Emma's Secret: A Novel

muttered.
    Peter reached into the popcorn bowl and flicked a piece at Hannah’s head. She ducked, but it was Emma’s quiet laughter that caught his attention. He flicked one at her, but before she could duck, Daisy jumped up and caught it in her mouth.
    “No way.” Peter laughed. “Who’s been teaching Daisy tricks?”
    A light sparkled in Emma’s eyes. She leaned over the arm of the chair and scratched Daisy’s head. “Hannah’s a good teacher,” she said.
    Peter nudged Hannah again with his foot. “Hannah’s a great big sister.” A sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a long time settled in his heart as Hannah flushed with pleasure.
    If he could freeze time, it would be this exact moment, with his children happy and himself at peace. The only thing missing was Megan.
    “When’s Mommy gonna be home?” Emma asked, almost as if she knew what he was thinking and missed her too.
    “Never. She ran away,” Alexis pouted. Emma’s eyes widened in fear, and Peter gave Alexis a stern look.
    “She didn’t run away,” he said soothingly to Emma. “She went out.” He focused on Alexis and waited for her to look up. “Why would you say something like that?”
    Alexis shook her head. “’Cause she always goes out at night without us.”
    Peter sighed. “That’s not true. Your mother rarely goes out anymore and when she does, it’s usually grocery shopping. You know that.”
    Alexis grunted. “She just doesn’t want to spend time with us.”
    “What?” Was he missing something? Megan loved being home with the kids. School was out, her Safe Walks program was on break, the kids weren’t in sports, and she was excited to have the summer to reconnect with Emma. So why did it bother them so much that she was gone now?
    “We never spend time as a family anymore.” Alexis raised her face and stared defiantly into his eyes.
    Peter shook his head. That didn’t make sense. “We’re spending family time now.”
    “No, we’re not. Mommy’s not here.”
    Peter cocked his head and looked at his daughters. This had really upset them. Emma buried her head back into her drawing; she wouldn’t look up. Alexis’s shoulders were pushed back and her chin up high. This was his fighter. But there was nothing to challenge, nothing to fight over. The look in Hannah’s eyes was sad, downcast, and defeated.
    Did they honestly think that Megan didn’t want to spend time with them? That she couldn’t wait to go out in the evenings? He could count on one hand the times Megan had gone out alone since Emma’s return. Where did this come from?
    He put his hand on Hannah’s shoulder and wrapped his arm around Alexis, drawing her close.
    “Listen to me. Everything your mother has always wanted is right here in this room. Her family. That’s you”—he nodded to Alexis—“and you”—then to Hannah—“and you, little monkey sitting in my favorite chair.” Emma glanced up, her eyes wide. “The only thing that matters to your mom is her family. Nothing else.”
    “Are you sure about that? I heard her tell you she needed time to herself tonight.” Alexis taunted him.
    He had to give her that. Megan did say that before she left. He’d even agreed with her. He didn’t know what was wrong with her or where her head was at but maybe some time alone, to think about how ridiculous her earlier claims were, would be good for her. He nodded.
    “She did, didn’t she. And that’s allowed. Just like when you go up to your room for some quiet time and listen to your music. It’s the same for Mom.” Peter slowly removed his hand from Hannah’s shoulder and laid it on his leg, inches away from Alexis’s bare foot. “Right, kiddo?” He started to tickle her foot and waited for her belly-wrenching laughter.
    Alexis tried to yank her foot out of his grasp, but it was pointless. He continued to tickle, and once she started to laugh, the stress in the room dissolved. Daisy started to jump and bark and Emma even laughed a little. Peter memorized the welcome sound as Hannah rose up on her knees and reached for Alexis’s other foot.
    Yes, to hear all three of his girls laughing together, this was heaven on earth.

    As soon as she could, Megan had escaped from the house, away from her husband and her fears, and drove to the pier. She didn’t blame him, though; she wasn’t sure she understood it herself. Whydid it bother her so much that Emma wouldn’t respond to her name in the same way she responded to