Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 140: An Unexpected Visitor

Chapter 140: An Unexpected Visitor

Sally was surprised hearing what Talia said after hearing Rebecca’s side of the story. She had never seen Rebecca this listless ever before and as a sister, her blood boiled and wanted to kill Joe for hurting her precious sister. But she knew deep in her heart that she needs to hear both sides of the story before reaching to a decision. For now, she did not want to talk to Joe as she was really pissed by the way he treated her sister and so she decided talk to her friend who knows the both of them to get more insight.

But she should say, she was a little disappointed to hear her opinion.

"Becky is not someone who throws away people so easily. But she couldn’t bring herself to accept him anymore. She’s talking about divorce..." Sally said taking a sip from her glass.

If Rebecca is this adamant, Sally could only infer that she has suffered a lot in Joe’s hands and that’s why she made this decision. Her sister was candid about some things but how much is she hiding? But... if Joe didn’t actually cheat and Rebecca is misunderstanding, won’t their marriage break for no reason?

"Joe is at fault here. I will not blame Rebecca if she misunderstood. He did a lot of stupid things that he needs to explain. But I do believe cheating is not one of them," Talia explained.

"Hmm..." Sally nodded and looked at Talia seemingly savouring the cookie.

She’s a good friend! Sally thought. With Rebecca’s character, she had many friends but no one stayed with her long. They all used her kindness and would disappear when she needed them.

But this one stuck for nine years and it wasn’t Rebecca who searched for her too.

Sally was there that day Rebecca met this Talia. Rebecca had full scholarship for the ivy league university and their family thought boarding will be included with the scholarship. But only when they got there, they realised, it was not.

That day, standing under a sycamore tree near the library, Rebecca was sobbing and no one could comfort her. That year the crops yield was not as good as anticipated and their farm was almost at loss. They really couldn’t spare money to pay for her dormitory. Their father had allowed her to attend university because of the scholarship and when they informed him about the issues in the scholarship, he asked them to return back and to continue her studies in a local community college.

Their family were farmers for generations and her father didn’t understand Rebecca’s ambitions to get a job in the city and thrive. He wasn’t a big fan of the city and he didn’t want Rebecca to have higher studies in the City either. He believed those City people are all corrupt morally and will drag anyone to eternal damnation.

Rebecca who thought she had escaped the clutches of the small town by that scholarship, felt her world crumble around her when she realised that she still couldn’t get what she always wanted. As a sister, Sally understood Rebecca. Rebecca always wanted to live in the big city.

It was at that time, when the two sisters stood there with no hope, this Talia appeared there. Her words were so simple, ’You can stay with me; actually me and Cordelia if you wish,’ she said.

There was no emotion in her face and Sally remember seeing two girls who were clearly rich with their designer clothes, bags and shoes. They even smelt rich!

In fact, Sally remembered the other girl a bit surprised by Talia’s suggestion and yet it seemed like she agreed just because Talia said it.

Sally, had thousand alarm bells ringing in her head seeing those rich girls offering a place for her sister free of cost. Her mind thought of thousand different scenarios where her sister got bullied by those two rich girls and got treated as a slave. She even thought that girls might kill her precious sister just for fun and will sweep the murder under the rug using their power.

Sally tried to make Rebecca not accept that offer, but Rebecca adamant with her decision, opted to stay with those two. ’If they want a slave, I’ll be a slave until I finish my studies!’ Rebecca said that day, ’It would be only for a while. Once I find a part-time job, I can find my own place to stay’ . Sally although was scared to leave her sister alone, decided to take a chance seeing her sister’s confidence.

Every call Rebecca made after that, Sally could say she was happy, but still she had a fear embedded in her heart that maybe Rebecca was lying to her to spare her worries. Even when she visited Rebecca, she’d say that impeccably clean room was Talia’s doing and the super moist cupcakes were backed by Cordelia especially for her. Sally actually thought Rebecca was lying still.

They are rich people! They won’t care for poor people and they won’t mingle with them! Even Molly, the rich girl from their town flaunts her wealth and bullies others. How worse will be these two rich princesses from another country?

Only that day when she made an unannounced visit did she saw her sister seemed to be the bully among those three girls. One was cleaning the mess in the kitchen with sweat dripping from her forehead. With one look Sally could say it was Rebecca’s mess. The other one, who is now a literal Queen, was picking and folding Rebecca’s laundry while her sister was sleeping messily on the bed not even realising her arrival .

