Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
“London had a birthmark on the inside of her wrist the shape of a heart,” Mrs. Hine pursed her lips waiting for her to produce the evidence.
London walked closer, holding out her wrist. “You mean like this?”
The woman’s jaw dropped. “Well, praise Jesus. Hallelujah! Come and hug my neck, baby. Miracles do happen,” the woman shouted.
Leaning over, London allowed the woman’s massive arms to engulf her. For a moment she didn’t think she’d let go. The woman finally did, a big toothy grin on her face. “Is this your young man?”
London smiled. “Yes, this is Matt Taylor.”
Matt stepped forward and he and Mrs. Hines shook hands. “Nice to meet you,” he said politely.
“Well, have a seat, you two. Oh, my London, you’re just as pretty as you want to be, child. I’ve prayed for you and your mother. Every year I light a candle for the two of you at Christmas. Praise Jesus.” Mrs. Hines wiped a tear from her eyes. “And how sweet of you to come visit an old lady. Caroline and the girls haven’t come by once. Shayla and Alana are big girls now, so they don’t pay their old grandma any mind.”
London didn’t want to be rude by interrupting, but she was anxious to ask questions about her sister. “Mrs. Hines, I need to know what happened to Paris. My mother did try to find her, but she had reason to believe that she’d been killed in a fire.”
The older woman frowned. “I tried to keep Paris as long as I could, but I’m an old lady living on a pension. I had to turn her over to the state. She did live in a group home, which I did hear burned down.”
London’s heart thumped wildly. No. It couldn’t be. Her sister couldn’t be gone. She hadn’t come all this way just to be told that Paris was indeed dead. “Please tell me that she’s not…”
“Dead? No, thank the Lord. Most of the children were rescued. There were a few casualties, God bless their little souls, but I know your sister was not one of them. She was in foster care for a little while, and I kept tabs on her while I was still about but I haven’t seen her since she was a child. She may or may not be in the State. She was a tough little thing. I don’t think poor Paris had an easy time in those foster homes she was tossed around in. I still pray for her though.”
London looked over at Matt, a sense of joy and despair rushing through her. Paris was alive, but now what? They had the ominous task of trying to track her down. As though sensing her uncertain emotions, Matt took her hand and brought it to his lips. “No matter what it takes, we’ll find her.”
London certainly hoped so.
“Paris! I thought you said you were heading back to your place. What are you doing back here and how did you change outfits so quickly?”
London turned around to see a tall dark-haired woman approach. She gave her boyfriend Matt a questioning look. “She thinks I’m Paris. Could this mean…
Hazel eyes twinkled from behind wire-rimmed glasses. “I think so.”
London turned back to the woman with a smile. “I’m not Paris, but I’m looking for her.”
The woman frowned. “What are you talking about? Of course you’re Paris. You were just here not even an hour ago. Wait a minute, why are you talking like that and what did you do to your hair?”
London touched her long braid self-consciously. “What’s wrong with it?”
The woman scratched her head, her confusion apparent. “Uh, nothing, but…you’re not Paris?”
“No. I thought I just said that.”
“You look remarkably like her. Are you…”
“Her sister? Yes, I am.”
The brunette’s mouth gaped open. “Funny, Paris never mentioned a sister, let alone a twin. Actually, I was under the impression she was an orphan.”
“Perhaps I can explain,” Matt interjected. “My name is Matt Taylor.” He held out his hand which the woman hesitantly took.
“Uh, nice to meet you. Carol Dunlop.”
“This is London, Paris’s sister as you’ve already noticed. You’re not far off in thinking Paris didn’t have family. It’s a delicate situation. There were some extenuating circumstances and the two of them, London and Paris, were separated. For the past few weeks we’ve been looking for her and recently learned she’s here in New York. We’ve been here for a couple days and this has to be fate to have run into you like this. It’s such a huge city. Could we have a minute of your time?” Matt asked.
The woman’s eyes had widened with each word. “Well, sure. This is amazing.
It’s like one of those stories you see on television. I just left the bar behind us, but it’s
kind of noisy in there. We can go to the coffee shop down the block.”