A LITTLE TWIST OF FATE

Chapter 37

Danielle closed the door quietly behind her. She was about to turn around when she heard her name.

"Danielle?"

"Yes, it's me, Aunt Thérèse. How are you?"

"Come, my little angel," she said, patting the bed. "Come over by me."

She walked a little closer wanting to see for herself that this was the godmother that she had known since she was eight years old. At first, Danielle refused to believe it was, the voice sounded very frail and weak, nothing like her godmother at all.

Now as she edged closer to the bed, she could see that it was Thérèse, although it was still hard to accept.

"I don't have much time to speak with you and I asked the doctor to call you in."

Danielle grabbed her hand and held onto it. She could feel the tears trickling down her cheeks even as she tried to hold it back.

"What do you mean you don't have time, Godmother?" she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're right here."

Thérèse gripped her hand tighter. "My time on this earth is through, little angel. I won't be here much longer and I wanted to see you. I have something for you."

She sat up a little, but couldn't stay upright.

"Here, Danielle, help me with this."

She pointed to something around her neck. "Pull this off for me please. I could use a little help."

Danielle reached around and gently removed the chain from Thérèse's neck. As she brought it closer, Danielle marveled at the small jade circle.

"It's a key, Danielle. A key to a music box that your mother treasured always." Thérèse smiled as she lay back down again.

"Your father brought it to me for safekeeping after she died, Danielle, away from people like Isabel or Vivienne, who want nothing more than to possess what they cannot have." Thérèse closed her eyes. "On that table is a piece of paper with instructions, explaining where the music box is to be found and how it is opened from within."

Thérèse smiled and grabbed Danielle's hand again. "There was only one set of papers, Danielle, to prove ownership to this manor and my chateau, which your father left with Francis and Marie. It was too obvious to be left in my possession, everyone would believe that I had those, and your father wanted nothing more than to outwit my sisters."

Danielle could feel Thérèse's grasp weakening in her own and realized that her strength was going.

"Please take these, Danielle. Keep them safe and hidden from the light. Always know that I love you, my angel. Remember me always, not as I am now, but how I used to be."

That's when she felt Thérèse loosening her grip on Danielle's hand.

"Godmother?" she called out several times, but when she received no answer to her repeated tries, she put her head on Thérèse's stomach and cried.

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