Chapter 154 - Stranger

Caroline went outside the house, drives her car going to the tailoring shop to get her gown.

The seamstress smiled when Caroline entered the door of the tailoring shop.

The woman rose to her feet and walked towards the mannequin.

"Here's your wedding dress, Miss," she pointed at the mannequin.

Caroline stared at the dress the mannequin was wearing. Indeed, her twin sister had chosen the perfect dress for her wedding day. It's a simple white tube dress above the knee, that fits a woman's curve perfectly. And a long-sleeve tulle lace will be worn over the dress, giving it an elegant finish.

"Wow, it's so nice!" she gushes. Caroline took her phone from her shoulder bag and began taking pictures of the mannequin wearing her wedding dress.

A few minutes later.

Done taking photos, she excitedly sent the five photos to her twin.

"I'm going to pay the balance, Mrs. Zamora," Caroline told the seamstress.

She took her wallet and paid cash to the lady.

"Thank you, Miss Ramirez," the seamstress replied.

Caroline watched while the seamstress carefully took the wedding dress from the mannequin and placed it gently inside the box.

Done packing the wedding dress, Mrs. Zamora handed the box to her client. "Thank you for your patronage, Miss," she said.

"You're welcome," Caroline replied with a bright smile.

She exited the tailor shop and get inside her car. She placed the box in the backseat, then her phone starts ringing.

It's her sister calling...

"Wow, sis! The dress is amazing!" Catherine's voice echoed on the phone.

"Yeah, it looks gorgeous. The finished product is superb, simple but elegant!" Caroline interjected.

"I can't wait to see you wear that dress this Friday! You'll look fantastic in it! " Catherine raves.

"Thank you, sis!" Caroline responded, amused by her sister's enthusiastic reaction on her wedding dress.

"Where are you now?"

"I'm inside my car parked outside the tailoring shop. I'm going back to my house," Caroline answered.

"OK, drive safely, and see you on Thursday! I can't wait to see cousin Grace again. Bye, sis!" Catherine said.

"Me too! Bye-bye!" Caroline responded and ended the call at her end. She inserted the key in the ignition and started the engine.