She sure was shocked beyond belief. It felt like reality gave her a tight slap and she felt ashamed.

Now who was the one who had bias against the other and acted morally superior? It surely was not those rich girls!

This girls, seeing her immediately cleared a place for her to sit, offered her hot tea and cake and even made excuses for her sister saying she was just tired after working hard for an assignment.

That day she realised something - good morals are not correlated to wealth, anyone could have biased opinions far from truth and stereotypes are not real.

Rich people have biases against poor people and vice versa.

And those two girls never changed in the future too. They seemed the same and Cordelia left to her home country after graduation and Talia and Rebecca stayed in the city. There were many friends Rebecca made along the way, but Talia is the only friend she had for nine years.

In these years, Sally had watched Talia staying by Rebecca’s side silently and be a good friend. Talia’s been nice to her kids and never once she found her as arrogant although she is... Weird.

Sure Talia can be hard sometimes and never expresses her feelings, but Rebecca and Talia has some dynamic between them that made their friendship work all these years.

And look at her now...sitting leisurely in this country chair and eating cookies like they are elixir from heaven! Who’d believe she is a billionaire?

Rebecca showed a picture of Talia’s ’Home’. It was a literal castle! She is an actual Princess!

Sally really couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that rich people can live this humble life too.

’Ah! I took a resolution not to judge!’ Sally had to control her thoughts running wild.

If Talia says Joe is not cheating, there should be truth to it. Talia wouldn’t lie about this important issue and she’s not someone filled with evil intent and hurt Rebecca. She herself said that Joe is at fault and so it should be a complicated issue. Maybe she should hold back her anger and talk to Joe before letting Rebecca reach a decision.

"I can’t thank you enough for what you did for Rebecca that day. You actually changed her life!" Sally said.

Talia who was staring at the glass disappointed as half her cookie dropped inside the milk, didn’t understand what Sally is thanking her out of nowhere.

It took her some time to realise what Sally meant.

" It’s no big deal! "Talia stood up and got herself a spoon. She wanted to fish the cookie out of the milk.

But then Talia realised that it was a big deal; at least for Rebecca.

" I’m sorry, I’ll correct it. I know it was a big deal for Rebecca. I know a timely help is invaluable. When you are standing there... thinking there is no way out and there is no way to move forward...At that time when someone extends a helping hand, you’d look at them like an angel sent from heaven and will never forget that help for life. I can understand that." Talia paused as she felt her throat getting heavy.

That is the same feeling she had towards the Rosandale Royal family. She thought she owed them for giving her a home when her own family betrayed her.

And what are her feelings towards them now...?

Sally was surprised that someone rich like Talia could understand the feeling of exasperation. But what would she know? This one is always a mystery. No wonder Rebecca finds the need to protect her. And even the townsfolk love her too. It is not that easy to get in the good graces of their townsfolk but she managed to get that.

"It was no big deal for me since Rebecca helped us a lot too. For us who were from different culture, Rebecca showed us how to integrate in this country. She has protected us a lot of time too. You have no need to thank since we all gained from each other and one help doesn’t trump another. Plus we are friends and there is no need to say ’thank you’ among friends,"Talia smiled at Sally and walked back towards the dining table holding the spoon.

But she felt weird as she could see a small flash from the distance through the kitchen window. The sky was clear that day and the moon hung high in the sky, and that flash made Talia feel weird. Also, Mr. Ed and Amy acted weird the entire day. She could feel something was going on and that’s why she couldn’t sleep.

Could that flash be a reflection of moonlight at the sniper telescope? Could this be another attempt on my life?

Talia felt scared. She wasn’t scared for her life, but felt scared for the life of Rebecca and her family.

What if they got hurt?

"Sally, do you mind checking for Rebecca? Last night she almost rolled off from the bed," Talia smiled," It seems like she got too used to King sized bed, she now forgot she is sleeping in a single bed."

"Ah, that girl! She’s terrible, ain’t she?" Sally stood up and walked up to the stairs.

Good this is better! Even if there is an attack, they can see where I am and they won’t shoot the upper floors where everyone else is sleeping!

Talia sighed in relief. She had a mini army with her and she has heard that President Carter had ordered the Sheriff department to give Rebecca’s home special protection and she knew she will be safe.

Nothing ever happens to her!

She walked to the dinning table to fish out the cookie and at that time, the door opened and Talia got startled and her heart skipped a beat.

Has it started?

Sally who took four steps on the stairs, got down to see who it was.