Page 24 of Chasing the Red Queen

“Ojibwe, but you’d best google it ’cause I’m not exactly sure how to say it, but anyway, Carson said the Chippewa called this area Baawitigong, which meant ‘at the cascading rapids’”.

Donja’s eyes narrowed and she recalled hearing that word. Anna flashed in her mind. She glanced at her mom. “Interesting, but I have to wonder why Grandma and Grandpa turned their backs on their families, I mean surely they both still have relatives in this area?”

“Your father was curious about that as well, that’s why we were planning a trip. He had every intention of tracking down family members on both sides of the river, but...” her words trailed off. “Some things are just not meant to be.”

Donja watched her mom’s demeanor shift from daylight to dark. She averted her gaze and judging by the look she had just witnessed in her mom’s eyes, she realized that although her mom loved Carson with most of her heart, a piece was missing, a piece forever gone, buried deep beneath a marbled tombstone marked, ‘Donald Frank Bellanger.’

She closed her eyes.

Life’s not fair.

~~~

The first thing Donja noticed when they got back to Hampton Manor was a shiny silver Lexus parked in the drive.

“Oh, I see Makayla’s here,” Lisa said.

“She has a Lexus?”

“Yes.”

Donja’s mouth gaped open. “And just how did that happen?”

“She bought it.”

Donja huffed dramatically. “You mean Carson bought it for her, right?”

“No, she bought it herself,” Lisa clarified. “Her mother was from a wealthy French family and at her death, left her quite a sum of money.”

“So, she’s rich?” Donja said flatly.

“Umm, kinda,” Lisa said putting the keys in her purse.

Donja rolled her eyes. “Lovely, just lovely. I had to sell my rusted out Civic for $400 which won’t go far on a down payment for a new ride, and all the while my stepsister’s driving a Lexus.”

Lisa opened her door, then paused. “Calm down, Cinderella,” she smiled. “Carson’s going to give you his car, and he can use the Suburban which he needs anyway to haul building supplies.”

“You mean that white Subaru?”

“No, I get the Subaru, you get his Mustang which is barely a year old, in mint condition I might add.”

“Mom, are you serious?” Donja gasped.

“Yes, he never uses it and our family won’t fit inside, it’s a two-door fastback.”

“Oh my God, I might scream!”

“Please,” Lisa whispered softly as if someone might hear, “don’t let on that I told you, he wants it to be a surprise.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t forget to thank him.”

“Oh, for real.”

“Now, help me get these groceries inside and I could use your help to get this meal prepared. Carson and Frankie will be back soon from their hiking trip and they missed lunch. They’ll be starved.

“You got it!”

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