Chapter 13: A Wish fulfilled

The following day Vivien heard voices coming from the front of the bakery. Coming into the big room she found the seven sisters' surrounding a table. "What's wrong?" Vivien asked as she stepped forward.

"Sally here was being a stupid girl and decided to run through the kitchen with the floors wet." Virginia answered in her grumpy voice as normal.

"Poor Sally," Vivien said as she looked at the seven year old. From the looks of it, it seemed to Vivien that Sally might have broken her arm.

"Don't touch it, it hurts." Sally cried as her small face was swollen and wet with tears.

"Get her some ice to put on it while we take her to the hospital." Mary called to one of the sisters. Drawing in a breath a sneeze would come shortly thereafter. How Mary hated having allergies problems. Not just once a year, but all year long.

"I don't want to go to the hospital!" screamed Sally as she begged her sisters not to take her. How she hated the hospital.

Evelyn went to the kitchen and got a small thing of ice. "Sally, you've got to stop crying it will only make things worse." Evelyn told her sister as she placed the ice on her arm.

"Vivien, while we take Sally to the hospital we will need someone to watch the bakery for us. Do you mind doing that?" Jacqueline asked as she put her coat on.

Telling the sisters she would Vivien looked down at Sally. "Sally, can you be a good girl for me and your sisters?" she asked as she was now on the child's level. Vivien pushed a strand of Sally's blond hair from her face. Nodding her head yes Sally dried her tears and gave Vivien a hug. "That's a good girl." Vivien smiled at the frightened child.

"Remember what we told you Vivien," Emma said as she put on her musk.

"Don't let anyone in the bakery without one of you here, yes I know." Vivien said. She had been told this before she didn't need to be told it time and time again. After a while it got old. "I'm not a child." Vivien said in her head.

Shutting the door and locking it, Vivien shook her head. Sally could get into more trouble than anyone. Going into the back, Vivien decided to finish washing the dishes that the girls had started. Putting her hands into the soapy suds she began washing the dishes and day dreaming.

Meanwhile at Notley Abbey…

"Richard, I will be back in a little while." Catherine told her husband as he sat out in the lovely garden. Why was he all of a sudden getting better? He should be getting worse! If she wanted Richard's fortune then she would have to hurry up and to the job.

"Alright dear," Richard said as he began sipping his coffee. After he "stopped" taking those pills he had begun to fill much, much better. However, unknowing to him Catherine was going to harm his little girl.

Giving her husband a kiss goodbye Catherine left to put her plan to the test. Four hours later Catherine was in London and on her way to the bakery. Now if she could just remember which street it was on. Catherine couldn't remember for the life of her what the street was called. So she decided to ask someone. After all that was the next best thing.

"Excuse me sir, but could you tell me where this sister's bakery is." Catherine asked.

Looking at her the man smiled. Of course he would help this lady out. "It's on this next street half way down on the left hand side."

Catherine thanked the man and continued on her way. She could just see it now, being the most beautiful in all of London once again. Heading down the street the man told her to go down she could see the sign in plain sight. How in the world did Jenny not know the name? "Sometimes you just don't know who you can trust." Catherine told herself.

Meanwhile after the dishes were washed and put away Vivien started writing yet another letter. Larry just had to get them. He just had to. The sad part was Vivien hadn't heard from her father either in a great deal of time. What if something happened to them both? Then Vivien would really be alone in the world. This wasn't the best time to be on your own. As Vivien sealed the letter and put postage on it a knock came on the door. Knowing that she wasn't supposed to answer it she went and glanced out the window. Who could it be? They should know the bakery is closed on Sunday. There was even a closed sign in the window.

Looking out the window she saw a rather middle aged woman standing there. She was dressed in a military green skirt and wore a brown cloak. The hood of the cloak was over the woman's face. All Vivien could see was the tip of the woman's noes and the edge of her chin. "I'm sorry, but we are closed." Vivien called out as she looked at the lady. Turning from the window she began walking away. That was until the woman spoke.

"Oh please, Miss, I've traveled quite far and I don't have anywhere to go. I'm a mother of a dear solider." Catherine began. Smiling a little she knew what would get her to open the door. "In fact I'm looking for Vivien Alexander I have news to give her."

"I'm she."

The lady took a few seconds before replying. "Could you take a break and perhaps we could talk over coffee." Vivien looked at her with caution. "I have news about your father and Larry."

Vivien's body shook as she heard this. Who was this lady and what kind of news could she have about her father and Larry? Grabbing two cups of coffee Vivien and the lady sat down to talk. After a long conversation Vivien was able to ask "What do you have to tell me?"

"To begin with your father sir Richard Alexander was injured in a bomb attack causing him to lose a leg."

This made Vivien's heart jump, her poor father. "Oh, dear father, how is he now?" Vivien asked as she knew he was a strong person and knew he could get through anything.

