Chapter 69

Opall pushed open the café door with a sigh, ready for another day's work. However, her routine was interrupted when her eyes landed on a sealed envelope, with Elizabeth Thornton's name written imposingly on the front. Intrigued, she walked over to the desk where the teacher was sitting, her heart clenching at the sight of the visibly downcast woman.

Elizabeth was there, her eyes swollen and red from a sleepless night. Her pale skin contrasted with her flushed cheeks, and her messy hair was being gently braided by Laura, after William Thatcher had asked for help when he saw his daughter in such a state.

Abigail had already prepared breakfast, and a savory porridge was served, forcing Elizabeth to take a few spoonfuls. The woman seemed absorbed in her own thoughts, lost in a fog of sadness and worry.

Opall approached with the envelope, feeling a lump form in his throat as he witnessed Elizabeth's suffering. She held out the envelope gently, without saying a word, allowing the woman to decide whether to open it or not.

Elizabeth took the envelope with trembling hands, her fingers shaking slightly as she carefully opened it. Her eyes scanned the contents, her expression alternating between surprise, confusion and a twinge of anguish.

Opall watched silently, her heart clenching at the scene before her. She could feel the pain emanating from Elizabeth, the internal struggle she was waging to maintain her composure in the face of her tumultuous emotions.

Seeing Elizabeth's reaction to the contents of the envelope, William approached, his worried face reflecting his daughter's anguish. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering her silent support as she processed what she had found in the envelope.

Opall stood beside them, a silent witness to a family united by love and pain. She knew that this moment was just another chapter in the Thornton family's complicated and emotional story, a story marked by challenges, sacrifices and, above all, the power of love to overcome adversity.

Elizabeth read the contents of the envelope again, her eyes scanning the words with a mixture of relief and sadness. She closed the envelope quickly, noticing the attentive gazes that were now directed at her. With a feeble attempt at a smile, she shook her head and mumbled that it was nothing important, just a note from a family of school parents wishing that the missing children would be found soon.

Her voice sounded a little hoarse and shaky, an attempt to disguise the emotion that enveloped her. She didn't want to worry her friends and family even more with her own worries and sadness. She tried to maintain a façade of normality, even though inside she was struggling to hold back the tears.

William stood beside her, his expression a mixture of compassion and concern. He knew Elizabeth was hiding something, but decided not to press her at that moment. He just squeezed her hand gently in a silent gesture of support, offering her comfort without words.

Opall and the other women around the table exchanged worried glances, but decided to respect Elizabeth's decision not to share any more details at that moment. They knew she needed space to process her own emotions, and they were willing to give her that time.

Everyone knew that this was normal, after all, Elizabeth had received dozens of notes in the last few hours, because everyone was worried about the child and about her.

Elizabeth excused herself and said she was going home to take a shower and would be back soon. Opall accompanied her home, where she had already prepared a huge basin of warm water for the teacher's bath. As Elizabeth was about to enter the bathroom, she heard with surprise when Elizabeth asked her to go to Robert's house to check if he had returned from the search.

Without hesitation, Opall set off quickly for Robert's house, even though she knew it was a bit far away. She was determined to arrive before Elizabeth had finished her bath and sorted her clothes to take to the café.

On the way, Opall met Robert and Cody, who were returning from Robert's mother's house. Without wasting any time, Opall told them everything Elizabeth had asked.

The two boys agreed to accompany Opall to Elizabeth's house to make sure everything was all right.

Cody, kind as ever, offered his horse for Opall to ride in front. Gently, he held the reins, adjusting the position to ensure her comfort, while his arms wrapped around her tenderly. The closeness caused the scent of Opall's hair to fill Cody's senses, a soft fragrance that transported him to a state of calm and contentment. A smile slid involuntarily across Cody's face, his mind filled with thoughts of Opall. To him, she was much more than beautiful; she was a vision of pure grace and elegance, a true princess who enchanted his eyes and won his heart with every moment they shared together.

"She's beautiful! She's a princess. "

When they arrived at Elizabeth's house, Opall went in first to make sure she was ready. However, to his surprise, he found no one home. When he told the boys, Robert suggested that Elizabeth might be in the café. Perhaps, in her desperation, she couldn't wait and ended up returning to the café. Determined to find her, the three of them ran to Abigail's café, but found no sign of Elizabeth there either. Concern began to grow as the search for the teacher continued without success. Opall could feel his heart racing as he tried to understand Elizabeth's whereabouts. Where could she be? Uncertainty hung in the air as the trio wondered what to do next.