"Yes..." Cindy nodded her head seriously and asked, "Big sister, where is my mom?"
Cindy finally got back to the place where she last saw her mother, but she was unable to find her. Disappointed, she pouted and tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Cindy, you are a good girl. Don't cry. I promise to help you find your mother, okay?" It was gradually getting dark. Autumn had waited for a long time and never moved from that spot with Cindy, but her mother didn't show up. Now Autumn had gotten a little anxious as people at the beach started leaving one after another. However, as time passed it seemed that this little girl had forgotten that she had lost her mom. She looked at Autumn and said with a sad little voice, "Sister, I am so hungry."
Autumn took a glance at her watch. This beach was not far from the hotel where she was staying. Autumn hesitated for a little while then decided to take Cindy back to the hotel with her.
"Well, let's get something to eat then, okay?" Autumn carried her back to the hotel and there, Cindy freely ordered whatever she wanted. Cindy could speak English fluently as she ordered, through which Autumn could tell that she may come from a wealthy family.
Cindy's parents may be frantic now, but she was still enjoying her meal here.
"Cindy, take your time with your food." Though she had elegant table manners, she ate in a hurry perhaps out of hunger. She even choked a little so Autumn quickly handed her a lemonade.
They were dining in the hall of the hotel. Autumn had just registered at the reception desk. She hoped that Cindy's parents could find them there as soon as possible, so they sat where it would be easy to see them.
Looking at this adorable girl in front of her, Autumn wondered if she should call the police if her parents still didn't show up that night, but she hesitated.
"Sister, what are you thinking of? Why don't you eat?" Cindy continued eating and asked Autumn who was deep in thought.
Autumn wiped her mouth and grinned. "I am not hungry. You can have some more."
"I am full now, " said Cindy. She gazed at Autumn with her big, clear eyes. It made her look so lovely. Autumn felt her heart almost melting as she looked at this lovely girl. She even wanted to take her back home.
"Are you full now?" Autumn now felt trapped in a dilemma. If she took Cindy back to her room, her parents who are already worried about her, may not see them. But Autumn also couldn't bear to leave her alone to the police.
"Sister, I am sleepy now. I want to go to bed." Cindy wanted to sleep now that she was full. And it seemed like she had forgotten that she had lost her parents.
It was probably because Autumn looked like Cindy's mother, that Cindy could feel safe with her.
Autumn paid for the meal and then said kindheartedly, "Cindy, I know you are sleepy, but you can't sleep now. We need to find your parents."
"But..." Cindy pouted, her eyes filled with tears.
"Cindy, don't be upset. I promise you that I will buy you some sweets when we find your mother." Autumn tried to comfort her. When she finally calmed down, Cindy insisted that Autumn hold her.
Autumn had no choice but to hold her while walking to the reception desk. "Excuse me. Did anyone come looking for a little girl?"
"Yes, miss. A lady did come looking for a girl just now. She is still here." The desk clerk looked around and pointed to a woman in a red skirt standing by the door of the hotel. "Look! She is still over there, " said the clerk.
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