"Kids, you should go inside now, dinner will be served soon" the nun's voice was soft but her steely gaze at them said otherwise.
One of the little girls stepped forward and tugged at the hands of the other two, a deep scowl etched on her pretty, but pale face. "Let's go Maha, Matty, we have chores" Matilda allowed herself to be pulled by the one who spoke with such a mature tone, obviously Maren, but Mahalia hesitated, her soft gaze still on Meagan, who was still staring at them in shock.
"You looked so frightened earlier, here…" pulling a little shell from her pocket, she stretched her hands to give it to Meagan, but Meagan refused to move, she stayed rooted to the spot. But her eyes scanned the shell.
"What are you doing!" Maren screamed at Mahalia, her eyes blazing. "We are leaving now!" She looked straight into the eyes of the other child, Mahalia's face turned red as her eyes glistened with hot tears.
"I just wanted to see the pretty lady smile, she looked so sad" Mahalia's little voice broke into a half sob.
Maren's eyebrows shot up, and her gaze piercing. "And who said you could?"
"You insolent troublemakers! How dare you? Don't you see a guest in front of us?" The nun shot at the girls, if her face got any redder she might explode. But even then Maren's eyes held their challenge.
The nun pushed the child, and she fell without even as little as a Yelp, her palms grazing the rough floor, Matilda stepped forward, her eyes in slits as she glared at the older woman.
"Stand down Matilda! Now! I am sorry sister, it will never happen again…" Maren apologized, shielding Matilda with her body, and it was Meagan's turn to be shocked, the girl's head was bowed in defeat, and Meagan wondered why.
"Good, now go and do every chore, you are going to bed without dinner, that's your punishment!" As the girls departed with their shoulders slumped and face drawn, Meagan stared unbelievably at the nun who now turned a smiling face at her.
"You did not mean why you said about starving them did you? Meagan's gaze roamed around the nuns lips, expecting to hear a negative answer. But the indignant look on the older woman's face told her otherwise.
"That's how things are done here, they know better than to break the rules"
The answer Megan got from the nun broke her heart.
Even as she formed the thoughts in her mind, even before she said the words out loud, Meagan knew she was about to make a mistake that will alter everything in her life, she knew, but she said it anyway.
"I want to be their foster mother, if you do your background check, you will discover that I am more than capable" with a thumping heart Meagan finished her words and saw that even the nun was flustered, her mouth was hanging open.
"I don't think you know these girls, they will make you go mad!" The nun spurted the words as she glanced at the girls, who had stopped and Mahalia's face glowed, she hoped it was true.
"Maybe so, that's why I said I will foster them first, then decide if I want to adopt them" planting her legs firmly, Meagan said those words carelessly, not fully registering what she said.
"If you insist, you can see the head nun for more information, this way…" the nun led the way as she glanced occasionally at Meagan, as if she was trying to decide if she was really sane.
Now on their way back home, Meagan's actions were fully registered and her lips trembled, she was still mourning, heck, she didn't even take her bath everyday!
"Umm, maybe I should take them back and write a cheque or something?" Meagan debated silently with herself.
"Can you play something on the radio? I like music" Mahalia spoke up and Maren scowled.
"Yes, I can do that, what do you like?"
"Anything, that has to do with kings, and royalty" Mahalia giggled softly as she spoke and Meagan didn't know when she smiled genuinely.
"Okay… how about beauty and the beast? Or would you prefer snow white? Meagan pursed her lips, her brows furrowed in deep thought.
"Beauty and the beast is preferable, I prefer kings to princes, they are very immature" Mahalia's bold declaration made Meagan nod in agreement.
"I think so too" Meagan affirmed without much thought.
"Why? Do you have a King?" Mahalia's voice was so innocent, and curious. But she sensed the deep change in Meagan's emotions, she sat tensed in her seat and very quiet.
Maren stared at Meagan for a while, her eyes fixated on the back of her head, then she spoke up. "Everyone has lost someone sometime, at least you have your beautiful memories of them, and that is the luxury most of us don't have"
Meagan wondered where a little child learnt such things, sniffling as she focused on the road, the nun mentioned that they were abandoned at birth. Maybe their parents weren't financially stable.
"Sometimes it's a curse that you have to bear too" Meagan whispered painfully, and everyone was silent.
When Meagan got to the gate, and it slid open automatically, Mahalia gasped, her eyes softening and then a soft "wow" escaped from her lips, she was awestruck.
"Okay, welcome to my home, let's get you settled in" Meagan gestured awkwardly to the house, only now noticing that it was really a huge house, she was gifted this house by Mason, and she had insisted on them living there instead of the Stewarts Mansion, that was more like a showcase castle than a home. And Mason agreed.
More like she nagged, until he said "anywhere you are is home" and even if she was headstrong, she melted at any compliment or sweet word from Mason.
The girls had their mouths hanging wide open. And Meagan suddenly became self-conscious. When they walked in, the awestruck look was replaced by an unpleasantly surprised expression.