Magic Land: The Lost Princess (On Hold Until January)

Chapter 4

Aaron restarted the car and drove towards the gate.

There was a button hooked up on the left pillar that the gate was on. He pressed it, and the gate opened automatically. They drove in, and the gate closed behind them.

Aaron parked the car and cut the engine. He pulled his car door and got out. Imogene did the same.

As soon as they were both out of the car, they walked to the front door. Aaron rang the doorbell. They waited a few seconds, and then the door was opened by a woman. She looked to be in her late thirties, and she greeted them with a polite smile. She must be a new worker at the home because Imogene did not know her. It wasn't uncommon. When she was living here, there were a lot of new workers or volunteers who helped out.

"Hello. How may I help you?" She asked, looking from Aaron to Imogene.

Imogene was the one who spoke. "Hi, I'm Imogene Baker. I used to live here. I would like to speak to Mother Harrington, please."

"Sure. You can come inside." The lady ushered them inside a grand foyer and closed the door behind them. "Please have a seat. I'll let Mother Harrington know you're here."

"Thank you," Imogene said, then she walked over to a couch and sat down. Aaron followed and sat beside her.

"Who is Mother Harrington?" He asked.

"She is the house mother. She runs the place." She explained. "She is such a nice lady with a caring heart. She would make sure that the house runs properly and in perfect order. She loved every one of us as if we were her own. She made sure all of us were taken care of."

Just then, the lady came back from the corridor that she had disappeared from earlier and walked over to them. "She would see you in her office. Come this way, please."

Imogene and Aaron stood up and followed the lady down a long corridor. The lady then stopped in front of a door that was located on the right of the hallway.

She knocked on the door, and a voice from the other side told them to enter. She opened the door for them and waited for them to enter before closing the door behind them.

Mother Harrington looked up from the stack of papers that were on her desk. She looked the same as she remembered her. She didn't look a day older. Her almost grey hair was caught up in a bun, but some loose tendrils of hair escaped and hung around her face. Her eyeglass sat firmly on her round face as she looked at them with her soft, caring eyes. Imogene walked forward, moving closer to her desk.

"Hello, Mother Harrington." She greeted her. "I'm Imogene Baker. I used to live here. I don't know if you remember me."

Mother Harrington laughed lightly and removed the eyeglass from her face. "Of course I remember you, Imogene. I never forget the face of one of my children. You were a quiet one but very daring. How are you doing, my dear?"

"I am doing great. Thank you." Imogene answered with a warm smile.

"I'm glad to hear that, and I'm really glad to see you as well." Her attention then focused on Aaron, who stood behind her. "And who is this?"

Imogene turned around to Aaron. "Oh, I'm sorry. This is Aaron. He's my friend."

"Ahh, that's good." She then indicated the two chairs in front of her desk. "Come on. Please have a seat." When they sat down, Mother Harrington crossed her arms on her desktop and looked at them curiously. "Now, what can I do for you?"

"I know that this is a little bit odd to ask, but I was wondering if you have any information at all about my family," Imogene replied, getting straight to the point.

Mother Harrington's smile faltered a little, and she shook her head. "I'm sorry dear, but we don't have any information at all about your family." Imogene's face drops, and Mother Harrington looked empathetic. "The only thing we know about you is that you were found behind a dumpster. No one knew where you came from or who put you there. I really wish I could offer you more information."

Aaron spoke up. "Were there any special markings on the clothes she was wearing or anything in her pocket?"

Mother Harrington looked at Aaron and shook her head again. "According to the police and the caseworker, there was nothing that could lead them to where she came from." She thought for a minute then said. "Hold on a minute. The only personal item that you had with you was a necklace around your neck. It was gold with a pendant at the end. It was like a symbol, I think."

Imogene perked up at that information. "A necklace? Where is it now?" It wasn't much to go on, but at least it was a personal possession of hers. Maybe her mother or father gave it to her. It could be the only link to them.

"Grace was the one who took it from your neck. She said you kept tugging at it, and she was afraid you'd burst it." Mother Harrington explained. She then reached for a phone that was on her desk. "Hold on a minute. I'll summon her for you."

She waited for a few minutes, and then someone picked up the line. "Hello, Agnes. Is Grace in the lunchroom with the children?" She inquired. "Okay. Can you tell her that I need to see her in my office? Great. Thank you." She replaced the receiver and looked at them. "Grace will be here shortly."

Imogene nodded her head and waited. She remembered Miss Grace well. She was the one who bathed her most nights when she was a little girl. They didn't have to wait long because less than a minute later, there was a soft knock on the door. Mother Harrington answered with, "Come in, Grace."

When she entered, her eyes were focused on Mother Harrington. "What is it, Mother Harrington?"

Mother Harrington pointed in Imogene's direction. "Do you remember this young lady here?"

Miss Grace turned her attention to her. Her eyes then widen with recognition. She smiled. "Oh, my stars." She expressed in surprise. "It's Imogene, isn't it? Of course, I remember her."

"She's here because she wants to find out about her parents." Mother Harrington offered an explanation. "Do you remember that necklace that you took from around her neck? Do you still have it?"

Miss Grace tapped her chin as she thought about it. Imogene held her breath and watched her.

This necklace was the only thing to go on, and she really hoped that she still had it.