"From what I know he's home and doing well." Catherine could see the relief fill Vivien's eyes. But that relief would soon be dashed.

"I'm so reified that father is doing well." Knowing that her father was well and safe she soon could ask about her love. "What news do you have about Larry?"

"My son Allen and Larry are in the same troop. I believe your father is over them." The lady put the cup of coffee up to her lips and took a sip before going on. "It's as if they have become brothers and apparently Larry talks about you all the time. In fact Allen says he talks about nothing else." Vivien smiled at this. "Tell me my dear how long have you known each other? How did you meet?" Vivien looked at her for a quick moment as a funny feeling formed in her stomach. She could trust her, right? "Oh, I know what it is. Your father doesn't approve. Is that it dear girl? That is a shame." The lady shook her head.

"No, that's not it at all." Vivien replied quickly. "We met in the Underground during an air raid about three months ago. We talked about life and…"

"Go on."

"About how I had run away from home." Looking into her cup Vivien could see her reflection within the warm liquid. "I shouldn't have done it. Runaway I mean. I thought it would solve all of my problems."

"And you thought Larry would take away the rest of the pain?" The woman asked as her hands rested on the table. Vivien nodded her head. Before Vivien knew it she had told this woman her entire story. For some strange reason it felt as if Vivien could tell this woman anything. It felt as if she had somehow new this lady. Looking at her stepdaughter, Catherine's lips turned into a devilish smile. Now was the time. She had Vivien right where she wanted her. "I have some rather sad news. Larry has been killed on the front line."

A gasp came from her lips. "No, it can't be. He told me he was going to come back to me. This can't be. I won't believe it." Tears clung to her long eyelashes before falling into her coffee cup.

"It is true girl. Shot right through the heart. They tried to get him help, but by the time he got to the hospital he was dead on arrival."

Vivien's tears continued to fall and fall until it was too hard to see anything. This couldn't be. They were going to live happily ever after. Why did she think he was going to come back? So many don't why did she think he would? What a fool what a fool she had been. Sinking into a chair Vivien buried her face into her young, youthful hands. She could feel her heart breaking as every second past.

Getting up the lady walked over to the glass counter and took out a strawberry Danish and held it within her fingers.. "Come here child." Getting up from her seat Vivien made her way over to the lady. "This will give you whatever your heart desires." The lady replied as she put the apple into the girl's small hand.

Looking at it Vivien could see the warm fruit filing seeping from the ends of the bake good. This could make her happy? How was that? She had already given her heart away and now it was broken. Knowing there was nothing else to live for she gave in. However, before giving into the yummy bake good she asked a very important question "What kind of Danish is this?" It looked so delicious. "Strawberry?" She wasn't about to lead on that she wasn't able to ingest Strawberries.

"Oh, no dear it's a cherry Danish. I am well known for my cherry Danishes." Catherine could see her stepdaughter contemplating the treat.

Taking the ladies word Vivien put the Danish to her lips and sank her teeth into the warm, moist surface.

Feeling her blood go cold, her throat close up and her body go limp, Vivien tried to do her best to stay standing. Whatever was taking over her body made it feel as if she was going to pass out. Coughing and coughing Vivien did everything in her power to try and get the piece of apple up. Sadly it did no good. What was going on? Why was everything so blurry? Taking in a breath she found that she couldn't breathe. Falling on her knee's Vivien quickly brought her fingers to her nose. It smelled like…STRAWBERRIES! No! What had she done? "What did you do to me?" she tried everything within her power to keep her eyes open. Looking down at her hands they were going pale as pale as snow and as cold as death itself.

Laughing a deep laugh Catherine removed her hood to reveal she wasn't who she said she and before Vivien stood her evil stepmother.

Snapping her head up, a gasp came to Vivien's lips. "Why did I let you in?" she asked in a faint voice. If she would have known she was bad she wouldn't have let her in. Before she could get a response she gave up hope and closer her eyes as she rested on the bakery floor.

Leaving the bakery Catherine got rid of the costume and went back to Notley Abbey to be the most beautiful in all of London.

Coming from the other side of the room Callie saw her master resting on the floor. Going over to her she meowed hoping she could get up. Callie would continue this for another hour before the sisters would come back.

The thunder began to roll through the sky as lighting and rain came thereafter. The rain beat down on the small house as the cries of Callie could still be heard.

"Now you know not to run across wet floors don't you Sally?" Anna asked as her hand rested on the knob. Pushing the door open she found this odd. "That's odd I know I locked it." Stepping in they found Vivien.

Rushing over to her, the sisters held their breath as Anna checked for a pulse. Looking up with sad eyes Anna shook her head. Sobs of sorrow could be heard. While the sisters held tissues to their eyes Sally held tight to her sister's dress and buried her face in it.

A/N: Oh, no. What will happen now? I also wanted to let you guys know that I made the Deans List at my college:D