It wasnt that the girl annoyed herno, it was something else. She repelled her, somehow.
Scruffy, with tangled braids, an unironed school uniform, and a crookedly sewn collar and cuffs. The girl was unkempt, with a haunted look.
Rachel Williams grimaced. Why had she even remembered that messy child? She set down the éclair shed been enjoyingwhere was George? Hed promised to come early today. It was the anniversary of her husbands passing…
A knock at the door.
«Whos there? George? Did you forget your keys?»
«Mrs. Williams, you left them on the chair.»
«What? What keys?»
Rachel opened the door and saw… *her*. That same girl. What on earth?
«Sedley? What keys? How did you know where I live? Were you *following* me?»
The girl shook her head. She wore a battered old hat, a threadbare coat with a stain on the pocket, worn-out tights sagging at the knees, and shoes barely holding together.
Only then did Rachel notice the girls eyesstrikingly blue, framed by thick black lashes.
Shed recently started teaching at the school after retiring from the college. Couldnt stay idle. But this girl… odd. Kept to herself. What was her name? Alice? Yes, Alice Sedley.
«You left your keys on the chair,» Alice said quietly. «I called after you, but you didnt hear.»
«Oh… goodness. How careless of me. Must be old age,» Rachel tried to joke.
«Youre not old,» Alice replied seriously. «Just in a hurry.»
«Thank you, Alice.»
«Youre welcome. Goodbye, Mrs. Williams.»
«Goodbye…»
Rachel shut the door, lost in thought, then suddenly yanked it open again. Footsteps faded down the stairs.
«Alice!» Rachel called. The girl turned, looking up. «How did you know where I lived?»
«I live next door. I see you walking to work. Sometimes I walk behind youtheres a dog on the corner. If I stay close, he doesnt growl at me. He doesnt like the smell of cats. I feed strays in the basement… but Im not scared. I call him Rex. Hes homeless.»
«And the address… I asked the ladies on the bench. Told them you worked at my school.»
They took the same bus.
*What a strange child,* Rachel thought. *Is she watching me?*
«Would you like some tea?» The question surprised even her. Alice nodded instantly.
*Rude,* Rachel chided herself. *She shouldve refused.*
She poured the tea.
«Are you… hungry?»
Alice shook her head, but Rachel knew better. The girl ate carefullytoo carefully. Starving.
*Why am I bothering with this?*
«Lets eat together. I hate dining alone, and George is late…» She bustled about, piling food onto a plate.
Alice ate like someone who hadnt seen a proper meal in days.
«Thank you,» she murmured, eyeing the leftovers. «I should go. Your cookings lovely.»
*So starved she compliments my plain food.*
Rachel packed the leftoversmeat pies, spaghetti, even sweetsinto a container. Alice hesitated but took it.
Later, Rachel scolded herself. *Unprofessional. Tomorrow, shell hug me in front of everyone. Or thank me for the food.*
George slunk in the next morning, shamefaced.
«What was yesterday?» Rachel demanded.
«Thursday. Todays Friday.»
«Dont mock me, George.»
«Ooh, full names. Serious business.»
«It was your fathers memorial. He deserved better.»
«Dad wouldnt care if we eat today instead. Lets do it now. I need sleepday off.»
«Out all night again?»
«You *really* want to know?»
Rachel stormed to work, braced for Alices inevitable acknowledgment. But the girl passed her with only a curt «Morning.»
*The nerve.*
All day, Rachel watched for her. Nothing.
Three nights later, a scream pierced the quiet.
Rachel ran toward it. A massive stray had clamped onto Alices sleeve, snarling, shaking her.
«Get *away!*» Rachel kicked the dog aside. «Alice, are you hurt?»
The girl’s eyes were wide with terror.
«He… he wanted the kitten…» Alice sobbed. «Wanted to tear it apart.»
«Its alright now. Youre safe. Lets get you home.»
«I cant.»
«At your age, you should»
Rachel stopped. *Odd child.*
«Ill hide it under the stairs… if they dont throw it out again.»
