Clara hugged Shelby one last time and stepped aside. James also stepped in as if to hug her but halted. He retracted his outstretched arms and cleared his throat. James was a bit puzzled by how Shelby had taken the marriage arrangement. Not that he cared, though, because he had received all the benefits already, and more would be passed on to him in the coming weeks.
He examined her impassive face and whispered close to her, ensuring he did not touch her in any way, "Do not mess this up! You know what is at stake here…." He gestured towards Clara, who had moved to munch on a few pastries.
James and Clara were the only two who represented the bride, and all the other guests represented the no-show groom. After all, no Thornston Vino Industry-related business partner nor relative would want to miss such an occasion, no matter how impromptu the invitation was.
After a few rounds of pictures, Shelby felt that her duty was done and excused herself from the wedding celebrations as well. More than a few pairs of eyes followed her around, but no one approached her.
As she moved through the scattered guests with a polite smile in place, she wondered where the three children were.
When she entered the house again, she paused, unsure of where to go.
"This way, Miss,"
She looked up to the one maid who had stuck close all evening. She smiled gratefully as she led her through the various pathways towards her room.
***
"No! you are wrong! Mama Shelby likes me!"
"She is not your mama, Gabriel!"
"But she is! She said that she is my mama, and she promised!"
"I'm sorry, Gabriel, but that is not how it works!"
"I-is sh-e real-ly da-d's new wife?" the second child stuttered as she pushed her large glasses up her nose.
"She is not-" Samantha, the oldest child, ran her hands through her hair, getting frustrated by each passing second.
"Yes, she is Ian's wife. We all just came back from the wedding! Don't you remember?"
"But h-e di-d not show u-p!"
"It's still valid, Ingrid, whether he showed up or not."
Even at age thirteen, Samantha had taken on the maternal role of caring for her two siblings. Samantha had been forced to grow up and assume a maternal role. The three were lodged in one room, which was large enough to have three beds in it. Samantha was grateful enough for this, but sometimes, she wished things were a little different.
"O-okay."
Gabriel hung his head and whispered, "She even promised that we will talk about that man…"
"What, man? Gabrieeelllllll!!! Don't tell me you sported that nonsense to her, too?"
Gabriel shrunk back and added, "But she believed me…. And the man was-"
"It's not like I don't believe you, but-" Samantha went on her knees and took her baby brother's hands in hers.
"Come here," she whispered and hugged Gabriel tightly. Samantha knew how much Gabriel wished someone would believe his words on the things he randomly saw, but she felt that they were all childish games from a child who longed for love.
"It is commendable that she listened to you though." She added, thinking back to the beautiful young woman who would, from then onwards, be their stepmother. 'Is she even considered a stepmother?' She asked herself.
"So, she can really be my mama, right? Even Aunt Katie said so!" Samantha knew that she would not be able to convince Gabriel that evening, so she sighed and shook her head. She glanced at her younger sister, who was twisting her hands nervously. Ingrid was quite similar to their mother, but her demeanour was the exact opposite.
Samantha spent that night trying to reassure her two siblings on two different things, but all related to their new 'stepmother'.
Samantha was most worried about Ingrid, who was so shy that she was only able to fully look into her direct siblings' eyes. It did not make their stay in their home any easier for them.
She helped Gabriel freshen and dress up in his pyjama and tucked him in bed.
"Samantha?"
"Hmmmm?"
"I want Mummy Shelby to tuck me in today."
Samantha sighed as she felt a headache start to come up. She pinched the bridge of her nose and then asked, "Gabriel? You don't like me because you got a new mama?"
"No, no, no, Sam…. It's-"
"Will you let me tuck you in now?"
"Okay…" his small voice resounded in their room, but the reluctance in it was obvious. Samantha did not care much because her pity-card had worked, and that was all that mattered. She turned to see Ingrid standing at the same spot, twisting her dress.
"Ingrid. There is no need to worry about the inevitable. The woman is here whether we like it or not. In fact, we should be grateful that we are still here to begin with!"
"Bu-t, b-ut mu-m?"
"MUM IS GONE! Ingrid! Get that into your head. She is not coming back! EVER!"
Samantha glanced over at Gabriel unconsciously to ensure he was asleep because the last thing she wanted was a crying Gabriel that night, but Samantha was seriously stressed. The day had started as usual, and they ended it by getting a new parent. There was no warning whatsoever from anyone. Not that she had expected anything from them at all. She knew their position in the eyes of the Thornston family.
'How I wish Ian would step out of that room!' she gritted her teeth in thought.
Ingrid squeezed her facial muscles, and the tears fell. She lowered her head and cried in place.
Samantha did not bother with her as her patience was running thin herself.
"I don't even have time to deal with my emotions myself, and I have to deal with a troublesome kid and a dumb one!"
Samantha entered their shared bathroom to freshen herself up. She changed into her pyjama and climbed onto her bed. She decisively turned off the light, leaving the sniffing Ingrid still standing in the middle of the room.
"You need to grow up!" she hissed furiously in the dark room, and Ingrid heard it perfectly, but she could not help but cry harder.
*********
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