07/04/2026
I stared at Edna, my mind reeling with the revelation. A daughter? I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, again. The room seemed to spin around me as I struggled to process the information.
"Edna, what... what do you mean?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Edna's eyes filled, and she began to sob. "I'm so sorry, Sheri. I didn't mean to deceive you. It's just... I was young, and scared, and I didn't know what to do."
I felt a pang of sympathy, despite my confusion. "Edna, you can tell me anything. What's going on?"
Edna took a deep breath, and the words spilled out of her like a confession. "I got pregnant when I was 15, and my parents kicked me out. I had nowhere to go, so I gave the baby up for adoption. But I couldn't stop thinking about her, wondering if she was okay..."
I listened, my heart aching for her. "So you took a job as a maid, hoping to find her?"
Edna nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I saw your ad for a maid, and I knew it was fate. I wanted to be close to her, to see how she was doing..."
I felt a wave of shock and compassion. "Edna, why didn't you just tell me? I would have helped you."
Edna shook her head, her eyes filled with shame. "I was afraid you'd judge me, send me away... I know I shouldn't have lied, but I was desperate."
I took a deep breath, trying to process everything. "Edna, I... I don't know what to say. This is a lot to take in."
Edna looked up at me, her eyes pleading. "Please, Sheri, don't tell Mummy. She'll send me away, and I'll never see my daughter again."
I felt torn, unsure of what to do. But as I looked at Edna, I saw the scared, vulnerable girl she once was, and the determined, loving mother she had become.
"Edna, I'll help you," I said, taking her hand. "We'll figure this out, together."
Edna's face crumbled, and she hugged me, sobbing. "Thank you, Sheri. Thank you for understanding."
As we hugged, I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Shock, compassion, and a dash of fear. What had Edna gotten herself into? And what would happen if Mummy found out?
I pulled back, looking at Edna with new eyes. "Edna, we need to tell Mummy. She deserves to know the truth."
Edna's eyes widened in panic. "No, Sheri, please! She'll send me away, and I'll never see my daughter again."
I sighed, feeling torn. "Edna, Mummy's not like that. She'll understand."
But Edna was adamant. "No, Sheri. I know her. She'll never forgive me."
I looked at Edna, seeing the desperation in her eyes. "Okay, let's think this through. What's your daughter's name?"
Edna hesitated, then whispered, "Her name is Joy."
I smiled softly. "Joy. That's a beautiful name."
Edna smiled back, her eyes shining with tears. "She's beautiful, Sheri. I'm so proud of her."
I hugged her again, feeling a surge of determination, to help her. "We'll figure this out, Edna. Together."
Just then, Mummy's voice called out from downstairs. "Sheri, Edna, breakfast is ready!"
Edna's eyes widened, and she panicked. "Sheri, please don't say anything to Mummy. Not yet."
I nodded, trying to think fast. "Okay, let's go downstairs. We'll talk about this later."
As we headed downstairs, I knew I was walking a thin line. But I was determined to help Edna, no matter what.
At breakfast, Mummy was her usual cheerful self, oblivious to the drama unfolding beneath the surface. Edna played along, but I could see the tension in her eyes.
As we finished breakfast, Mummy announced, "I'm going out today, girls. I'll be back by evening."
Edna's eyes flickered to me, and I knew what she was thinking. This was our chance to dig deeper, to uncover more secrets.
As Mummy left, Edna turned to me, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sheri, I need your help. I want to see Joy."
I nodded, my heart racing. "Okay, let's plan it."
But little did I know, our plan was being watched, and our secrets were about to be exposed...
To be continued...
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