Hidden Identities // H.S

Chapter 18

     "And this is Billie. She lays the most eggs out of the bunch. One time she laid so many eggs, our fridge was stuffed with eggs." Flora laughs at the sudden memory of her egg overload.

She looks similar to Harry and Becca. I can see where they get most of their features from. She has dark brown hair and a tanned skin tone. I'm sure it's from being out in the sun most of the time. Her eyes are the same green color as Harry as she has a nice smile that makes you feel right at home.

I don't know why Harry won't give her a second chance. She's everything I wanted my mother to be when I was younger. She also insists that I call her Flora. Her new last name is Kane. It's a cute last name.

She gave me a tour of her farm animals. She has a chicken coop with five hens and one rooster. She has two cows and two horses.

She wants to expand her farm animals but is still building the space to make them all feel at home. She hasn't told me a lot of her past though. I'm as eager to know what was her change in lifestyle just as anyone else.

How did she go from a rich woman with a billionaire husband to a farm girl? Yet she looks happier. She seems so happy talking about her animals. She smiles anytime anyone mentions her husband. Even though she hasn't seen her kids in a few years she still talks about them like she never left.

It's pretty early in the morning. I couldn't sleep last night and woke up right at sunrise. I was sitting on the front porch when she caught me. I looked way different in the morning than the day we met prior. I was wearing my uniform with my hair tied back. I woke this morning in sweats and a T-shirt with my natural hair loosely falling off my shoulders. It was all I could find since I didn't want to wear my uniform again and didn't want to come out here in pjs. Since I showered last night my hair is in its natural state. Loose curls sometimes make me feel like a poodle.

She brought me inside for coffee and after that gave me the farm tour. She's definitely not what I expected. I expected her to someone cruel that didn't even want Zayn and me here. But she's treated me like we're best friends.

She told me about a few stray cats that walk around and how much she tries to keep them away from the chickens. I don't want to start warming up to her. I don't want to see her as a mother figure. I've known her for one day, I can't see her like that.

But she's the mother figure I always daydreamed about while my mother was the complete opposite.

We start walking back inside, chit-chatting about her new life in Michigan. I don't expect her to tell me her whole life story but I appreciate that she's being so nice to me when I was just a stranger coming into her home.

"And did Mitch tell you about...my real job?" I finally ask, glancing a look at her.

She nods, pressing her lips into a flat line. "He told me the reason why he sent you guys out here. Harry was targeted again," She stops in her tracks, "It's like every time we're finally starting to move on they always make a way to come back and taunt us. I tried my best to convince Mitch to make Harry move here permanently but he wouldn't budge. Harry's too much of a popular face to go into a protection program. Change his name and live a new life somewhere peaceful."

"Trust me, we're all working around the clock trying to capture them. I know Mitch is improving security systems and Zayn and I are upping our game, we're getting more equipped, more alert." I try my best to reassure her.

"Speaking of Zayn, you guys seem so close. You almost act as my Rebecca and Harry once did." She smiles to herself again. "Speaking of my Harry, he's grown distant from everyone! He used to be so close with Rebecca and one day he stopped. Now they're clawing at each other's necks any chance they get. I've seen the interviews, the pictures, and have heard the endless phone calls from Becca complaining about Harry. He used to be such a mummy's boy, you know? I would be watching TV in the living room and out of nowhere he'd come up and just snuggle against me. I'd play with his hair and we'd just talk about anything going on."