I would have sworn she stepped outside alongside my parents. I was so stunned by her presence, it took a while for my brain to register that she had just asked a question.
"Where is the ring?" She asked again at the perplexed look on my face.
"Oh my, by the lamp," I replied without pointing.
She walked to my bedside table and stood staring at me, then she turned her head and picked up the Ruby ring. "Keep this on your person at all times."
She tried to push the ring into my finger but I jerked my hand away as our skin made contact, hers was unusually cold. She sighed and suddenly looked smaller. Scooting me a little, she sat down next to me and she ran her hands through her hair. I couldn't help but think this was probably what she and my dad had in common. I frowned as I realized I didn't know which of my parents was her sibling.
"I mean you no harm, I swear on my life, Isabella…"
"Bella," I called out instinctively, interrupting her.
"Bella?" Her forehead furrowed. "I'm certain it's Isabella.
"It is, I prefer Bella everybody calls me that in case you didn't notice." She didn't miss what I implied and I could hear the rude tone in my voice but I was too tired to check my manners.
"Katy is right, the last time I saw you, was a very long time ago. It is definitely long enough to miss a lot of important aspects of your life." It was weird to hear someone call my mum Katy, she always went by Katherine and my dad always called her sweet names never her actual name.
I did not bother answering, not only because I was tired but I wasn't buying whatever this was about. I don't need any sort of apology or explanation, I didn't know her so I didn't miss her. It really didn't matter. I would have told her this but it meant saying a lot of words and I wasn't sure I had the strength for it.
There were tons of questions I wanted answers to but I couldn't ask instead I nodded and she placed the ring on my palm before quietly leaving my room. Barely two minutes later I was fast asleep.
I woke up to movements, I opened my eyes to find Katherine in my room. She had her back to me and her eyes to my window, it was close but she was staring at it as if lost in thought.
"Mum?" I called as I struggled to stand up. I felt an object in my palm and I remembered the talk with Carly. The suffix part would most likely take a lot of getting used to.
"I'm sorry," she replied in a rush. "I didn't mean to wake you." She rushed to my side.
"I'm fine," I reassured her and I sat up. She gestured that I shouldn't but I was feeling a lot better now. "I am much better now mum, don't look so worried."
"There is no way, I wouldn't be worried if it weren't for Aunt…" She looked up suddenly as if lost in thought.
"Mum?" I called again.
"Huh?" She jerked. "Sorry, you must be hungry. I'll get your dinner."
"Dinner? Whoa!" I made to get out of bed. My mother's expression was priceless as she tried to stop me, worry made her usual puffy cheeks shrink. "I am better now, Aunt Carly was right all I needed was some rest." I did feel a lot better though there was no denying the fact that I was starving.
She paused then nodded and said, "I will see you downstairs in a few, okay?"
"Yes ma'am," I remained seated until she left my room when the door closed behind her. I opened my palm and once again studied the ring. It was beautiful.
Placing it back on the table, I undressed and got into the shower. As the water poured all over me, I suddenly felt lighter. I stayed in there longer than I needed to but it was worth it. I got dressed and was about to leave the room when I saw the ring that I had kept on my bedside table without much thought I picked it and slipped it into my finger.
My mum and dad were already at the dining table by the time I got downstairs, I quickly joined and immediately noticed a plate wasn't set aside for Carly. "Mum, Dad," I said and took my seat.
"Bella," my dad replied excitedly. "Good to see you're better."
"Yeah so much better. Where's Aunt Carly?" I asked as I picked the cutlery and dove into the meal.
There was a slight pause before my mum replied, "She won't be joining us."
I stopped with the meal hanging from a fork just inches from my mouth. "Why not?" I was slowly warming up to her company may be because of earlier.
My mum shrugged and when I was certain that was all the response I was getting, I resumed my meal while my dad tried to make small talks. As soon as the meal touched my tongue, I flinched. I would have sworn I got slapped that's how sharp the taste was.
"Is something wrong?" Mum immediately asked, her brows were furrowed again.
I shook my head but I was far from okay, the taste had been sour though I got used to it after I rolled it around my tongue, chewed, and swallowed. By the second scope, it was so much better and tastier and I blamed the first reaction on the fact that I hadn't eaten since breakfast.
Halfway through the meal, my mum finally noticed the ring on my index finger. "What is that you've got on?" She asked.
"Oh this, it is some ring Aunt Carly gave me. It's pretty right?" I replied, showing off my nail.
"Yeah, it is." With that, she ceased the topic and resumed her meal.
As soon as dinner was over I cleared the dishes alongside my mum even though she yelled several times that she could handle the dishes alone and returned to bed. On my way there, I stopped just in front of Carly's bedroom, I had half the mind to knock but decided against. I slept as soon as my body touched the bed.