DESPERATE

Chapter 28

"So let me get this straight." Riley said as Ashley opened the door to her house. "You took a picture from Val's house from a box that says do not open?"

"Don't put it like that." Ashley said. "I merely borrowed the picture." She added closing te door behind them.

"Why would a picture be in a box? Was that the only picture there?" Riley asked.

"Yeah. Other than that were just ups and mugs with cards." Ashley replied.

"Maybe it's from when her parents were still dating." Riley guessed.

"And the picture is from their days together." Ashley added as they began to climb the stairs.

"And you 'borrowed' one of their memories." Riley said putting the borrowed in quotes as she stressed on the word.

"It was out of curiosity." Ashley defended.

"Wow. Well let's see the picture." Riley said opening the door to Ashley's room. Ashley went to her bedside drawer and brought out her Midsummer's Night Dream.

"So it's in this book?"

"Yes. I haven't opened it ever since. I totally forgot." Ashley replied. She opened the page where the picture was and brought it out. They both looked at the picture without a word.

The picture had two babies sleeping in two different cradles wrapped in a different blankets in what seemed to be a hospital ward.

"Huh." Ashley said.

Riley turned the picture backwards. "Look, 2007. This was taken in 2007."

"The picture is as old as me. Which means this should be Valerie right?"

"Yes, but there can't be two Valerie's. Who's the other baby?" Riley asked.

"That should be her cousin Roy. She did say something about having a cousin named Roy."

"So they were born on the same day huh?"

"It doesn't mean that. This could have taken days after their different dates."

"Well, maybe so, maybe not so." Riley said.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. You know every family has it's own secrets."

"I know. Just like mine." She sat on her bed.

"Which we have to find out."

"Yup."

"Don't worry. We'll find out the truth." Riley said.

Ashley was about to speak when her phone rang. It was a video call from Lily. She answered immediately.

"Hi Ashley." Lily waved at her.

"Hi." Ashley waved back. "How are you. I was gonna call this night."

"I was bored and felt like calling."

"Hi Lily." Riley said from behind.

"Hey Riley. How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"So Ashley, how's the investigation with Riley coming up?" Lily asked.

"What investigation. Do we look like detectives?"

"Don't act daft now dummy. You know what I mean."

"She means your dad." Riley said.

"I know. Nothing, we haven't found anything."

"Yes mom!" Lily shouted looking away from her phone. She sighed turning her attention back to Ashley.

"I gotta go. My mom's calling. Make sure you call me in the night."

"Ok."

"Bye Ashley. Bye Riley." Lily said then yelled again. "I'm coming!"

"Bye." Ashley said and Lily ended the call.

"Can we go back to my house now?"

"Yeah sure."

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