Page 84 of Ruthless Lullaby

Mindy

My bladder wakes me up in the middle of the night.

Still half-asleep, my first instinct is to reach for Maron's comforting presence, but the space next to me is cold and empty. I open my eyes and when they finally get used to the darkness, I realize he's not in bed.

Feeling a sense of unease, I glance at the clock: 1:46 AM. I wait a few minutes, assuming he’s gone to use the bathroom, but when he doesn't return, I get up. I walk to the bathroom door and turn on the light. He's not there either.

After taking care of my needs, I crawl back into bed, but sleep eludes me. Where could he have gone in the middle of the night? I slide from beneath the covers, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. I reach for my pink silk robe, drawing it around my body like a protective shield. On a whim, I grab my phone from the nightstand, slipping it into the pocket of my robe.

The mansion is dark and silent as I step out into the hallway. The only sound I hear is the soft padding of my footsteps on the polished floors. The corridors stretch out before me like a labyrinth, a maze of twists and turns that seem to go on forever.

I wander aimlessly, the feeling in my heart growing heavier with each passing moment. The grandeur of Maron's home,which had seemed so inviting and luxurious in the light of day, now feels cold and somehow foreboding.

"Cordelia?"

I jump at the sound. It is coming from not too far from me.

"Cordelia?" The voice rings out again. It sounds shaky and elderly and it's moving closer to me. "My dear, are you here?"

Shit!

What are you doing out here anyway, Mindy?

I should just go back to the room and wait for Maron to come back to bed. But when I turn a corner, I shriek as I almost bump into an elderly woman. She is half-dressed in an open gown with a dragging belt. She notices me and moves closer. Her cloudy eyes peer at me, but they light up with hope when she recognizes me. "Cordelia?" she whispers, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and confusion. "Is it really you, my dear?"

My heart is hammering against my chest as I try to make sense of this strange encounter. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I’m not Cordelia," I manage, my voice sounding small and uncertain in the vast emptiness of the hallway. "My name is Mindy."

The woman blinks, her brow furrowing as if she’s trying to make sense of my words. "Mindy?" she echoes, her tone laced with disappointment. "But you look so much like her. So much like my sweet Cordelia."

That is when understanding dawns and it hits me like a ton of bricks. Cordelia. I recognize the name. She is Maron's daughter who passed away. So, this elderly woman can only be Maron's mother, looking for her granddaughter. Can it bepossible that she has no idea that her granddaughter died a long time ago?

I really don't know what to say to her. I’m just about to take her hand and guide her back to her room when suddenly, I hear a sound from the other end of the corridor. Footsteps. Heavy, purposeful. Drawing closer with each passing second.

"Mother," a familiar voice calls out, and I feel a jolt of recognition. It's Timofey, Maron's brother. Maron introduced us to each other at the birthday party.

He takes a step towards us, his eyes flickering between the old woman and I. "Oh, hey, Mindy. Sorry for the confusion." He looks at the lady. "Moya dorogaya Mama. Let’s get you back to your room. It's the middle of the night."

"Who are you?" she asks Timofey.

He shakes his head. "Fuck… Mom, you're confused again. I'm your son." He gently takes her by the arm and sighs. "Sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just sleepy. Let's go back to your room."

But the old woman shakes her head and stares at me. Her eyes are wide with desperation and excitement. "Cordelia is here," she insists, her voice trembling with a childlike petulance. "We can’t just leave her here."

Timofey glances at me and sighs. "Davay, Mama.Don’t be stubborn," he says gently, reaching out to take her arm. "She's not Cordelia. Her name is Mindy, and she is… " He hesitates for a second, "Maron's wife."

Maron's wife.

The words feel strange and pleasant at the same time.

I glance at Timofey as he stands there, looking pretty clueless about what to say to his mother, and a thought crosses my mind. Since the old lady is so convinced that I'm Cordelia, I decide to have a little play with her - maybe it will calm her down. I step closer and look into her eyes, patting her hand reassuringly.

"Yes, I am Cordelia," I tell her, trying to keep my voice as soothing and childlike as possible. Looks like those vocal control lessons I took when I was a kid are proving to be useful in more ways than just one because the old lady visibly calms down. When she’s looking at me intently, I add, "I'm going to bed now, grandma. You should rest too." I even pretend to yawn for maximum efficiency. I gently pat her shoulder and my heart aches for her. She’s so frail and confused. "Timofey will see back to your bedroom." I wave at her. "Goodnight, Grandma. I’ll see you tomorrow," I say, punctuating it with another yawn.

She looks at me and her lips curl into a smile. For a short moment, she looks like she’s found her way back here from a faraway dimension. "Ah, good," she replies, visibly relieved. "See you tomorrow, my dear." With that, she turns and starts walking away, muttering, "Cordelia, my dear child."

Timofey looks at me with confusion in his eyes. "This is… how did you do that? My mother has been so stubborn lately. I haven't seen her so calm and obedient for a long time." He scrutinizes me. "Thanks, Mindy."

I give him a half smile. "Sometimes all it takes is a little understanding."

---