Emma's Secret: A Novel

within half an hour.
    “Mom! Emma won’t share the popcorn.” Alexis stood at the sliding doors with her hands on her hips.
    Megan planted her feet on the ground to stop the rocking motion of the swing and stood. “Really, Alexis? It’s a bowl of popcorn. Not really something worth fighting over. We can always make more if you want more.”
    The frown on her middle daughter’s face was priceless. Megan struggled not to laugh. It was only popcorn. Did she really expect to get Emma in trouble over this?
    “It’s not fair. You said we all had to share.” She took a few steps back to allow Megan room to enter the kitchen, but now her arms were crossed over her chest.
    “And did you get any?”
    The scowl deepened. “That’s not the point.”
    Megan shrugged. A third child added an extra element to their family’s dynamic. Hannah and Alexis were still in the adjustment stage of accepting their sister into the house, even though the fact that Emma had been taken wasn’t anyone’s fault.
    “So we’ll make more. Why don’t you go bring in the bowl, and you can help me.”
    “Can’t we just get a new bowl? Emma’s hogging the other one.”
    Megan rolled her eyes and then pointed to the cabinet where they kept the Tupperware bowls. “Go ahead.” With Alexis, she’d learned a long time ago to pick her battles. This wasn’t one of them.
    Megan pulled a white canister over to the popcorn machine and opened the lid. She let Alexis pour two spoonsful of kernels into it before she plugged it in. Alexis stood there, watching the swirling kernels, and jumped at the first pop. Megan couldn’t help but smile. She always jumped too. They waited for the bowl to fill with the fluffy white popcorn and then unplugged the machine.
    “Make sure you don’t touch this, okay? It’s pretty hot. And please share with your sisters. This bowl isn’t all yours.” Judging by the scowl on her daughter’s face, being told to share wasn’t quite what she wanted to hear.
    Megan turned to glance at the clock and frowned. Laurie sat at the kitchen table.
    “How did you get in?” The door should have been locked with the alarm set.
    “With my key.” Laurie held up her key ring.
    “Was the alarm on?” Megan’s heart beat a little faster at the thought that Emma could have left again and no one would have known.
    “It beeped. I figured you didn’t hear it over the popcorn machine. Don’t worry; I reset it and locked the door.”
    Megan unclenched her hand and took in a deep breath.
    “Hey, Lexi, how ya’ doin’, girl?” Laurie snaked a hand out and grabbed a handful of popcorn before Alexis could pass her.
    Megan was jealous of the special bond between the two of them. Laurie was the only one who could call her daughter Lexi. The last time Megan tried, Alexis had bitten her head off. Peter could get away with calling her Lex, but everyone else had to use Alex or Alexis. “Mom says I have to share. But Emma ate the other bowl. It’s not fair.” Alexis pouted. Megan frowned before shaking her head at Laurie. Alex had been complaining about Emma all week. It was tiring.
    Laurie leaned forward in the chair. “I bet Emma is so full from eating all the other popcorn that she won’t even want any.”
    Alexis groaned. “She will. I know it.”
    “Then let her have a few handfuls. I bet she won’t want more than that.” Laurie shrugged her shoulders before leaning back.
    Alexis glanced over her shoulder and stared at Megan before looking down at the bowl in her hands. “Yeah, probably. Have fun tonight.”
    Megan crossed the kitchen, sat across from Laurie, and sighed as they both watched Alexis walk away.
    “Any plans yet for her birthday?” Laurie tapped her fingernails on the table.
    Megan’s eyes widened. She looked at the calendar on the wall and winced. Alexis’s birthday was in five days. Five days. How could she have forgotten that?
    “You forgot, didn’t you?” The gentle accusation in Laurie’s voice rang loud and clear.
    Megan frowned. She struggled to recall anytime Alexis had mentioned her birthday, but she couldn’t think of a single time. Normally, Alexis would be brimming with excitement and plans. With her birthday in August, she normally wanted to do something outside, a pool party or picnic. Last year, they held a mock summer Olympics in their backyard, complete with an egg toss, a waterslide, and horseshoes.
    “I’m sure she’s talked about it with Peter, and he’s told her he’d