4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Jacquelyn sighed. First Eddie thought this girl looked like her, which was totally outrageous, and now this clumsy pale copy didn’t even recognize her? How often had her picture been printed in the society pages of the local newspapers? So many times that she barely noticed anymore, except to complain if she’d been photographed from an unflattering angle. Everyone knew Jacquelyn Sheridan, from the ma?tre d’ at every restaurant in the city to the student body at every private school she’d ever attended. Salesgirls rushed to help her as soon as she walked into their establishments. At the foundation offices, the two secretaries fawned over her as if she were a movie star.
So how was it that this girl couldn’t place Jacquelyn? She shook her head and frowned, then reluctantly took her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I am Jacquelyn Sheridan. ”
“Welcome, Miss Sheridan. I’m Jane Shaw.” Jane Shaw’s brow furrowed as she spoke, as if she was puzzled.
Jacquelyn spoke primly. “It’s nice to meet you.” The wind kicked up, sending gusts of snow swirling around them, but Jane Shaw appeared shell-shocked and unable to move beyond the present moment. Well, it was clearly up to Jacquelyn to run this show. “Shall we go inside?” Without waiting for a response, she walked past the awkward girl and up the steps. Jane followed mutely, while Eddie scrambled up ahead to get the door.
Walking into the building, Jacquelyn was greeted by a wall of girls on either side of the hallway. They wore identical gray dresses, some sort of sackcloth-inspired fashion.
“Girls,” Jane said, “please welcome Miss Sheridan to our home.”
After a slight pause, they spoke in singsong unison. “Welcome, Miss Sheridan.” The sound of their voices echoed off the walls. One of the littlest girls repeated it after the others had finished.
“My apologies for the delivery. We were expecting Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan,” Jane said. “We practiced it that way.”
If they expected to hear details of the Sheridan family’s personal life, they were going to be sorely disappointed. “My parents had other obligations,” Jacquelyn said. “So I offered to go in their stead.”
“I see.”
Jacquelyn scanned the two rows of children. They weren’t the grimy ragamuffins she’d envisioned, thankfully. At the very least, they were clean and orderly. “What are we waiting for? ”
A young woman with dark brown hair stepped forward. “Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan usually like to interact with the girls before we start the tour.” She gave Jacquelyn a respectful nod. “I’m Mary Howard. Jane and I are the lead girls here. Mrs. Irving left us in charge while she is away. May I take your coat?”
Jacquelyn shook her head. “I won’t be staying that long. I understand there’s an inspection, and then I’ll be on my way.”
Eddie spoke up. “Excuse me, Miss Sheridan, but your parents always hand out candy canes before they leave.”
The girls murmured in excitement, and Mary sharply reprimanded them. “Girls, silence please. Remember your manners.”
Eddie said, “Would you like me to go out and bring in the candy?”
Jacquelyn waved a hand to indicate she didn’t care either way. A minute ago, she hadn’t even remembered that there would be candy canes, and now she was expected to decide how they’d be distributed? “Eddie, it’s inconsequential. Do as you like,” she said.
One of the girls raised her hand high in the air.
“We aren’t speaking, remember, Agatha?” Mary said.
Agatha bounced on her toes, about to burst with excitement. “But the fancy lady looks just like Miss Shaw!” The other girls nodded in agreement and whispered to each other.
Not this again. Jacquelyn gave Jane a careful look. Same color hair and eyes. About the same height and build. Her facial shape was identical, and yet Jacquelyn didn’t see the resemblance. Her own face was angles and high cheekbones, the visage of a movie star, while Jane’s face was softer, less refined. At a distance, they could be mistaken, but a twin? No. Anyone who said that wasn’t looking closely enough.
“Quiet, girls,” Mary said, a finger to her lips. “At the Sheridan Girls’ Home, we are polite and only speak when spoken to.” A hush fell over the group.
Jane spoke up. “Girls, why don’t you go with Miss Howard to the dining room while I show Miss Sheridan around?”
Mary motioned for them to follow her, and the girls silently walked away.
Jacquelyn was glad to see them go. Time to get this over with and return home.
Jane said, “If you’ll follow me, Miss Sheridan, I’d be pleased to show you how your family’s generosity has changed the lives of all the girls who live here.”