"Daddy? Aren’t you on vacation with him?" Esther asked, surprise evident in her voice.
"Vacation? I...went on vacation by myself. Your daddy did not leave with ," Shikera answered. She cast a sideways glance at Mignon who was obviously not understanding the conversation going on between Esther and Shikera.
"I know. You left when we were coming from that restaurant while daddy left later in the night. Miss Cyprian told you went on vacation together with daddy."
"So Elizabeth has been living with you even though your dad is not ho? Why?"
"Grandpa wants her to co and stay with . But Uncle Enoch does not want that."
Shikera frowned. So much had happened since she left but she was thankful she could at least hear a little from Esther.
"They might discover her absence soon. You should talk to her as fast as you can," Mignon reminded Shikera, walking to the door of the restroom to lock it. That might be able to stall any intruder until the restaurant managent arrived.
"Got it," Shikera nodded. She turned to Esther and took her little hands into hers.
"You know what, baby? Let’s talk tomorrow," she whispered.
"But Mummy..." Esther tried to protest, trailing off when Shikera pulled her into a hug.
"Who picks you up from school? Hazel or Enoch?" She needed to know which of them so as to plan how to et Esther without their knowledge.
"Miss Elizabeth will be my ho tutor now. I haven’t gone to school since you left," Esther replied.
Shikera could not be more shocked than she already was. At this point, she was ready to accept any news that ca to her. "What?! Why? It’s not ti for break yet, right?"
"Esther?!"
Shikera’s head snapped up.
"That’s Hazel. I think they are looking for you already, Esther. You know what? Do not tell anyone you saw . I was not supposed to co but I missed you so much. So let’s see tomorrow, alright?" she whispered.
"How?" Esther whispered back.
"Cyprian, she cos over to talk with Raymond, right?"
"She used to stay with us all through last week but she left recently. I think she had a fight with Uncle Ray," Esther replied.
Sighing in frustration, Shikera removed the hairband she used in trying her hair before using her hand to comb it down. Her brown curls fell on her shoulders, perfectly framing her face.
"Everything is just so confusing," she muttered beneath her breath. "Esther, is there a way you can contact Cyprian without anyone knowing? Do not talk to her on the phone, only physically so no other person can hear the both of you. And em...tell Cyprian you saw . And I want to et you two at Lucian Rays hospital tomorrow by 9am. Can you do that?"
"I can. Trust , Mummy," Esther replied, sounding excited at the task she had been given. She seed to like it that her mum was seeing her secretly, even though the ti they were spending together was short.
"Cool, you’re just as smart as your daddy. Now go et Hazel before she cos here. Rember, you can’t let it slip that you t ," Shikera warned.
"Yes mummy," Esther nodded vigorously. She waited for a forehead kiss from Shikera before running to et Mignon,
"Mummy, when did you arrive?"
Mignon stared down at her, before lifting her gaze to Shikera’s face with questioning eyes.
"Esther, you will et your mummy tomorrow and you can talk then. You should go and et Hazel now," Shikera spoke up. Though dissapointed, Esther could only nod slowly and wait while Mignon unlocked the door, before walking out of the restroom.
Hazel was in the distance with a plastic bag hanging from one hand, her eyes searching the area she was in.
"Miss Hazel!"
★★★
Back in the restroom, Mignon closed the distance between herself and Shikera.
"What just happened here? Why was your daughter calling her mum?" she asked.
"Let’s get to the hotel before talking about this, Mignon. We have to get out of here before any of those people with Esther can spot us. We need to find Alan too," Shikera stated.
Mignon had no choice but to agree with Shikera.
"Let’s leave then. Do I still have to use my mask?"
Shikera nodded and lead the way out of the restroom. Alan was waiting for them a few tres away from the door. Imdiately he spotted them, he hurried over, worry etched all over his face.
"Did you see her? Was she with soone else? I wanted to co and inform you but I could not near the ladies restroom," he said.
"It’s alright, Alan, she ca alone. And we have been able to talk to her. Let’s leave here so we can talk," Shikera replied.
★★★
"That’s not Natalia," Team leader Zuresh stated blandly, her words dropping a bombshell in the quiet private room.
Elizabeth and Natalia Anderson left the room a few minutes ago while leaving mbers of the DeLoach family behind. When Team leader Zuresh arrived and was not recognized by Natalia, she had introduced herself as a family friend of the DeLoach’s who had wanted to et Mrs Anderson.
Though Raymond and Enoch had been confused at that, they didn’t interfere in the conversation that ensued with the two won afterwards.
"What do you an that’s not Natalia Anderson? Then who is she?" Raymond questioned.
"Natalia would have recognized imdiately I ca in if she was the one. Plus, no offence, but the person I spoke to just now is too smart for her to be Natalia. I will say the only decision Natalia ever made for her own good was marrying Liam Anderson. All the other decisions she made was on behalf of her family, since she believed her frail health burdens her family mbers and that’s the only thing she can do for them. Live for them," Team leader Zuresh replied, a calculative gaze in her eyes.
"Then who is she if not Natalia Anderson?" Enoch pondered. He was not expecting a reply but one ca.
"That’s Natasha."
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