Forget to Remember

Cynthia. All right, what will you do now?”
    “I’m meeting Mrs. Horton in a little while. After that I’ll have to see.”
    “You’d better come back to California. Your friends are here. You can only get into trouble if you stay there.”
    “I don’t think the Ramirezes would want me back.”
    “Give Rigo a call and see how much he wants you back. He’s ready to jump on a plane and come after you.”
    “Tell him not to worry.”
    After Carol hung up, she thought about calling Rigo. He would still be sleeping. Besides, she didn’t want to talk to him at the moment. He wouldn’t approve of what she was doing.
    ***
    Mrs. Horton moved very well considering she used a cane, but she appeared to carry it mostly as a talisman, to give her confidence. She navigated the path made from flat stones and the uneven ground of the garden and spacious lawn without much difficulty, pointing out the plants and trees to Carol.
    Butch went with them, periodically presenting Carol with the slimy tennis ball. She was his buddy because she was willing to throw it for him to chase. She carried a rag she had borrowed from Audrey and used it to wipe off her hand.
    She was curious about the long fence that surrounded the house and yard. It made a wide circle, enclosing a number of acres of lawn and garden. Anybody coming along the road had to enter the grounds through the gate, but since there was a button, it obviously wasn’t to keep people out. She asked Mrs. Horton about it.
    “It’s the damn deer, excuse my French. They would eat all my plants and flowers without the fence. They’re multiplying like crazy. Since they’re protected most of the year, they’re not afraid of humans. I let the hunters set up blinds on my property during hunting season. They also carry ticks that cause Lyme disease.”
    The hunters or the deer? So much for the cute little deer. Mrs. Horton had called Vigiano and told him Carol was with her for the morning and he was welcome to join them for lunch, but not before. She seemed to be in complete control of the situation. Carol realized she couldn’t live her life fooling this woman. When they stopped for a moment at the small barn with the sit-down mower inside, Carol spoke to her.
    “I need to tell you something.” Mrs. Horton waited for her to proceed. “I…I don’t think I’m your granddaughter.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “A number of things. I don’t have any memories of this area or of you. I’d think something would stir my brain, but it hasn’t. In addition, Paul gave me a picture last night that’s supposed to be me with my parents, but the picture of me is a fake.”
    “Oh…let’s see it.” Mrs. Horton looked at the envelope Carol was carrying as if she’d been expecting this.
    Carol had been struggling with the question of whether she should show the picture to Mrs. Horton, which was why she was carrying it. She didn’t want to cause bad blood between Mrs. Horton and Paul. On the other hand, Paul deserved it. She pulled the photograph out of the envelope and handed it to her. Mrs. Horton studied it closely.
    “I don’t think I’ve seen this picture before. Those are certainly my daughter and son-in-law. This is Michael. This is certainly you. Why do you say it’s a fake?”
    Carol briefly told her why. Mrs. Horton listened attentively. Then she looked at Carol. “I would add one thing. Before she went to London, Cynthia wore her hair longer than that. But that’s really beside the point. I knew from the moment I saw you that you weren’t Cynthia.”
    “Why didn’t you say something?”
    “I had my reasons. One is that I wanted to see how far Paul would go to prove you’re Cynthia. He stands to get a lot of money, you know. I also wanted to find out if you’re a fortune hunter. It appears you aren’t.”
    “What tipped you off? Do I look that much different than Cynthia?”
    “Actually, you could pass for Cynthia in a dim light. No, it was your earrings.”
    “My studs? They’re the only thing I was wearing when I was found.”
    “They’re not gold. They’re silver or perhaps an imitation. Cynthia could only wear gold earrings. She had an allergic reaction to any other kind. Fortunately, she could afford gold.”
    “Well, what do we do now?”
    “Come into the house, dear. I feel like a cup of tea.”
    ***
    Paul was attempting to be charming. Carol suspected this didn’t come naturally to him. She saw sweat on his upper lip. He was trying