Deceitful Appearances (Alert Again Part IV)

Donna was standing in front of the bathroom mirror just filling herself with confidence to get through the next couple of weeks as a different person. But if she was going to be honest with herself since her father's death she was different. It' seemed to be a trickle affect of one emotion after another since she was mourning her father. The emotions were sadness, loneliness, anger and somehow betrayal and now revenge.

Betrayal. She looked at herself and what she had become since Charles deceived her and others into thinking she was some psychotic loony on a mission to cause them and herself harm. Oh yes she was upset over her father's death. After all her relationship with him was very strong. He had raised her by himself and was her best friend. Had it not been for his stubbornness of disliking Charles and keeping distant, just maybe she would have seen the signs of the Cancer and she could have made him go to the doctors sooner. Then he may still be alive today and she would not be in this situation.

This situation at hand; she now was totally changing who she was.

Abigail did a great job cutting and styling Donna's hair. She cut it in a "French Bob." Abigail was so thrilled to have the assignment. She hadn't really used her shears in quite some time. Abigail went to beauty school when she was in her 30's to learn a trade that she could use when they went on missionary trips. She felt that sometimes you just need a clean haircut to make you feel better. Abigail was right. She had done an amazing job. Donna's hair had been down to her waist and it was near black. She had nice hair but it was all one length with no character to it. Just plain.

Staring at herself in the mirror she was awed at how changing the color and style had transformed her into someone completely different. Henry had purchased the color hair Abigail once was before age took over. He said Abigail needed some to touch up her own but that he bought enough for both of them. He had also purchased make-up, figuring it would help with changing Donna's appearance. He was right!

Donna was never much to where make-up. So as she finished putting it on and went into the living room to show Henry and Abigail they were nearly floored at her appearance. Henry said "wow, you look like a model" and Abigail was smiling and giggling at kept repeating "breath-taking, simply breath-taking" Donna felt amazing, Abigail was right!

They all decided that they would call Donna "Sissy" It was easy to remember. They didn't want to call her by her real name in case of unexpected visitors, it wouldn't take them long to put two and two together and figure out who she was. Plus, while growing up, close relatives had called her that. Charles didn't know this because by the time he came into the picture those had already passed on. So it was a name she responded to and with her new look she was now converted into a new person. Off the grid for the time being. Working on her weight-gain was the next step and it wasn't going to be easy, but with all the amazing food Abigail made it was definitely going to be a delightful experience. She never ate so much dessert but it was all for the cause.

Sissy decided that although she was going to eat herself "healthy" she was still, when she could move around better, going to exercise. Her side and foot were still healing so she would have to wait a couple of weeks which gave time to put on pounds that she would just turn into muscle once she was able to work-out. She had been in martial arts for years and was a black-belt. So her plan was to practice her skills and lift weights. In the shed Henry had an old weights with a workout bench and told Sissy when she had his medical clearance she could start using them.

Everything was going well. She had been there almost a week when they had recieved their first visitor. Sherriff Malcolm.

The trio had been playing black-jack a poker game Henry use to play with the boys every Friday night but since all had aged it became harder and harder to get together for some of them. So his new playmates were Abigail and now Sissy. It was around 7pm on Friday evening when the dogs started barking. Henry stood up and looked out the window and saw the lights of the truck coming up the drive. He sat back down and said "just continue as normal and stay calm"

The sheriff had parked in front of the house and the dogs were barking loudly at the door. Two mutts, with sandy colored hair. Looked like they were from the same litter. Henry hushed them and went to the door before the sheriff could knock. Opening the door as the sheriffs hand was raised.

"Henry, good evening" the sheriff was startled at the opening of the door.

"Good evening Sheriff Malcolm, what brings you out here this evening. Everything alright?" Henry was a little bit taller than the sheriff but not by much. Henry had a strong appearance about him that gave a more authoritated appearance. Like he was a higher rank than the sheriff.

"Well, I'm sure you know from being in town the other day that we are on the look-out for an escaped psyhc patient. She is extemely dangerous and well, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't come out here and check on you folks being so isolated and all. I see you have a visitor."

"Yes, we do. This is my niece 'Sissy'. She's visiting us for a few weeks. We were just playing a few hands of blackjack, care to join us since you're out here?"

"Nice to meet you, Sissy was it?" The sheriff remembered some of the town people talking about how Henry and Abigail had a relative visiting and how with the dangerous woman on the loose it was just so coincidental. But this woman was not the same as that picture. She was stunningly beautiful. Yet she did look like she could eat some, kind of thin on the sickly side. He had extended his hand and she took it and there was a warmth that had sent a tingle through him.

"Nice to meet you Sheriff, um, Malcolm was it?" Sissy would play the game and she was going to master it. Smiling and cocking her head to the side she pointed to the empty chair across from her and said "so will you join us?"

Sheriff Malcolm went to the coat rack and hung his hat and jacket. Then went over to them and sat down. "Okay, deal me in"

Abigail offered something to drink stating that she didn't have alcohol but that she could make some coffee or tea. Sheriff Malcolm said coffee would be fine. So Abigail got up real quick to get the coffee brewing and came back with some lemon-bars she had made earlier. The sheriff found himself staring at Sissy she didnt look like the picture all over the internet but he still felt there was something about her.

They played a round as the coffee brewed and had small talk in between. Henry told the sheriff that Sissy was his brother's daughter from Texas and that he had passed away a couple of months ago and Sissy was just torn up about it. So she thought she'd come here to recoup from her loss. Sissy performed well, keeping her emotions accordingly to Henry's story.

Abigail finally brought out the coffee and sheriff complimented her on having the "best dang coffee around" Abigail said she had learned when they had visited Columbia on a missions trip from an old village lady, then she giggled and said, "well, I guess I'm the old village lady now" Everyone smiled and Henry put his hand on hers and so romantically said "you will always be my beautiful Loretta Young." and he reached over and kissed her forehead. They all smiled at one another at the charming sentiment between two old lovers and continued playing and talking of idle things going on with others around town.

Then the sheriff's radio interrupted with a very southern female dispatcher calling him. "Sheriff Malcom, this is Molly, come in Sheriff" The sheriff had responded and Molly said that there was a suspicious looking character wandering around the Dudley's Farm and Mrs. Dudley was nervous because Mr. Dudley was out of town for the weekend and she thought it was that crazy woman that was on the loose.

With that the sheriff got up, grab his jacket and hat. Said thank you for all the hospitality and if it be all right he would love to stop by again soon to play another hand when he wasn't on the clock. Henry said anytime they would like that. And he was out the door and on his way to find out if Mrs. Dudley was okay.

Sissy signed in relief as did Henry and Abigail. The all bursted out in nervous laughter and ended the card game, cleaned up and all retired to their rooms for the night. As Sissy got ready for bed she thought of how handsome Sheriff Malcolm was and shaking her head told herself to focus on her mission. She was not going to let Charles off the hook for what he did to her. She had to be careful and never let her guard down again. Things were going right for her again. She will stay the course and Charles would pay......