Should I?

Should I?

Elora opened the door without checking, something she never did. She was late for work and needed to hurry. An older woman stood there, looking startled by the sudden opening of the door.

“Pardon me! I’m looking for Victoria Fortescue!”

Elora looked her over impatiently.

“She no longer lives here. If you want more, come back after five with identification.”

“Really? Where is she now?”

“I’m late. Please come back.”

The woman’s face dropped.

“Can I drop you wherever you’re going. I really want to see Vicky.”

Elora accepted the lift. It seemed to be the only way to get this strange female off her doorstep!

When she saw the silver Rolls, Elora gasped. She got in back with the woman.

“Where to?” asked the chauffeur.

Elora gave the address, then turned to the woman.

“Do you have some reliable identification?” she asked.

The woman gave her a birth certificate.

“Virginia Fortescue. Are we related?”

The woman smiled.

“I’m your Aunt Gin. Don’t you remember me?”

Elora shook her head.

“It was some time ago; you were only a year old when I met you. You look so much like your mother...”

Tears filled the younger woman’s eyes.

“Elora! What’s wrong?” Gin asked as she took her hand.

“Mams is gone, Gin. Died in her sleep.”

“But surely your father...”

“He’s been gone for so long; I don’t even remember him.”

The older woman squeezed her hand lightly.

“I wish I’d known about your mother; I would have come to you! Bad enough, we got separated during the war when I was two. I was adopted in England. I found her again just after you were born.”

“Wow!” Elora exclaimed. She got on her phone and called in sick.

“Let’s go to lunch and we can talk further!”