CHAPTER

1

On a cloudy evening the three young Duchesses of Delacresse huddled around their mother. Mary, Maria and Marina Delacresse’s mother, Mara Belle Delacresse, was involved in an accident. Their mother was laying on a cot in the Boundary Community Hospital watching her three daughters and breathing heavily. Mara Belle was alive, but weak.

Mara Belle looked upon her three daughters who were actually triplets. Their distance of age was a year, which surprised everyone including Mara Belle and her twin sister, Mirabella. Even though Mary, Maria and Marina were triplets, they didn’t look anything alike.

8-year-old Mary was the eldest. She had black, straight hair that fell loose under her shoulders. She had baby blue eyes and natural pink lips. Since she was the eldest, if her two younger sisters ever did something wrong, she would say it was her fault, even if she hadn’t done anything, because she would say that it was her responsibility to take care of her sisters. She smiled sadly at her mother as she remembered what her mother always says if something horrible happens,

“Never be angry, dear,” reminded her mother, “Let your anger go. Be patient of everything because everything is in the will of the God. If something good happens, be thankful because that means God has rewarded us for a good deed. If something bad happens, be patient because that means God wants to test us see if we react patiently or impatiently.” That was one of Mary’s favorite quotes.

7-years-old Maria has brown half curly-half straight hair that drops to her waist. She has purple eyes, which are very rare. She also has natural pink cheeks. Maria is the one who trusts anyone. She’ll tell her secrets to anyone, too. Usually, if Maria tells her secret to Mara Bella and Marina, they would usually tease her. Mary, though, would never because she knows how it feels. Maria’s face was bent down but Mara Belle could see tears rolling down her cheeks, silently.

Marina, 6-years-old, is the youngest with orange-reddish hair till her shoulders. She has shiny, green eyes and the most beautiful natural pink cheeks and lips. Mara Belle says it’s a blessing that they have natural pink qualities. Marina is the loudest and annoying chatterbox Mara Belle ever met. But she loves her all the same. Marina was sobbing so loud that the nurse at the right cot glared at her a few times. But Marina ignored her.

Finally, Marina spoke up.

“Mommy, don’t go.” She said. Mara Belle sighed.

“I’m not sure if I can do that, dear. If it is the will of God, I mustn’t disobey.”

“But what will we do without you? Dad has also gone to the pearly gates of heaven.” protested Maria.

That is true, thought Mara Belle. Peter Delacresse was killed by a lightning bolt 8 years ago. He could barely see his first born daughter. “But you have Nancy and Celia and Sara and Tammy.” Mara Belle said hopefully.

Nancy Conner, Celia Harris, Sara Shubert and Tammy Roberts are the four most important maids at the Delacresse Manor. Nancy is the leader, whereas Tammy takes care of Mary, Celia takes care of Maria and Sara takes care of Marina.

“But we want you and dad.” said Maria.

Mara Belle looked at Mary, her only daughter who didn’t say a word. “Mary,” said Mara Belle, “what do you want to say, dear?”

At first, Mary stayed speechless until, “If this is God’s will, shouldn’t you leave us a blessing?”

Maria and Marina turned to their mother. Mara Belle sighed and said, “Very well. I’ll start with the youngest, yes?”

Mara Belle gestured Marina to come closer. “Marina Delacresse, 6 years old,” said Mara Belle, “I bless you to be the sunshine on rainy days and─”

“Um, mummy,” interrupted Marina, “what does ‘I bless you to be the sunshine on rainy days’ mean?”

Maria groaned, Mary giggled and Mara Belle smiled. “Well, let’s just say that it means cheerfulness.” said Mara Belle.

“Oh, Cheer-FOOL-nis.” Marina said slowly. This time Mary laughed loudly.

“Now, let me continue what I wanted to say before the ‘interruption’.” said Mara Belle. Marina blushed. Now, Mary and Maria were laughing.

“I bless you to be the sunshine on rainy days and never give up and never, ever think negatively.” finished Mara Belle.

“Yesiree, mummy.” Marina replied. Then, she backed away to let Maria to come nearer to their mother.

“Maria Delacresse, 7 years old, I bless you to be the mysterious one and do not trust too many people. It could lead you to embarrassment.” said Mara Belle to Maria.

Maria nodded and said, “Yes, mum.”

Mary stepped forward and looked at her mother’s eyes.

“Mary Delacresse, 8 years old,” Mara Belle said, slowly, “I bless you to be the wisest and I am leaving you in charge.”

Tears filled Mary’s eyes as she said, “Of course, mother.”

Mara Belle stared at her three daughters, one at a time.

“I have left trunks of gifts for everyone, including the staff people,” she said, “I have also left a Document of Heritance and a key to a vault in the underground cellar that contains all of the Delacresse treasuries. Use them well.”

“Mummy,” Marina asked. “May we sleep with you?”

“Of course you may.” Mara Belle answered.

Since there wasn’t much room, Maria and Marina snuggled besides their mother while Mary took a chair, sat beside her mother’s cot and rested her head on the edge of the bed.

...

The next morning, the nurse came to Mara Belle's cot to give her patient the daily injection, only to find her surrounded by her three dearly daughters, who were still sleeping, dead.