The NEIGHBORHOOD

Chapter 6 The Stranger

     My heart raced as Everlee and I slowed our pace and walked up to Sarah, Finley, and the stranger who looked like a slightly older version of myself. I didn't know what to say, and neither did Everlee.

   Wellesley, however, had that covered for us.

"Sissy! Sissy, up!"

She reached her arms up at this woman, not realizing that her "sissy" was actually behind her, hands clutching the stroller handles for dear life, unable to move.

"Um...hi," I said as I tried to pretend that nothing was wrong. "How's it going, you guys?"

Everlee gave a weak attempt at a smile. Finley and Wellesley looked at each other with giggles, trying to unbuckle as they pointed towards the playgrounds.

"Want play?" Wellesley asked.

"Yes! Yes! Let's play!" said Finley as Sarah unbuckled her and pointed towards the toddler area.

She looked at me with shocked eyes, almost as if she were apologizing, and led both girls to the enclosed toddler area.

"I'll, um, be right back."

As she locked the gate, she waved us over. The stranger had followed her, pushing the stroller, while Everlee and I slowly went over to the fence to watch Wellesley. I didn't know who this woman was, but this was scaring me, so I was hesitant to trust her, especially around my sister.

She looked at Everlee, then at me.

"I'm Beth....short for Elizabeth. That's my daughter, Finley. Sarah has been our babysitter since she was a few months..."

She rambled on, as if she were unsure of what to say. Then she got quiet. I hadn't realized that she had asked me a question. I was too busy wondering why she looked and even sounded so similar to me.

"I'm sorry... Could you repeat that?" I asked.

"She asked who your grandparents are," said Everlee. "Their names are Cora and Gabe Sullivan. As in, Sullivan and Brinkley. The law firm."

I shot her a grateful look. Then, I reminded myself of something I had heard a long time ago. Everyone has a doppelganger. In fact, since my mom had grown up in this town, it would make sense that we may have distant relatives living here. Also, if those relatives were living a life that she deemed "normal" or in other words less than the elite and lavish lifestyle that she preferred, it would make sense that she would not want me to know or connect with them. Heaven forbid I decide to be a normal person who worked at Wal-Mart or went to community college. Heaven forbid I find myself a husband who works a farm or a construction job and we sent our kids to community college. How dare I?

"I'm sorry. I lost it for a minute," I said. "I'm Bridget. Or Bri, whichever you prefer. Yes, my grandparents are the Sullivans. I'm not sure if you know them or not...?"

The stranger stared at me. Tears sprang up in her eyes. She looked at Sarah with a hurt and shocked expression.

"What is going on here?" she asked, as she put her hands on her hips and moved between Sarah and the fence, almost as if to guard her from her child. "How did you find this girl? I'm supposed to be able to trust you!"

"Beth," Sarah started to explain. "I swear I didn't-- I don't--- I mean, she just looked so much like you that I thought maybe---"

"NO!" Beth shouted. "I have looked for years. This must be a joke. I can't even---this can't be---all the times that people thought they had found her only for them to be wrong...you know this! This is a cruel thing to do--to get my hopes up--I just---I--I--!"

She took off through the gate, grabbing Finley.

"We have to go, baby. Mommy is taking you home, where you're safe."

And she left.