Emma's Secret: A Novel

squealed.
    Her daughter actually squealed. Megan couldn’t stifle the laughter bubbling up inside her. For the first time in weeks, theheavy weight of sorrow had ever so briefly lifted from her daughter’s small shoulders.
    Megan wished Peter were home to see this. He’d been so worried about Emma, wondering whether they’d done the right thing by cutting off any ties she had with the older couple. But if he could see her now, he’d realize that all she needed was time. Time to realize this family—her real family—loved her even more.
    Megan smiled. Contentment filled her soul, and it felt good. It had been so long. The last time had been only a month ago at the farmhouse when she had finally, after two long years of searching, held Emma in her arms again. Since then, the emotional roller coaster seemed to never end. She handed her daughter a wooden spoon to mix the candy into the cookie dough.
    She caught sight of Emma’s dog on the patio. The cute little yellow retriever that came home with Emma had grown into an awkward dog but still managed to worm its way into her heart despite her insistence that she hated dogs. Other than the suitcase full of clothes, a few books, and some dolls, Daisy was the only other connection Emma had to the people who had kidnapped her.
    “Do you want to scoop the cookies or would you rather go outside to play with Daisy?” Megan dipped the cookie scoop in a cup of hot water while Emma glanced behind her where Daisy sat near the sliding door.
    “Grandma said you always have to finish what you start.” She bit her lip and looked back from the sliding door to the mixing bowl.
    Megan moved to stand beside Emma and reached for the apron bow she’d tied earlier. “Tell you what: I’ll finish the cookies while you go grab Daisy a treat from the cupboard. She’s been waiting for you like a good little dog.” It warmed her heart to watch Emma jump off the chair without hesitating and grab a dog treat from thecupboard. Little by little, she was going to erase that woman from Emma’s mind.
    She scooped cookie dough onto the pan as Emma stood in the doorway watching her. Daisy was jumping up on the glass wanting to be let in, and Megan was doing her best to ignore it.
    “Mommy?”
    She raised her gaze from the cookies and realized Emma was now standing next to her at the counter. In her hands was a drawing she’d made last night before bed. Megan had found it this morning on the kitchen table. It was a picture of Emma holding hands with her and Peter.
    “Can we mail this today? To Papa?”
    Megan tried to hide her sigh. “You didn’t make that for me or Daddy?”
    Emma shook her head. “This is for Papa. Can we send it to him today?”
    It was impossible to say no while looking at her daughter’s beaming face. Emma honestly thought she was going to mail the drawing. The sparkle was still in her eye. Megan wasn’t about to take that away from her, not if it meant the smile would stay, but neither would she lie.
    Instead, she kept quiet.

    Soft giggles drifted in through the open window and wrapped around Megan’s heart, squeezing it until she was sure it would break.
    She placed the lid on the last Tupperware container full of freshly baked cookies and left it on the counter. She’d made sure to combine all the cookies so that there would be some of each kind inevery batch. A few containers were now in her freezer, with one in her fridge. No doubt this one would soon be empty.
    She glanced around her kitchen and realized she had nothing to do. She’d already cleaned up after the cookie fiasco this morning, lunch dishes were in the dishwasher, and the girls were outside playing. Her house was spotless—how could it not be when she was home every day with little to do but clean? Maybe she’d make some coffee and read through the stack of unread magazines sitting in the foyer. But the thought held little appeal.
    When did her life screech to a halt? Normally, she’d be busy with meetings and errands. But then again, that would be during the school year, when the Safe Walks program was up and running.
    As she watched through the kitchen window at her daughters playing, Megan rubbed at the knots in her neck. The scene felt surreal. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
    “Penny for your thoughts?”
    Startled, Megan whirled around to find Laurie standing in the doorway to her kitchen holding two iced lattes.
    “You scared me.” Megan caught her