A/N: I know you've all been waiting for this! Chapter 5 of the 12 Chapters of Christmas!
(Chapter Forty-four)
News of Mother
"Have you heard from my mother?" Belinda asked anxiously the next morning.
"No," Elizabeth replied sullenly. "Tell you what? After school today, let's go on over to the Mercantile to check."
"Alright," Belinda agreed.
After school, Elizabeth and Belinda stopped by the Mercantile, as promised. To Belinda's delight, a letter was waiting for them.
"Thank you, Mr. Yost!" Belinda thanked him with an excited smile.
Running out the door, she tore open the envelope and skimmed over the contents. She could not understand some of them, but she caught onto the few she could make out. She flopped onto a bench and started sobbing uncontrollably.
"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked softly, sitting next to the young girl.
"It's – my mother," she cried as she surrendered the paper to the woman beside her. Elizabeth read the contents of the letter.
'To Miss Belinda Marshall,
I am sorry to inform you that your mother no lives at this address. Mrs. Virginia Marshall passed away a week after her daughter was kidnapped. I am sorry for your loss.
From Miss Angelina Whitcome.'
"Oh, Belinda! I am so sorry." She held the girl tightly. There was a long moment of silence as if honoring her mother's memory. "Let's walk home," Elizabeth said when she thought it was safe to do so.
"Belinda – I want you to know, you can stay with us for as long as you want. You'll always be welcome here."
"Thank you, Mrs. Thornton!" she cried as she threw her arms around Elizabeth.
This girl truly had been through so much. Losing her sister, her fiancé, and now her mother. If Elizabeth new one thing, it was that she was going to be there for this girl.