Secrets

Chapter 5

When I wake up I can hardly remember where I am. I expect to be yelled at by the staff. I expect to eat gruel and then scrub the floors.

People sometimes think that at the orphanage everybody is nice to you because you are without parents. Sometimes this is the case. But not for me though. I had it the sheer opposite.

I regain myself when I push myself off of the bed. I realize that I haven't taken off my traveling cloak and shoes. Ugh, that would leave the bed....I turn to look at the bed. Somehow I didn't manage to get my shoes on it do it is not as dirty as I expected. It is still ruffled though, so I start to make the bed.

Someone knocks on the door.

"Come in" I don't look up to see who is there until she is right before me.

Eleanor. "Oh miss I can do that! I just came to tell you that dinner has been served." she garbles. She starts making the bed.

I change quickly into my only other dress have. One that is baby blue and is crotcheted at the ends. Eleanor brushes my hair and puts it up onto my head. I slip off the boots I am wearing before realizing I have no others. These are caked with mud and would make mess. And I can't go down bare footed. It is not proper.

I feel a blush on my face at the thought of what I am going to ask. "Eleanor" I whisper. She turns to face me "Yes miss?" I can feel my face turning ten time darker. I have never been good at asking direct questions. "Well you see my shoes....." I completely forget where I am going with this. "I mean" oh gosh "Do you know if there is any shoes I might be able to...." I spit the words out "Borrow?" I say weakly.

Completely oblivious to my reaction she fishes around in a drawer. She pulls out a pair of simple navy shoes.

"These have been in here for a while. I hope you don't mind."

I beam at her. "Thank you so much." I have to restrain myself from hugging her.

"Anytime miss."

~~

Everybody is silent at the dinner table. I feel like an intruder upon this family. While Mrs. Wilson ,now urging me to call her Marie, tries to keep up a conversation, it keeps dying away.

On one side of the head of the table sits Mrs. Wilson and across from her is a fair headed man who is absorbed in his own thoughts. Beside me Adeline picks at her food, not eating any of it. Directly in front of me is someone who could only be the Wilson's son. He keeps on glancing at me, giving me the occasional smirk.

Mrs. Wilson interrupts my train of thought.

"How long were you at the orphanage for darling?" I look up at her. "Six years Mrs. Wilson." "Marie" she corrects.

Now she turns her attention on her husband "That is an AWFULLY long time isn't it Alfred!" he looks up as if hearing her for the first time. "Sorry darling what was that you said?"

Across from me the boy's eyes light up from laughter. The only thing I can do is smile back at him.

~~

"I mean it Adeline, I have never in my life had pecan pie!" Adelie stares at me in astonishment. "You mean you have gone your whole life without eating....how can you continue?"

I laugh at her remark. We are in the dressing room after dinner and Adeline has just found out that I haven't eaten pecan pie.

"Well then Mama. We will have to have some for breakfast!"

Mrs. Wilson looks completely and utterly appalled. "For breakfast? Young lady have you gone completely MAD over the night?"

Adeline giggles. "For dinner then." she compromises.

If this is the time of thing that they talk about on a regular basis then this shall be quite interesting.

As if reading my mind the boy approaches me. "Don't worry they don't talk about this sort of stuff all of the time." he extends his hand.

"My name is Nickalos." I take it. "Anna." I say while smiling back at him.