The Kiss that Sparked it All

McNeil Howard felt someone burning holes in the back of his head So he followed the gaze and paused just a tad.

The girl was about the same age as his daughter Patricia and radiated a familiar aura, which caught his attention. He was a bit out of it, as if some past events or a certain someone from his past came to mind. But he didn’t linger on the girl and headed straight toward the door instead.

Ellinor dropped her gaze from the man. Her mixed emotions finally settled down

McNeil Howard had once hurt her mother, driving her into a comer and forcing her to leave home with young Ellinor. That’s why old Mr. Bagley couldn’t stand his guts. She had no memones of her biological father, not even a vague shadow of him resided in her memory. A man this heartless must have never taken care of her when she was a child. So there was nothing for her to remember.

“Marlinie!”

Ellinor was still mulling over these thoughts when suddenly an old pair of hands grabbed hers tightly.

She jumped, looking up to see an elderly lady.

The old lady looked at her worriedly, “Marlinie, why are you coming home so late from school? Where have you been?”

“I think you got the wrong person

old lady didn’t seem to hear her and kept mumbling to herself, “Marlinie, you can’t keep

the old lady call the name Marlinie, he stopped in his tracks, turning

said helplessly. “You really got the

admonished “Marlinie, stop being angry with me! Be a good girl, stop hanging out with that boy from the Howard

Ellinor both fell silent.

words, Ellinor figured out she was the matriarch of the Bagley

Mrs. Bagley thought she was her mother?

was her

old Mrs. Bagley “Grandma, you’ve mistaken her for someone else again. She’s my friend, not

Mrs. Bagley shook her head, saying excitedly. “Marlinie! She’s

she really isn’t Marlinie.”