A Journey, A Coincidence, A Memory

Chapter 32: Maisie

January 22, 2022, 8:00 am

Mrs. Caroline had spent the past two hours calling police authorities while I told Richard and Rose about how I called Lara's mother last night. Well, Richard was in utmost shock.

"You what?!" He gawks after I told him the story.

"Yes. I mean, she did want to call her in the first place," I claimed.

"Yes but ... what do you think she's going to do?"

"I have no idea," I reply back. "Let's just hope it won't be too bad."

------------------------

Guess I spoke too soon; my mother is calling ...

"Oh no! She must've found out!" I blurt out.

"Expected, I hope my parents don't find out. Mrs. Jenny is basically like 'besties' with my mom," Richard adds.

"What's so bad about them knowing?" Rose questions. "Your mom is like the nicest person I ever met."

"She only acts 'nice' when she's around other people, but you haven't seen what torment she could to me," Richard explains. "Plus she always encourages me to take my studies seriously by comparing my grades to yours."

"What about yours, Maisie?" Rose asks.

"She has witnessed so many loses in her life, so she's basically overprotective of me," I reply. "She's obviously going to get the shock of her life if she realizes I'm in London."

"Then just tell her the truth. Tell her what you went through and that this was all a mistake."

I stare at my phone still ringing. Thinking about whether I should answer or not. I then came up with a decision. "No, I won't tell her," I say and decline the call.

"Your choice I guess," Rose replies miserably.

"Rose, you have nothing to worry about, it's our problem, not yours," Richard says blankly.

"I know, but ... I'm the kind of person who cares about other people's problems and I have fear that I'm involved in it. I just hate looking at people struggling," Rose sighed and went out of the mansion.

"Now where's she off to," I quizzed.

"Aunt. Caroline says that she goes out all the time when she's depressed, maybe for a walk or something like that," Richard replies.

"You know, sometimes I feel like she's ... lonely; isn't it? Like she goes out almost every day, so that means she's always depressed? No one to cheer her up?"

"My mom always tells me that Rose doesn't have any friends and that I should always keep in touch with her. So yeah, she's always alone."

"No wonder she cares so much for other people; she wants them to become her friends and ... Oh no ..."

"What?"

"She hadn't gone out to look for Lara did she?"

"I don't know. She didn't specify exactly."

"Come on, Richard. Get serious. Why do you think she was panicking when Lara got kidnapped?"

"Because she cares about her?"

"Yes she does, not only that, she wants friends. She wants to protect her friend in any way."

"Oh my god- you're right ... we have to stop her, Maisie! David is way too dangerous."

"Now you got my point, let's find Rose and ... Lara."

We zip out of the mansion and exit the front yard in split seconds.