Beguiling Masquerade by Carole Gift Page

Author:Carole Gift Page
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Rebecca returned to her apartment that afternoon with an ache in her chest nothing could dispel. Already she was grieving for herself and for Myrtle, for the friendship that would end tomorrow, and for her inability to improve Myrtle’s living conditions.

When the idea to disguise herself as an octogenarian had first seized her imagination, she hadn’t anticipated the emotional toll it would take. She had created a person who had formed strong emotional attachments with others—especially with Rand and Myrtle—and now it was time to let go.

But could she?

Even as she went through her closet gathering all the vestiges of the elderly Rebecca—thrift shop dresses, shawls, support hose, and padded undergarments—she wasn’t sure she could relinquish her alter ego. At last she sat down on her bed with an armload of Rebecca’s stuff and broke into tears.

“Lord, I’ve handled things so badly,” she said between sobs. “Why didn’t I just focus on my research? Why did I let Rebecca form emotional connections that have to be broken now? I’m hurting the very people I care most about. But if I tell them the truth, I’ll hurt them even more.”

It was true. She was trapped in a dilemma of her own making and had no idea how to disengage herself without making things even worse.

Burying her latex-covered face in one of Rebecca’s old wool sweaters, she thought about Rand and the many times she had almost told him her secret. What had kept her silent? Fear! Fear that he would reject her and think less of her, that he would condemn her for maintaining her masquerade for so long. She wasn’t willing to risk their blossoming relationship by divulging the truth.

But if she couldn’t tell Rand the truth about her impersonation of Rebecca Sterling, what chance did she have to build a deep, abiding connection with him? And if he learned she hadn’t been honest from the beginning, how would he know for sure he could ever trust her?

Setting the bundle of clothes aside, Becky got up and gazed at her reflection in the dresser mirror. The elderly Rebecca stared back solemnly. Becky’s tears had caused the latex around her eyes to separate from her skin, giving her face an odd, accusing grimace.

“Great! Now I’ll have to reapply my mask before going to the nursing home tonight.” It was a task she didn’t relish. Her skin was already red and tender. Maybe she should forget about returning to the home to turn on the camcorder. How likely was it that the videotape would pick up anything of significance anyway?

If she didn’t go, would she be forsaking Myrtle in her moment of greatest need? The question needled her and spawned even more guilt. She yanked off her wig and pillbox hat and threw them on the bed. “Why should I feel so responsible for Myrtle Watson anyway? She’s not my grandmother. She got along fine before I met her, and she’ll do just fine without Rebecca Sterling in her life. She has Rand.

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