard a subtle knock I snapped out.

Ajarring the door slightly, I peeked outside and saw Molly holding hands with a guy. I would have thought I was hallucinating if I didn’t know better. Logan, weirdly, looked like Molly; he was taller but equally blondish and slim, with noble facial features.

I moved to the side and let them in.

“Chloe, we’re leaving. I wanted to thank you again for helping me.” Molly said, smiling widely. Their happiness was fully displayed; it reflected in how their body movements gravitated towards the one they loved, even how their eyes sought each other...

“Yes. I wanted to thank you personally for helping Molly. We were unsure how to handle things and had a different plan in mind, but luckily, you showed up. So, please, let me know if there is anything I can do to return the favor.” Logan had a strong British accent. He looked like a Lord or a Count.

“The best thing you can do for me is go and be happy,” ‘and also, I don’t need to see you ever again in my life.’ My heart wouldn’t survive more tension about this matter and the pressure I brought on myself unnecessarily. The entire day of contemplating what if someone came here asking if I knew something was more than enough for me.

Suddenly, Molly let go of Logan’s hand and pulled me into an unexpectedly tough hug.

“You’re my very own fairy godmother,” she said with a laugh, and I laughed too.

They waved at me from the car a few moments later and drove off. I looked around, searching for anyone that might have passed by, but there was no one on the narrow road behind my building. Noises from moving cars could be heard, but they were coming from the main street. Good. I returned inside and continued my work.

The feeling of making something out of scratch, something that people would enjoy, was always enough motivation to give my best to create a perfect dessert. It was like that ever since my grandmother taught me to make my first batch of blueberry muffins when I was ten years old, after which I started spending more and more time in the kitchen, trying and experimenting, and that got me where I was today.

Only after I got my diploma in Finance did I realize that no matter how much I appreciated the possibilities it gave me, it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. There was something I loved and enjoyed, and I wanted to give it a try. That’s why, right after graduation, I opened this pastry shop, and it’s been doing fine for the past four years. Initially, I struggled a bit, but my neighborhood was very supportive, the word got out, and now my business was flourishing.

Simon was with me from the start, and Abby joined later. Now, judging by the number of orders we receive daily, I would have to find an extra worker.

My grandma lived long enough to see me making a career out of something I learned from her, which made my success even more significant.

For the longest time, she was my only friend and my only parent, ever since those who gave birth to me lost their lives in a boating accident. I was 10 when I lost my father and mother, and she lost her only son and daughter-in-law. I still remember the day after the funeral when I came to live with her, two states over and away from everything I knew. It was scary and unfamiliar, and I had a hard time adjusting.

But we found solace in each other and became each other’s worlds. She gave me all the love a grandmother possibly could, and I was there to be the new light in her life after losing the one she brought to this world. She made sure I missed nothing, and I made her proud of me.

I often thought of her, especially when I’d stayed alone to clean up the workshop kitchen after a long day. Like tonight. As I mopped the floors once everything else was set in place, I thought about grandma with a smile because remembering that beautiful soul always made me happy - a loud thudding noise startled me.

For a second, I wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe the burglars? My heart started beating faster at the mere possibility of being robbed.

To my utter horror, the banging continued, and I dropped the mop and ran to the far corner where my baseball bat was. I always kept one here and one in my apartment. I grabbed the bat and warily went to the front as my heart, for God knows which time today, rose to my throat, beating fast and hard.

I spotted someone standing in front of the entrance. Shoot!

Squinting towards the apparition outside, I reached with my left hand to the wall where the light switch was and turned it on. My eyes needed a moment to adjust to the bright lights, but as soon as they did, I recognized the figure, rushed across the store, and unlocked the door.

“Mrs. Scott?” I couldn’t believe it! What the hell was she doing here? It was almost midnight.

“Can I come in?” She said, distress evident on her face. I knew exactly what caused her sorrow, and turmoil clenched my heart with its iron fist. I added to a mother’s suffering for her child. No matter how pure my intentions were when I acted impulsively, I helped get her into this state.

I let her in without a word.

“If you know anything about my daughter’s disappearance, this is your chance to say it.” She went straight to the point.

I swallowed the hard lump that got stuck in my throat. I hated lying, but I couldn’t tell her the truth.

“Excuse me?” I desperately hoped she wouldn’t call my bluff.

“Haven’t you heard the news?” She was taken aback but still not convinced I was telling the truth. A truth that was everything but.

“No. I’ve been busy the whole day. I’m just finishing up in the back.” A crooked smile distorted my lips as Mrs. Scott glanced over my shoulder.

“I guess you’ll hear about it, anyway. It’s all over the news. My daughter ran away from her wedding.” She squeezed through her clenched teeth, and I pretended to gasp. “Earlier, someone mentioned you were there with your delivery truck, and I thought maybe she sneaked in the back….” She was cautious not to accuse me, and I again admired her self-control. She must be worried sick, but she hid it well.

“No, Ma’am. I left after my job was done.” I interrupted her with the negation. This must be hard for her. She drove here in the middle of the night to ask me this, grasping at straws to find her daughter.

Mrs. Scott tilted her head to the side slightly. “All right. Thank you for your time.”

I turned off the lights and ensured all the doors were locked and secured before I climbed the stairs and went to my apartment with guilt creeping up on me.