«*Who?*»
Alice didnt answer.
At school, Rachel asked about her. The math teacher, Ms. Peacock, was the only one who knew.
«Troubled home. Mothers gone, stepfather drinks. Grandmothers no better.»
«Howd she even get enrolled?»
Ms. Peacock shrugged.
Rachel waited after school, spotting Alice in her patched-up coat. Her heart ached.
She trailed the girl, who skirted the snarling stray and sat on a bench outside her building… pulling out a textbook.
*Doing homework outside?*
At home, Rachel argued with Georgedivorced two years ago, no kids, now drifting. His ex, Natalie, had been perfect. But *boring*, hed said.
Rachel stepped outside for air.
«Alice! Wheres that wretched girl?» A slurred voice echoed.
A disheveled woman swayed by the door. Same blue eyes as Alice.
«Excuse me,» Rachel said.
«What?»
«Are you Alices mother?»
«Piss off.»
«Im her teacher. Where is she?»
«Asleep inside.» The woman stumbled away.
«Alice!» Rachel called into the dark. «Come out. Its alright.»
The girl emerged from the shadows.
«Come home with me.»
«Shell punish me.»
«She wont dare.»
«Theyll take me away if she loses custody.»
«Who is she?»
«My grandmother.»
«Wheres your mother?»
«Gone. Four years.»
«Did she… drink too?»
«No. We were happy. Then she got sick. They gave me to *them*. Gran gets money for me.»
Rachels jaw tightened. «Youre coming with me. Well sort this.»
George was home when they arrived.
«Whos this?»
«Alice.»
The girl stared at him.
«Staying the night?» he asked.
«Dunno.»
In the morning, Rachel let her sleep, then made breakfast.
«Lets go.»
«Where? The orphanage?»
«Shopping.» George watched, thoughtful.
«Whered you find her?»
«My student.»
At the store, Rachel dressed her in new clothes. Alice glowed.
«Your granddaughters beautiful,» the cashier said. «Looks just like you.»
Rachels chest warmed.
«Toss those rags.»
«No!» Alice clutched her old coat. «Theyll sell them. Then beat me.»
Rachel sighed. «Lets… go for cake?» At the café, Alice hesitated.
«Can you bake?» the girl asked.
«Not well.»
«My mum taught me.»
They baked together, laughing. George returned, souring the mood.
«I should go,» Alice whispered.
«Ill walk you.»
George blocked her. «Who sent you?»
Alice shook her head.
«*Explain*,» Rachel demanded.
George exhaled. «Mum… this is Diana Sedleys daughter. *Mine*.»
Rachel froze.
«I loved Diana. Before Natalie. She never told me about Alice. When I saw hershes *your* doubleI knew.»
«You abandoned her?»
«I didnt believe Diana. But Id never abandon a child.» He turned to Alice. «You know me?»
Alice nodded. «I saw your photo when I brought the keys.»
Rachel pulled her close. «*Mine* now.»
Tests confirmed it. In court, Georges girlfriend, Elena, stood by him. Rachel clung to Alices hand.
«Dad, can I live with Gran?» Alice asked later.
«What if she says no?»
«She wont. Shes lonely.»
«And Im not?»
«Youve got Elena.»
Rachel walked hand-in-hand with her granddaughter, uncaring of gossip. Shed found her joy.
George grew close to Alice, though he and Elena parted ways.
«Not because of me?» Alice worried.
«Never.» He kissed her head. «Wish Grandpa could see you.»
At parent-teacher night, George met Alices teachernow his wife. Alice thrived, shuttling between school and home with both grandmothers.
«Hard having teachers for family?» friends teased.
«Nah,» Alice grinned. «Its brilliant.»
George often whispered, «Diana, forgive me. Ill never fail her again.»
Alice still visited her other grandmothercleaning, cooking, begging her to quit drinking.
The old woman wept, kissing her hands.
«My girl. My blood.»
She swore shed stop.
Someday.