She eased the car into the busy street and drove back home.

~~~0~~~

The next day, late afternoon.

After the class ended, Lily and Jacob came home excitedly.

Thirty minutes later, they piled up inside Caroline's car and headed to the nearest mall.

After arriving at the mall. They went inside the teens' clothing section, and Caroline chose three pairs of formal clothing for Jacob to try in the fitting room.

After fitting the outfit, Jacob gave his verdict.

"Out of the three, I like this pair better!" Jacob said. He had chosen simple black pants and a white long sleeve polo shirt. "No need to buy new shoes, sis. I still have the black shoes, the one I wore on sister Catherine's wedding," he said.

"Alright, here's the money..." she handed him two thousand peso bill. "Pay the clothes in the cashier section, and keep the change," she instructed.

Jacob grinned. "Thank you, sis. You're the best!"

He sauntered towards the cashiers' section and paid his purchases.

Caroline exited the store and sat on the bench where the rest of her family was waiting for them.

Jacob exited the store holding a shopping bag and sank into the bench beside his mother.

Caroline looked at Lily. "It's your turn young lady. Let's go to the next store," she said.

"Alright," Lily rose to her feet energetically.

They walked towards the next store that catered for teen girls.

Once inside the store's premises.

Caroline and Lily went to the rack where dresses are hanged prettily. They start perusing the dresses one by one.

"Wow, I love this cute pink dress!" exclaimed Lily holding a pink short sleeveless princess cut dress.

"Okay, go to the fitting room so that you can try it... let see if it fits your body," Caroline ordered.

Lily went inside the fitting room and exited afterward so that her sister can see the dress.

"Wow, it looks lovely on you!" Caroline gushes.

"I love it, sister!" said Lily.

The saleslady was waiting nearby, she was holding a box of flat pink pump shoes. "You can try this shoe, Miss," she suggested and put the pair of shoes on the floor.

Lily quickly slid her feet on the shoes.

"Perfect!" Caroline enthused. She looked at the saleslady standing on her right side. "Miss, do you have another design of this dress with the same color, with bigger size? I'll buy one for my cousin and I'll also buy another set of shoes," she said.

"Yes, we have Ma'am. It's right here on this corner," the saleslady answered.

Caroline opened her shoulder bag, took her wallet, and handed her sister the money the same amount she gave to her brother Jacob. "Pay that dress and shoes to the cashier's section, keep the change, then wait for me outside. I still need to buy Grace's dress," she explained.

"Thanks, sis!" Lily shrieked in delight and sauntered towards the cashier's section to pay the dress and shoes.

Caroline went to the clothes wrack.

She saw a woman with long brown hair, wearing an eyeglass, perusing on the dresses. The woman raised her head and stared at her for a few seconds.

She ignored the woman.

The saleslady provided Caroline several pink short dresses, below the knee, to chose from.

Out of the five outfits, Caroline chose one design that has similarities with Lily's pink dress for Merle. She also took one dress for Grace's size and matching color pink low heels two pairs of pump shoe size 5 and 6.

After paying her purchases, she exited the store.

She went back to the bench and handed the shopping bag to Jacob. "It's now Mother's turn. Guys, take care of baby Cathy. We'll be back after a few minutes."

"Yes... sister," Lily and Jacob answered in unison.

"Yes, Ma'am," Merle replied, holding baby Cathy in her lap.

Caroline and Thelma went to the store where women's dresses were prominently displayed.

They entered the store and began browsing the dresses on display.

A few minutes later, Thelma has finally chosen the pink dress that she likes the most.

"I like this dress! What do you think, daughter?" Thelma said.

"Go inside the fitting room, Mother. I'll give my judgment later," Caroline answered.

"Alright." Thelma went inside the fitting room and changed into a pink dress.

When she exited the room.

Caroline was already waiting outside. "I like it, Mother dear," she smiled.

"I like it too!" Thelma agreed.

The saleslady put the pink flat shoes on the floor. "Try these shoes, Ma'am," she said.

Thelma slid her feet into the shoes. "Wow, the shoes fit my feet, it's soft and comfortable to wear. I'll take this!"

"The dress and the shoes match perfectly well, Mother!" Caroline commented and gave her mother a thumbs up.

Thelma handed the shoes to the saleslady and went back inside the fitting room to change.

A few minutes later.

Caroline paid the dress and shoes in the counter and they exited the store.

The woman wearing an eyeglass followed Caroline and her mother outside.

So, her guess was right...

Caroline can't remember her at all.

That stupid woman can't recognize her as the one who entered her house pretending as a health worker and put a handkerchief on her nose and mouth causing her to lose consciousness.

Julie grinned diabolically.

She will continue to follow the family for a while.

How about she will kidnap Caroline's daughter?

If she can do that, Caroline will have no choice but to tell her where is her best friend Brenda?

Brilliant idea!

Alright, she will find a way to get closer to Caroline's daughter and she will execute her plan if a good opportunity comes up.

She followed the family going to the fast-food restaurant.

Caroline's entourage went inside the LFC Fried Chicken Station and ordered foods.

Julie entered the restaurant and ordered a value meal, she occupied the vacant table near the family.

While she was eating her food, she would glance at Caroline and her baby.

Caroline was still unaware of her presence even if their eyes already met several times inside the restaurant.

One hour later.

Caroline and her family were done eating. They exited the restaurant and went to the grocery section.

Julie was following them from behind.

Caroline and Thelma went inside the grocery store pushing a cart.

While Merle, baby Cathy, Lily, and Jacob was sitting on the bench, in front of the store waiting for their mother and sister to finish grocery shopping so that they can go home.

A few minutes later.

Lily got bored, she rose to her feet. "I'll go inside the store to look for books," she informed Merle.

The housemaid nods her head.

Lily entered the bookstore located a few meters from the bench.

Jacob was looking at the PlayStation Store on the right corner, he stood up. "Merle, I'll go to the PlayStation Store for a moment to check on something. Just stay here and don't leave, okay?"

"OK," Merle responded.

Jacob sauntered towards the PlayStation store and entered the establishment.

A few meters away from the bench...

Julie was grinning while watching the housemaid and baby Cathy sitting on the bench.

"Oh... lala!" she murmured to herself after seeing the opportunity presented itself.

She walked forward...getting closer...and closer...and casually lowered herself on the bench beside Merle.

After a while, she began commenting on Caroline's baby. "She's a very pretty baby!" she commented casually, smiling.

"Thank you," Merle responded.

"How old is she?" Julie asked trying to strike a conversation with the housemaid.

"She will be two years old in a few months from now," answered Merle.

"You know what... I have a baby just like her age in our province, I miss my baby so much. But I have to work here in the city so that I can send them money every month for their food," she said teary-eyed, sporting a gloomy look on her face.

Merle just looked at the woman pitifully.

"She's so cute!" Julie continued praising the baby.

Merle smiled feeling proud of her ward.

"C-can I hold the baby for a few minutes?" Julie requested.

"Sure!" Merle handed baby Cathy to the stranger.

Julie grabbed baby Cathy and grinned wickedly. A few minutes later, she and the baby will be gone.

All she needs is a few minutes to distract the housemaid...

Unfortunately, oh no!...dang!... out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the teenage boy coming back to the bench!

Damn!

She reluctantly handed the baby back to the housemaid. "I'm leaving now. Bye baby!" she said and quickly left the bench.

Jacob looked at the retreating back of the woman who holds her niece. "Did you know that woman?" he asked the maid.

Merle shook her head. "No, she just sits down her beside me and wanting to hold the baby for a few minutes, she told me that she had a baby daughter like Cathy back home in the province," she explained.

Jacob sighed. "Merle, next time, try to be careful. Don't let a stranger hold baby Cathy ever again no matter what they say, okay?"

"Yes, sir," Merle replied obediently and nodded her head.

A few minutes later, Caroline and Thelma returned to the bench with their grocery bag.

"Let's go home now, kids!" Caroline told everyone.

The family exited the mall, piled into the car in the parking lot, and went home satisfied with their purchases.