ROSE ON THE LAKE 18+

🌼CHAPTER THIRTEEN🌼

If time could ease it's relentless march when we're together
And hasten it's prodding pace when we're apart
I could spend an eternity in your arms
To savour love everlasting in my heart.

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Smart, strong, determined.

Those were words her father always used to describe her.

Brave, bold, daring.

Her sisters and close friends thought she was.

Intelligent, witty, fearless.

That's how all who worked under her saw her to be.

But beautiful? Pretty? She'd never imagined any of those words used in the same sentence as her name.
But standing in front of the mirror, the lady staring back at her was kind of pretty.

Papa always told her she was a splitting image of her mother. Sadly she hadn't grown up with her, maybe she'd have taught her a thing or two about acting like a lady. Something that came to her sisters naturally. All she knew was 'wear a dress, smile gently and don't speak too much'.

A stupid way to live one's life if you asked her.
How she envied her sisters sometimes.

"Did I hear you correctly" said a voice behind her.

Startled, she jumped a little before realising who it was.
Just Great. She'd been hoping to not get caught by any of them. Better Eloise than Emily, she consoled herself.
If Emily was to get wind of this, she wouldn't hear the end of it.

"You startled me." She was about to take off the dress when Eloise stopped her.

"Do you really envy us?" She asked.

"..."

"Eva you have no reason to feel envious." She told her firmly. "Granted, we wear pretty clothes and sashay about the mansion but that's all there is to us. You're the anchor. Without you this family won't be standing.

You're braver than our mother who couldn't chase her dreams and stayed docile by her husband's side as a dutiful wife would." She said the word like an insult.

"You're stronger than Papa who broke down when he lost his wife and let grief swallow him whole. You brought him out of his melancholy. You gave us back our father.

And now that we're orphans, you single handedly play the role of mother and father. You take care of us, protect us, provide for us and still put up with our shenanigans.

You envy us, but we envy you. A fearless, brave and courageous woman.  And also incredibly beautiful."

Her sister's eyes widened at that last part. Eloise giggled at her expression.

"The cute part is, you don't even know how pretty you are. Just look at you in that dress. You light up a room without even lifting a finger. You can charm an entire crowd without even trying. So don't you ever feel like a lesser person. I love you, sis."

"There, there that's enough. Don't kiss me now." Eva said raising her hands before her, as if to stop the flow of emotions wrapping around her heart.

Eloise pulled her in a tight hug despite her resistance. She struggled to get away but the younger wouldn't budge.

"Such an emotional phobe" she murmured.

"I'm not an emotional phobe" Eva argued.

"Yes? Then why stop the tears from falling? I can see your eyes glistening."