Page 2 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

Stories always made her happy.

“Maybe you can talk to her?” Linnea asked.

Hilde’s gaze snapped over to her sister. “Me?”

“She loves you, you know. You’re her favorite auntie.” The corner of her mouth lifted in almost a smile.

“I doubt that. She has other aunts.” Hilde tried another sip of coffee, then decided it was too strong for her. She placed the cup on the nearby table.

“Jack’s sisters don’t come to visit. Not since his parents passed.” Linnea sounded almost bitter as she said it.

Jack’s parents had been gone a decade. To Hilde’s knowledge, he had two sisters who lived abroad.

“In fact, I’ll be surprised if they show up for the funeral.” Anger pinched her face as she said it.

“They haven’t said?”

“No.” Then she sighed. “It’s just as well. We never got along. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. If they come, I’ll be happy to see them. Now, about Marigold…” Her words drifted away as she gave Hilde an imploring look.

She rose from the chair. “I’ll try.”

“If anyone can convince her, it’s you.” This time, she did smile.

Hilde left the living room and headed up the stairs. She paused at the girl’s door and gave a faint knock.

“I’m not hungry!” the girl shouted through the door.

Grinning, Hilde pushed open the door and poked her head through. “Neither am I.”

“Aunt Hilde!”

Marigold bounced off the bed, jostling the books and papers, and ran to the door. She flung it open and fell toward her, her little arms wrapping around her in a fierce hug. Hilde hugged her back. She took her by the hand and walked back into her room.

Nine-year-old Marigold had different taste than six-year-old Marigold. Her room had changed. The princess theme was gone. The walls were repainted to a pale lavender. The canopy bed was replaced with a simple four poster twin bed. Books were scattered all over the bed. More were stacked on the floor. She had a small bookshelf in one corner that was full. Signs of a voracious reader.

“Now, let’s see what you’ve been up to.” Hilde scanned the room.

Marigold shrugged. “Just reading.”

“I see.” She picked upAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland. “Ah, this is a good one.”

“Have you read that?” Marigold asked.

“Indeed, I have. About Alice who follows the White Rabbit to Wonderland.”

Marigold gave a wistful sigh. “I should like to go to Wonderland where there is fun and adventure.”

Hilde pulled up the plush stool she’d sat on once before, still holding the book. “Why do you say that?”

“Because nothing really bad happens there.” She climbed back on the bed, sitting with her back against the headboard, her legs drawn up.

“Yes, I know. But Wonderland isn’t a real place.” Even as she said it, she knew it was a lie.

“Well, it should be.” She rested her chin on her knees, looking sad.

“Your mother tells me you don’t want to go to the funeral tomorrow.”

“No, I don’t.”

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