The Denial of Hearts (COMPLETED) [wattys 2018]

21

Sarina went through the photos. It was the same woman in every photo, some with a baby, some without.

But the photos stopped when the baby was about two or three.

"Get to my father's. In the butlers pantry, the bottom drawer, um, on the far left next to the back door, I think," Sarina rubbed her temples. "There's a fake bottom. You need to get what's in there."

"What is it?" Mason asked as he pulled on a jacket.

"Photos! Go!"

Mason rushed out the door as Sarina started her panic attack. May came in and dropped of some tea. They had migrated to Mason's study and May held Sarina tightly.

"It's okay dear." May hushed Sarina. She had been warned about Sarina's anxiety and panic attacks.

Sarina nodded as she felt the tight wrap of May's arms around her.

Mason was gone for nearly an hour when he walked in and tapped May. May released herself from Sarina and Mason's words helped calm her.

"The photos weren't there, but a note from Ginny?"

Sarina nodded.

"Ginny left a note. It left me on a goose chase, but here. I have them." Mason handed her a small box and a note.

Miss Sarina,
I told you, you will find out when the time is right.
I'm sorry I couldn't say anything before, my life depended on it.
But these are the documents I found over the years.
I always thought it suspicious that all the staff started after your mother died, none were there beforehand.
I hope the chest will fill in some blanks.
Ginny.

Sarina picked up the small box.

"What did you need them for?"

"I forgot about them. But these photos finish when that baby is about two or three. My father said they lost most of my baby photos from a fire. Shortly before my mother died. My photos, most kept secret from my father, taken by the servants, start when I'm three nearly four. I just have to see. "

Sarina pulled out one of her baby photos. It was a toddler around four years old, sitting on a floor with the porcelain doll. Her big eyes barely held the green due to the age of the polaroid. Her hair was already past her shoulders and black as night.

Then Sarina pulled another photo out from the ones they found of a little girl that was about two. The cheeks, the eyes, the smile. Malcolm wasn't in any photos from the chest.

The mysterious woman wasn't in any photos from her collection.

But all the photos had the same child. It had her.

Sarina had fallen asleep on the couch in the study as Mason pulled a blanket over her. She was so emotionally drained.

He had tried everyone that he knew with any connections to Panama and Costa Rico. But he had no luck due to the hour of the night.

With all lights off except his desk lamp, Mason looked at the photos. He had emailed people and rang people. He didn't know how advanced these countries were compared to the rest of the world in technology, but he even emailed newspaper companies and contacted the police there.

He was trying to find any connections between Sarina and this Isabella, and the connections between Juan and Sofía. Maybe Isabella was a sister that died? That will explain why that was locked up, but the photos never showed two children. It was always one. But maybe the babe died in child birth? Or her twin sister? That would explain the same birth date as Sarina.