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’s 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.

Nodding her head yes Sally dried her tears and gave Vivien a hug. “Remember what we told you Vivien,” Emma said. 

“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.

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 Abby…

“Richard, I will be back in a little while.” Catherine told her husband as he sat out in the lovely garden. 

“Alright dear,” Richard said as he began sipping his coffee. After he “stopped” taking those pills he had began 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. Over an hour 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 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 there. “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 soldier.” Catherine began. Smiling a little she knew what would get her to open the door. “I have news on your father and your love.” 

Turning back around Vivien unlocked and opened the door without thinking. “You have news about my father and Larry?” Vivien asked. How can this lady be lying. Like she said her son was in the war as well. 

“Yes, I do.” The lady said as she walked into the store and sat down. Sitting her basket of treats next to her she began telling Vivien. “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, but not doing very well.” Catherine began. “As for your love he was killed in battle a few weeks ago.” 
A gasp came from her lips. “No, it can’t be. He told me he was going to come back to me.” Vivien cried as she put a hand to her mouth and tried to control the sobbing. “This can’t be. I won’t believe it.” “It is true girl.” 

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. 

Taking out the red apple from her basket she looked at Vivien. “Come here child,” she called out as she reached for her hand, coming over to her Vivien put her hand in hers. What could this woman offer her that would make her life happy? Nothing, she had nothing that would make that happen. “This apple will give you whatever you want, anything in the world you can have.” Catherine said as she could tell Vivien was thinking of it. “It can even give you your hearts true desire,” placing the shiny apply in Vivien’s small hand. 

Looking at it she could see her reflection within that apple. Pushing her lips together Vivien didn’t know what to do. Looking up at the woman she just smiled at her. Could she really have what her heart wanted? This sounded something like out of a fairy tale. 

Looking back down Vivien began thinking…her hearts true desire. She could have what she had always wanted, but then she really couldn’t because he was dead, killed by a bloody bomb, if only they weren’t at war. On the other hand though could they still live happily even if it wasn’t here on earth? Of course they could and that’s when Vivien knew what to wish for. “If Larry really is dead then I would rather be with him then be on this lonely earth without him.” After all there wasn’t anything else to live for. 

Holding the apple within her hands she drew it to her mouth. As she could feel her wish coming true something stopped her. Feeling little paws and claws on her legs Vivien looked down. “What is it Callie?” Vivien asked. 

Picking up the cat Catherine looked at it as if she wanted to kill it right then and there. Putting it in another room and shutting the door Catherine came back. 

Holding the apple yet again Vivien began wondering if this was the right thing to do? But life wasn’t worth living without the person you loved the most. Taking a deep breath Vivien put her lips to the apple and took a bite. 

Feeling her blood go cold and her body go limp, Vivien tried to do her best to stay standing. However the poison that 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 she looked up at the lady. “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 Abby 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.