Chapter 417 – Sarah’s Story

As Sarah and Jessica sat down at the table, I was surprised to see Henry take the lead in speaking to them. I poured myself a small cup of coffee and took a bowl of sliced fruit—honestly, I was too distracted to eat much and listen intently to the beginning of the conversation.

I don't know why I was so surprised, but Henry truly shocked me with his charm. He immediately put Sarah and Jessica at ease, asking simple, easy questions about who they were and what they liked. He avoided the difficult questions—where they lived, how they lived, and why they ran—instead focusing on getting to know them as individuals.

As I sat down next to Sinclair and sipped my coffee, I was interested to see how Henry concentrated his attention on Jessica. She was so young and shy at first, but his questions about her likes—reading and animals—and dislikes—cold weather and chores—helped her open up. I saw Sarah smile warmly at her sister and then at Henry as she witnessed Jessica shed her shyness and become the happy little girl Sarah knew at home.

"Yes!" Jessica exclaimed enthusiastically. "I love dogs! I wish I had one! We used to have one, but" She hesitated, then looked up at Sarah, biting her lip.

"Master Xander had many dogs," Sarah said, smiling at us. "There was one puppy we liked best of all; we called him Frisky."

"Because," Jessica said, laughing, "he was always so playful! And he liked to get into trouble."

I smiled at the little girl, laughing and imagining her with the dog. But I noticed Sarah's face fall, and she looked away from Jessica, not wanting her to see. My own expression changed as I realized this story wouldn't have a happy ending, and Sarah didn't want Jessica to remember that.

Luckily, Henry intervened. "Well," he said, raising his eyebrows at Jessica, "did you know there's a mother cat here in the palace? She had kittens about a month ago."

Jessica's eyes widened in surprise. Henry leaned forward, smiling. "Would you like to play with them?"

"Oh!" Jessica exclaimed, clasping her hands. "Yes, please! Oh, I would like that very much!"

Henry looked at Sinclair, who smiled and nodded his approval. Henry then went to a corner of the room, pressed a button on an intercom, and spoke briefly to someone.

While he did so, I looked at Jessica, who was beaming, and then down at my own baby, who was sitting on my lap, blowing bubbles, grabbing at the tablecloth, and generally exploring his world. When I looked up at Sarah, I smiled to see her eyes on Rafe as well.

She looked up and met my eyes, a big smile mirroring mine. I saw a sense of pride in her—pride in having helped this baby and kept him safe with me.

Gratitude washed over me, followed by a deep determination to give this woman everything she needed to build a life. She had given me everything, and I was determined to reciprocate.

Before I could say anything, a young woman peeked through the door, and we heard the kittens mewing. Jessica gasped and stood on her chair, trying to get a better look as Henry beckoned the young woman forward and directed her to the back of the room.

"Oh, Sarah," Jessica pleaded as Sarah scolded her and pulled her down from the chair. "Please, please can I go play with them?"

"Ifthat's all right?" Sarah asked, looking at the rest of us.

I nodded eagerly, wanting the little girl to enjoy herself. Sarah then allowed her sister to dash to the living area at the back of the room, completely distracted.

"Well, that was nicely handled," I murmured to Sinclair, watching Henry follow Jessica to ensure she was settled.

"Henry is full of tact," my mate murmured back, smiling proudly. "You should have seen the clever things he did to convince Roger and me to go to bed when we were kids. We were constantly outmaneuvered."

"I hope you remember those tactics," I sighed, watching Henry return to the table. Cora stood, refilling Sarah's teacup as Sarah looked around at us.

"Thank you," Sarah said, especially to Henry but looking at us all. "I—I am grateful to have her out of earshot. I know you have questions, and I want to tell you everything, but" She glanced at her sister, who was giggling as kittens climbed all over her. "Well, I don't think Jessica needs to relive any of it or hear details I've tried very hard to keep from her."

"We understand," Cora said, placing the teacup beside Sarah and settling into her seat between Sarah and Roger.

Sarah took a deep breath, pressing her lips together as she looked around at us. "Well, then," she said, shrugging. "Where do I begin?"

Sinclair and Roger took a more active role, falling into their interrogation patterns familiar from our time at the bunker. However, despite their eagerness to get information, they were warm, kind, and conversational.

Henry interjected occasionally, prompting Sarah for more information when needed, but he was mostly silent.

Cora and I, although we didn't ask the questions, were the ones to whom Sarah spoke, even though Sinclair and Roger were the questioners. It wasn't that she neglected the men, but her eyes seemed drawn to Cora and me, her words directed towards us. Perhaps it was because Cora and I reacted more emotionally to her story, gasping, leaning forward, and expressing our empathy during difficult moments.

As Sarah's story unfolded, it was clear she was more comfortable telling it to us. Sinclair and Roger leaned back, letting Cora and me take the lead.

The story was as sad as I expected.

"I was born in that house," Sarah said quietly, her eyes distant. "I don't remember being anywhere else as a child. I didn't go to school, I didn't have friends—honestly, I'm not sure I knew other children existed for a long time. My mother was only allowed to keep me—to keep us—because she promised we would be raised to be obedient. That we wouldreplace her when she became old and infirm."

"And your father?" Henry asked gently, phrasing the question to allow Sarah to answer comfortably.

"I never knew him," Sarah said, looking around, unashamed but seeming confused. "I don't even know if Jessica and I have the same" She dipped her head, cleared her throat, and took a deep breath. "Mother always said she would tell us when we were old enough to know. But thenshe died before we were old enough, I guess."

I looked at Sarah with sympathy. While she had a loving mother, her reality was far more brutal than mine. I had Cora, and we always had hope for a better life.

Sarah was around Cora and my age, yet we had so much that she didn't. My heart ached for her.

"Sarah," Cora said, drawing my attention. "What happened to your mother?"