A Guest in the House

Long blonde hair. Dazzling dark eyes. Teeth as white as pearls. I’ve never seen her before, but as soon as I spot her in the crowd at the terminal, I know instantly that it’s her. She is the spitting image of our dead daughter. And that’s exactly why I invited her to stay with us.

From the moment our exchange student, Tanya, steps into our home, it’s as if our daughter has come back to life. Slim, fair-haired Tanya looks so much like our Anabel that sometimes I feel as though our lost daughter has returned.

My younger daughter, Paige, however, isn’t as thrilled about the visit. She finds it strange how much Tanya resembles our Anabel and is infuriated that our guest wears her sister’s old clothes. But Paige always had a strained relationship with Anabel. Another teenage girl in the house will be a blessing for our family. I don't doubt it for a second.

But then, out of nowhere, Paige starts asking me questions about Tanya’s past. She claims she isn't who she says she is. But I learned a long time ago that sometimes it’s better not to go looking for things you don’t want to find the answers to. And I certainly don't want Paige playing with fire, because I'm also starting to suspect that Tanya is hiding something from us.

But the darkest secret of all is the one I carry in my heart.