Chapter 4 – WAITING FOR RICH

SISTER PAMELA'S POV

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into... It was the eve of Christmas, a year after I had rescued Annabel and brought her with me to Beetville Town.

I walked into the hall and met her standing by the window beside her bed space while the other kids were going about their businesses. She glared menacingly into the open space completely oblivious of her environment.

"Hey, Annabel" I called out to her.

"Sister Pamela" she exclaimed.

She smiled at me and was surprised to see me in the room.

"So have you got your things ready, Mr. and Mrs. Stake is waiting to take you with them," I asked.

She murmured some inaudible words and shifted her gaze to the open space through the window.

"Come on, Annabel, not the window again. Please leave there and bring your bag" I said.

"But it is a year today, right, and he is supposed to come for me. I am waiting for him to come and get me. If I don't remain by the window, he might not see me when he arrives" she responded.

Her words pierced my soul and I understood exactly how she felt. The other kids felt differently, and they started to laugh at her.

"She is waiting by the window for her prince charming to come and rescue her" one of the kids, Lily laughed.

"No, she is sleeping beauty and her prince charming would soon be here to rescue her" another called Stephanie said and joined in laughing.

"But, Stephanie, I thought sleeping beauty was supposed to be sleeping?" a much younger kid, Tina, asked.

"Don't listen to them, Tina, they are just been naughty and that is not the right way to act when one of you is down. Now, Lily and Stephanie, you have to apologize to Annabel" I reprimanded them.

"We are sorry, Annabel" they chorused.

"But Rich is family, why has he not come for me?" Annabel asked while ignoring the other girls.

"You see, Annabel, I have gone over there several times but I could not find anything on Rich in the whole of Everestland. The report I got could not lead me to Rich. I wish I have more information about Rich. Don't worry, I know you will meet him someday" I explained.

I have gone in search of Rich or any other relations of hers, but my attempts have proven abortive. I could only hope that someday, she will find him.

"Okay, sister" Annabel replied.

"Now, you drag your bag along and follow me" I instructed.

"But must I go with them?" she asked.

"Yes, Annabel. You are going to spend the Christmas holidays with them. I already informed you before now, didn't I?" I responded.

She grumbled a little and I moved closer to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. "See, Annabel, they are good people. And I know you will love their kid" I said.

Her face brightened. "Do they have a daughter?" she asked with eyes wide open.

"Yes. A girl just your age" I replied.

"And are they going to adopt me? You promise to come for me once Rich comes, right?" she asked.

"No, they will not adopt you. I already told you that you are going to remain with me here until you come of age. And yes if Rich should come for you, I will hand you over to him" I responded.

Here at the orphanage, we are willing to give up the kids for adoption in good homes. But that is not the case with Annabel. Her father had given us enough money to take proper care of her without giving her up for adoption and so we intend to have her with us until one of her own comes for her or she decides to leave by the time she comes of age. Until then, we are going to give her the best.

"I am going to miss you, Sister Pamela" she hugged me and went over to her bedside and took her small luggage.

"It is going to be for barely two weeks, Annabel," I said.

A tear dropped from my eyes and I quickly wiped it off. I am not supposed to be seen doing this, let alone being seen by the kids. We have to act strong in front of them and make them believe that moving to a new place or home was an essential part of existence.

But then, this would be the first time that Annabel will be leaving me since after that fateful day and I am beginning to get cranky over it.

The mother superior, Sister Catherine was the person that came up with the idea of Annabel going for a holiday at a foster home. I wanted to kick against the idea, but she explained that living a normal family life might be just what Annabel needed to stop her endless wait for Rich.

I share this bond with Annabel, a kind that I have never shared with any other child before. She was handed to me by her dying father. I had been there at her most dreaded moment and so I feel I share a part of her pain.

With Annabel, I feel like a mother. I feel as if I had carried a child in my womb for nine months and that child is Annabel. These two weeks would most likely be the longest in my life.

"Is she ready to go now?" a voice asked beside me.

I looked by my side and saw mother superior standing beside me.

"Oh mother, for how long have you been here?" I asked.

"Long enough to tell you that I know just how you feel, sister Pamela" she replied. "Don't worry, before you know it, she will be back here with you"

"Thank you, mother, I never imagined that I was going to get this emotional. I have had others leave too before now" I said.

"Yes, dear, but it is never the same with Annabel" she replied.

"Mother, I am ready to leave" Annabel exclaimed as she saw Mother superior standing beside me.

She dragged her luggage along. "See, Sister Pamela already told me that Mr. and Mrs. Stake are very nice people and also that they have a lovely daughter that is just my age" Annabel announced.

"Yes they are nice people and I know you will enjoy Christmas with them. Remember all Sister Pamela taught you and be a good girl" mother superior advised.

"I will, mother" Annabel replied.

I collected her luggage from her and she went to say goodbye to her friends with a warm hug.

"Goodbye, Lily, Stephanie, and Tina. I am going to miss you all. But don't worry I promise to bring along a Christmas present for you all when I return" she said.

"We will miss you too" they replied.

When she was done with the exchanges of pleasantries, we walked out of the hall leaving the other kids.