Chapter 43

“Is the tea not okay, Heather? Do you want me to make another one for you?” Mabel enquired while wearing a worried expression.
“No, the tea is just as excellent as always.” With a tight smile on her face, Heather said.
“My dear, you seemed to be lost. What has made you so so sullen? Is any of the locals creating a problem? I can help.” Mabel could not help but wonder when she observed that her dear Heather had looked sad since the moment she had stepped inside her little cottage. She has hardly taken two sips from her cup and seems to be mentally debating with herself.
“No. The people of this town have been accepting. It is more than I had accepted of them. I seldom have one of those days where I am unaware of what I am doing.” Heather said more to herself than Mabel.
Mathilda did not accompany them on this particular day because she had things to do at her nursery. Heather insisted on assisting her, but Mathilda was adamant that she visit and have tea with Mabel as usual. However, she was not comfortable leaving Mathilda alone to do all the chores, but Mathilda Hans had been obstinate.
“It happens to everyone at least once in a while. It would be more troubling if it did not.” Mabel placed her palm on Heather’s hand in assurance. “Life is full of decisions and serving purpose, Heather. If one does not question it every now and then, then how will we ever progress. It is of utmost significance to challenge our purpose in life.”
“That are wise words, Mabel,” Heather said as she bit her lips.
“Is there something bothering you? I can strongly feel it. You can ask me anything you want, and I will help you to the best of my ability.”
“I…” Heather struggled to express her predicament. She wasn't sure if she ought to talk to her about it at all. She doesn't want to step over any lines. In a short period of time, Mabel has become more important to her than anyone else.
“I don’t know. I have a right to. I do not want to offend anyone in any way whatsoever.” Heather uttered.
“Heather. My dear, whatever you say would not leave this place. It will only be between us. I assure you of that.”
“I do not want to put you in an uncomfortable position.”
Mabel rewarded her with a reassuring smile of her own, “You are not. Heather, you are very dear to me. I would neither betray your trust nor compel you to speak with me. You can welcome to share whenever you are comfortable, and I will listen to you. Just say the word.”
Heather remained silent for at least two minutes before summoning the strength to express the feelings that had been bugging her more than usual ever since she had breakfast with the Diadem family. Already a couple of days had passed since that day, and she could feel the change in the atmosphere. There was no peculiar behavior change in Alexander and Juan, but she could feel the shift in emotions.
Alexander was juggling with something, and he was hiding it from her. From what she knows, he would not tell her to make her not worry, yet she cannot help the feeling. Whereas Juan was considered, he was becoming more accommodating than before. It wasn't necessarily a terrible thing, but it gave her the impression that he was protecting her from the stress and strain of their family.
It was sweet of him, and she appreciated it, but she was not pleased about it.
Malka was an excellent addition to her limited group of supporters. She had been sweet ever since she became acquainted with her. She was someone Heather could trust to be a good friend, and heaven knew she needed one.
"Would my life have been easier if I had recalled who my parents were, or better yet, if I had known about my roots and never forgotten about my prior existence?" Heather quietly questioned.
It wasn't the first time she had considered this. She had long since come to terms with the fact that she might, just might, never learn about the life she had forgotten, but after Contessa and Heinrich reopened the old scars, her feelings had grown stronger than before.
“There are lots of if and buts in one's life. But everything tells me one thing, does this have anything to do with our beloved Alexander Diadem?” Mabel asked her with curiosity.
“It would be not only dishonest with you but also with myself if I say otherwise. Alexander does play a substantial part, but he cannot be held solely responsible for my reservations. The moment I realized that I had lost all knowledge of my entire life, I have strived hard to find the truth, but in the end, it was proved to be a fruitless endeavor. I had tried to look for solutions, but in the end, I was rewarded with more queries. It was like I appeared out of the blue, completely unknown by this world. No one knows anything about me. You are the only one who has been able to recognize me and comprehend everything that has been going on without even me to have say a word to you.” Heather elucidated.
“How can I not, Heather? I can always feel you. It would be really sad if I did not.” Mabel said. “But what exactly happened? Does it have something to do with Contessa and Heinrich?”
“How did you know?” Heather asked in surprise. She had done a great job of keeping that aspect of her life hidden from the people she had grown to care about and who cared for her. She does not want them to know how desperate she is for Alexander's parents' acceptance.
“It is hard not to,” Mabel said quietly. “Contessa and Heinrich are not easy to get by. Contessa more than her husband. They are adamantly intractable, although they have good intentions. Even if I don't like how they go about acquiring what they want, they do want the best. Although they may not express it, they genuinely care about Juan and Alexander. They have unique ways of loving their sons.”
“I do like to believe that. And I do believe it. It is just that, why do they not like me? I do understand their expectations, and I am not what they wish for their son, but a fair chance?” Heather's eyes were brimming with tears.
“Sweetheart, the world often turns blind to the best things in their life. But also remember that the spell of dust is not permanently speared in one's eyes. There will come a time when you will triumph. We shall have the joy of victory, but in the interim, patience is required as life follows its own path.
“You talk a lot in puzzles that are hard to comprehend.”
Heather's words made Mabel laugh.
“Those words are wisdom which comes with age and experience.”