Chapter 1
Katelyn wasn’t a proper lady. At least not as proper as Catherine or Sarah. She had told Maddy this a couple of times. She was the caretaker. Yet, she never listened. Now, she found herself running away from the orphanage. She wouldn’t let herself get caught. She hated the kitchen more than anything. It summed up what a lady was. Surely there was more to a lady than the kitchen.
Her dark, short hair flapped in the air, her lungs burnt, and her legs trembled. She wanted to pause for a while. Perhaps even lean against a tree to catch her breath. She would have if the caretaker wasn’t so close behind. It only pushed her on.
She dodged a branch, jumped over a shrub, and crossed the lake in time to withdraw the wooden plank. Once done, she paused to look at the caretaker. She looked distressed.
Laughing, she turned around and walked further down. Maddy was probably afraid of getting her dress soaked. Just like that she had escaped being ‘their definition of what a woman was’ again. At this point someone will have to hand her her rewards for escaping Maddy. She was the world’s worse caretaker.
The garage was old. It creaked as she opened it. Inside, there was a wooden table, three candles, a bundle of cloth, wool, knitting needles, a sewing machine, two paint brushes and five different coloured inks.
She shut the garage door whilst whistling Pharrell Williams’s happy. What laid before her was beautiful. Her little toy workshop was beautiful. After opening the windows, she got down to work.
She had created the wheels and white doors last week, whilst the other girls focused on cleaning the dishes, learning to shut up and take care of babies...stuff that women do.
She dropped the brush into the pool of green water. The black ink faded in with the water.
As it became dark, she lit the three candles and wore her glasses. She didn’t halt. This was too exciting.
She left the car on the windowsill to cool.
Bella popped up in her mind as she sat down, causing her to bite her lips down. She clenched her hands.
The orphanage was being sold. The caretakers were trying to adopt off at least seventy percent of the girls. Maybe more, if possible.
She hugged herself. The orphanage was stupid for that. She was losing another home without having a say. It was just like the day she was born.
The boys wouldn’t have a major problem. The men wanted them. Women did seek at least a daughter. The competition was strong. They wouldn’t want her. Even if more people suddenly wanted girls. She was a commodity, prone to market analysis. Those analysis had proven she wasn’t the best investment.
She ripped off the poster of married couple plastered to the wall with their baby girl. Their eyes were watery. Their smiles were genuine. The baby had looked too happy. It served as a reminder of what she would never have.
When she closed her eyes, she could hear Bella’s laughter. It was cruel.
“But. There is always a but with you. Right? You must try. You do not want to be the only one here when this dump gets sold. So, you must try. I can see that you want a family, Kate. Adoption is simple.” Bella had told her after.
Kate let the memory evaporate. She did want a family. Everyone was aware of that, but she wanted a family that will not try to mould her into their ideals.
If she forgot to act cute and ladylike, if she didn’t just stand there and take the boys’ rude remarks, then she could already see her chances of adoption disappearing.
Looks were deceiving. Bella had such a cruel heart. Yet somehow, she would end up getting adopted in some family. Probably, extremely perfect as well. How could that even be fair?
It could also be her, but she felt restricted. Whenever she took on this role, she had to forget all about her toy cars. Her focus would become the kitchen. She would also have to face constant irritation from the boys. It was burdensome. On some nights, she couldn’t sleep, just thinking about it.
She reached for the screwdriver. It was such a welcoming feeling, and homely. She does well when she hides from the dishes. She does well when she fights the boys for bullying tony. She hit Maxwell. She had good intentions. She was intrinsically good...not bad like Maddy had said.
An abrupt knock caused her to drop her weapon and shuffle her seat away from what was once homely.
What was she doing?
If she got caught, she wouldn’t have a warm bed to sleep in for the night? Neither was Maddy going to ever mention her name whenever a mother or father walked through those doors.
She jumped into action, packing away the toys in the box. She wouldn’t let them catch her. At least not like this.
“Kate, it’s me.”
She gasped, opened the garage and laughed.
