Page 1 of Masked in Deception
Chapter one
7 years old
Ledger and I tiptoe down the hall, trying to make our way past the den without being pulled into Margot duty. It’s impressive how such a tiny baby can change things. The usually tidy house is cluttered, Ms. Blanche seems to be upset more often than not, and loud cries fill the halls at all hours of the day.
I’ve been living in the Sinclair house since my mom died two years ago. I could’ve stayed in my family's estate with the nannies and tutors to watch me while my dad traveled, but Ms. Blanche and Mom had been lifelong best friends, so sheinsistedon having me come live here with her two sons, Henry and Ledger.
While Henry is a few years older than me, Ledger was born the same year, and we instantly hit it off. In the two years I’ve been here, we’ve become more like brothers than anything. The only person in the family who doesn’t treat me like a Sinclair is Mr. Sinclair. He’s kind enough, but his preference for his own sons is apparent.
Regardless of how comfortable they all try to make me, I can’t help but feel like any day I could be sent back to my father. If I mess up, they’ll get rid of me. Or now that they have a new baby, I’ll be too much.
In the month that Margot has been here, I’ve tried to be on my very best behavior, but Ledger isn’t concerned at all. As he motions for me to be quiet, I try not to feel guilty that I’m not offering to help Ms. Blanche as we attempt to sneak outside to play.
The closer we get to the door, the louder Margot’s cries become. We’re almost free when Ms. Blanche calls for our attention.
“Boys! Come here, please!” she yells over the screams of the newborn.
Ledger sighs and rolls his eyes before turning around to mope toward his mom and sister. I follow without any attitude as she calls out commands.
“Ledger, go grab a diaper and wipes from the nursery,” she says before walking toward me, rocking the baby in her arms. “Jackie, could you please hold Margot while I go and warm up a bottle?”
Before I can respond, Ms. Blanche hands me a screaming bundle of pink and rushes out of the room.
Alone with Margot in my arms, I mimic the rocking motion her mom had done a few moments earlier, combined with some shushing, and within a few seconds, the crying stops. I look down at the tiny little girl in my arms and lose myself in her crystal-blue eyes.
“Oh Jack! You got her to stop crying!” Ms. Blanche declares, breaking my trance.
I try handing the baby back, but she steps away. “I think she’s happy with you right now, Jackie.” Ms. Blanche cups my cheek and smiles down at me. “From now on, you’re on Margot duty.It’s your job to calm her down when she’s crying. Look, you've even managed to get her to sleep without a bottle. Be very gentle laying her down in her bassinet, and you can go play with Ledger.”
I look down at the now sleeping Margot, and I realize I don’t want to put her down. It’smyjob to hold her. “Can I hold her for a little longer?”
Ms. Blanche guides me toward a chair in the den and helps me get comfortable without waking up the baby, then hands me the remote. “Here, sit as long as you want. When you want to get up, just let me know, and I’ll come get her.”
I sit there until she wakes up, proud to be the one who was able to calm her. I finally have a purpose in the Sinclair house.
Margot duty.
Chapter two
3 years old
I cry and cry, but Mommy isn’t here. I ran so fast playing with Ledger, but I tripped on the stairs, and my knee hurts so bad.Where is my mommy?
“Hey, Princess. What’s wrong?”
I look up, and my Jack is here, kneeling in front of me and looking concerned. He’s not Mommy, but I love him too, so maybe he can fix boo-boos.
“I hurt my knee,” I cry. I’ve had ouchies before, but this hurts, and it’s red, and I just want my mommy. “Mommy!” I scream, crying as loud as I can and hoping she hears me.
“Hey, hey now, it’s okay, Margot,” Jack says, rubbing my back and wiping my tears. “Your mom is in her office, but I think a bandage and a sticker will fix you right up. You’ve got a little scrape, but you’re such a big girl. You’ll be chasing Ledger and me again in no time.”
“Do you promise?” I cry, a little lighter now that I know I can have a sticker. “Can I have a pink sticker?”
“You can have whatever you want, Princess. If we don’t have pink stickers, I’ll find you one, I promise. Okay? Just don’t cry. You know I can’t stand to see my girl cry.”
Jack looks like he’s serious about the pink sticker, so I decide to be a big girl and let him carry me into the kitchen. He rubs a cloth over my knee, and it hurts, but before I can think about it too much, Jackie asks me a question.
“Hey, Princess, do you know what a cow’s favorite dance move is?”
