Not long after, an elderly woman with a soft, round figure came out of the house, her face lighting up with a joyful smile.

“Miss Riley, is that you, Lottle?”

Charlotte pausedb, /bsurprised. “Do you know me?”

The old bwoman /bwalked up to her, eps clouded with age but glistening with tears. Emotion welled in her voice. “You’ve grown so much. Lean’t believe how tall you

Charlotte’s lips parted, still confused.

Sean stepped in “She’s the one who btaught /bme to cook”

Charlotte tumed to look at him.

He exined gently, “bThis /bis Mrs. Wilson. She bused /bto work as a housekeeper for the Sullivans. Your mom learned to cook from her.”

Mrs. Wilson looked at charlotte with tears. joy streaming down her face. “You really are Lottie, You have your mother’s eyes. I used to hold you when you were

The mention of her mother made Charlotte’s throat tighten, her eyes bsuddenly /bmisty, “bYes/bb, /bI’m Lottle. I came bto /bsee you, Mrs. Wilson.”

Toh,e in,e in.” Mrs. Wilson ushered them into the house warmly. b“/bHey, Joel Go into town band /bpick up some groceries. Get the good stuff. I’m cooking bfor /bMr. Jasper and Lottle today”

“On!” the man called back and climbed onto an old scooter.

Mrs. Wilson led Charlotte tride, chatting as they walked. She spoke of old times, sharing stories about Charlotte’s mother, Sar, from when she was young.

Only then did Charlotte leam that Sue bhadn’t /ba always been bso /bgood in the kitchen. She had taught herself to cook just to win over Desmond

Her mom, who had once lived a pampered life without ever lifting a fingerb, /bbhad /bbeen willing to stand over a hut stove, all for love.

The stories stimed something bittersweet in Charlotte’s heart.

She remembered bher /bparents being deeply in love. Even after her mother passed, Desmond had sunk into depression for a long time.

If he bhad /bloved her so much, then why had he remarried only two yearster? And to her mother’s best bfriend/b, no less?

She had met na York a few times as a child. Xena didn’t live in Jersey City, so their visits were rare, but Charlotte had liked her bback /bthen. Xena always brought her pretty dresses and oven little?kes.

But after Xena married her father, everything changed. Whatever affection Charlotte once had for her vanished overnight.

To be bfair/b, Xena bhad /btreated her well she gave Charlotte the best of everything–food, clothes, and education. But no matter what she did, Charlotte simply couldn’t bring herself to like her

She hesitated, then turned to bMrs. /bWilson. “Did byou /bbknow /bxena bYork/b?”

Mrs. Wilson thought for a moment. “You mean the one who was so close to your mother? Yes, I ber her. She used to bvisit /bba /blot before your mom got married. They were college friends -Very close.”

Charlotte’s expression darkened. “She’s my stepmother now.

bMes/b. Wilson went quiet, trowning slightly as she recalled something.

Finally, she said, “I remember, before your mom passed, Xenae to see her at the hospital more than once, I visited one bday /band boverheard /bsomething, Your mom told your dad that if he ever remarried, she hoped it would be to Xena. She said she trusted her and didn’t want you to grow bup /bwithout a mother’s love.”

Charlotte’s face went bpale/bb, /bba /bglit ache blooming bin /bher chest.

So her father marrying Xena bhad /bbeen her mother’s dying wish?

Because she had wanted someone to Lalue care of Charlotte when she was gone? Someone to love her like she would have?

Her beyes /bburned,shes fluttering as she blinked back tears. She said nothing more

bSean /btracked bout /band gently took her bhand/b, bhis /bbrough /bthumb brushing softly bacross /bher palm

That aftemoon, Mrs. Wilson cooked a full table bof /bdishes.

Every bite btasted /bexactly blike /bbSue’s /bbcooking/b.