Free Serenity's Deception (Texas Sorority Sisters Book 1) by Janice Olson Page A

dropped to her side.
    The loss of the delicate hand and baby soft skin gave BJ a longing she didn’t want to examine.
    “Are you on your way to supper?” Five minutes ago BJ and Ms. Blackthorn had parted at the dining room entrance. She knew the little girl would be considered tardy by now.
    “Uh-huh.” Jenny glanced around. “I’m late.”
    “Oh.” BJ gave her an understanding nod.
    For a brief second, worry flittered across Jenny’s face.
    “Would you like me to walk you to the dining hall? I’ll let Ms. Blackthorn know you were with me.”
    “Uh-huh.” Apparently remembering her manners. “Yeth, ma’am. Are you eating too? We’re havin’ ba’scetti. It’s my favorite.” Jenny slipped her hand into BJ’s and began tugging her down the hall.
    “Spaghetti is one of my favorites too.” BJ grinned down at the little pigtailed, bouncing head intent on dragging her toward the great hall. “But I can’t stay tonight.”
    “Penny likes mac’n cheese best. Says ba’scetti’s messy. But not me. She’s oldest. I’m youngest. Ms. Blackthorn says Penny and me’s going to different mamas and papas. No one wants two little busy girls. We’re a nu-nuth—We’re a handful, that’s what Maisey says.”
    Jenny’s words stopped BJ dead in her tracks.
    The little one turned displaying a puzzled brow. “Come on. We gotta hurry.”
    BJ didn’t budge even though the little girl tugged harder on her hand. “Jenny, is Penny your sister?” She searched the little face for truth.
    “Uh-h—ah, yeth, ma’am.” She nodded. “We’re twins. Ms. Blackthorn tells Maisey to put blue ribbons on my braids. Penny gets green ones. I wanted green, but Maisey says that’s Penny’s color. That’s how she can tell us apart. Penny says she’s taller. I tell her she’s not.”
    Jenny continued to chatter and tug BJ down the hall.
    BJ was still reeling from the matter-of-fact way Jenny spoke of her plight. She and her twin would more than likely be separated if they were adopted. She didn’t like the thoughts of twin separation. That happened once while she lived in the house, one was left behind while the other was adopted. She’d never forget the sadness and the acting out of the one that was left behind.
    In BJ’s judgment, twin separation, or for that matter, sibling separation went far beyond acceptable practice and something that should never be done.
    The clinking of flatware filtered out into the hallway drawing BJ’s attention. Something was missing. The chatter of children’s voices. The rules all rushed back.
    No talking. Remember your manners. You are excused from the table after you have cleaned your plate and only after the headmistress has dismissed everyone.
    All clatter of utensils against plates stopped when Jenny rushed through the door with BJ in tow. Every eye in the room watched the duo. Just as quickly their attention was drawn to Ms. Blackthorn sitting at the center head table on the dais.
    The chair dared to screech as the woman stood. Her stern face and piercing eyes spanned the distance of the duet standing in the doorway. The Jenny dropped BJ’s hand, lowered her face and walked quickly to a seat next to her look-alike with the green-ribbon pigtails.
    No one spoke. No forks moved toward little mouths. Everyone seemed stuck in a time warp, unable to budge.
    BJ stepped further into the dining hall and directed one of her friendliest smiles toward the headmistress then at the children in the room.
    “Ms. Blackthorn, I do hope you will pardon me for detaining Ms. Jenny from her supper. But we met quite by accident, and I got carried away talking and completely forgot the time.”
    The woman looked as though she would like to refute BJ’s excuse for the child, but instead returned a tight smile, her eyes wandering from BJ to Jenny. “As a rule, a tardy child is denied the opportunity to partake of the meal. But since she was detained by you, I will forgive her the infraction this once.”