Even when her father scolded her, Victoria didnât deny a thing. But she had searched high and low across the school grounds, worked up a sweat that was still uncomfortably clinging to her skin.
How could Mara possibly have been waiting for her in the library?
âIf anything had happened to Mara, I donât know how Iâd explain it to your mother. Youâre old enough to know better, Victoria. I trust you to take care of yourself, so how on earth could you let such a mishap happen with your little sister?
Iâve only got you two girls. When Iâm old, youâll need to support each other. How can I relax if youâre so careless?â
Victoria remained silent.
Elton untied his apron hastily before rushing outside with Victoria, only to see Mara at the entrance of the building, looking lost and forlorn.
âMara!â
They both dashed toward her. Elton wrapped Mara in his arms and checked her over, âAre you alright?
You scared the life out of me! Werenât you supposed to come back with your sister? How did you end up behind?â
Mara had been quiet, but once she started talking, tears fell like pearls off a string.
âDad, I was so scared, I thought Victoria left me behind. She said sheâd take me home, but I couldnât find her anywhere. I looked in the auditorium, waited by the academic block for ages. But I just couldnât find her.â
Despite her own heartache, Victoria couldnât help but express her confusion, âWere you really in the library? I checked there twice, combed every other building, but I didnât see you, either. How could you have been there?â
Seeing his youngest so upset and Victoria still questioning her whereabouts, Eltonâs temper flared.
âEnough, letâs go home. No more fear now. Well deal with this at home.â
Catching her fatherâs eye, Victoria bit her lip.
Maraâs sniffling continued all the way home. She seemed really scared.
âVictoria, how could you fail to keep an eye on your sister? If you bring her to your school, youâre responsible for her safety. The campus is huge, and sheâs unfamiliar with it. How could she possibly know where to go?
And didnât I give you both cell phones? Why didnât you call your sister immediately when you couldnât find her?
Even Mara knows to text me when sheâs not coming home for lunch. And you? Youâre so caught up in that silly choir competition that you forgot about your sister. Victoria, Iâm really disappointed in you this time.â
âI didnât forget! The moment I couldnât find Mara, I called her, but her phone was off!
And the competition isnât a waste of time, it could help with my scholarship application. Dad, you canât write me off for one mistake.â
Victoria felt just as wronged. Today had been harrowing for her too, not just for her little sister. And it wasnât even her plan to take Mara to school in the first place..