Emma's Secret: A Novel

breath and then reached for one of the drinks.
    “Really? I couldn’t tell.” Laurie smiled before leaning over the island counter, pushing some papers out of the way.
    Megan turned back toward the window to watch her daughters. The girls sat in a circle on the grass, picking the pesky yellow dandelions around them. Daisy’s head was in Emma’s lap, her tail thumping the grass.
    “Poor kiddo. This must all be hard on her. Is she adjusting?”
    Megan shook her head. She was beginning to wonder if she ever would adjust. Did Emma wish she were back at that farm, living with those
other
people? Megan wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
    “I know you don’t want to hear this, but will you ever let
him
see her?”
    Megan clenched her fists when she saw Laurie holding Emma’s latest drawing.
    She snatched the drawing out of her friend’s hand. “No.” Of course she wasn’t going to. Why did everyone assume she would? He might not have physically taken her daughter, but he kept her. For two years. He didn’t deserve to see Emma.
    There was a look in Laurie’s gaze that Megan didn’t like. A look she’d seen too often.
    “He had her for two years. I only just got her back.” Megan dared Laurie to disagree with her and was surprised to see her only shrug her shoulders.
    “True.” Laurie took a sip of her drink. “You should make him wait at least two years. An eye for an eye.”
    Megan nodded. That was her sentiment as well.
    “Of course, you might as well tell Em that he’s dead, since he probably will be by then.” The edge in Laurie’s voice was unmistakable. The smile disappeared from Megan’s face.
    “That was harsh.”
    Laurie took her drink and stood at the patio doors. “I know.” A sad smile crossed her face. “We promised way back when that we’d always tell each other the truth, even if it hurts. Remember? I think you need to let go just a bit. It’s eating you up inside.”
    Megan shook her head. She wasn’t ready to let her fear and hatred go. Kathy had told her not to rush it, that it would come. Just like the day Emma would leave her sight and it wouldn’t hurt so much. So she wasn’t rushing; there was no reason to. Emma was home where she belonged: with her family. Her real family. And that was all that mattered.
    “Are you going to mail that one?” Laurie nodded her head toward the picture Emma had drawn for Jack. It was a pathway lined with flowers, similar to the ones that Emma had helped Jack plant at his farmhouse.
    “You’re pushing me too hard.” She thought about the letters she had mailed during that first week; Emma had written to Jack at least once a day. After the tenth one, Megan suggested they space out the mailings, especially when the first letter from Jack arrived for Emma. Megan had panicked and hidden it, only to have Peter find it and hand it to Emma who had lit up like a Christmas tree. She’d held on to that letter for days, even taking it with her to bed.
    Laurie shook her head. “Someone has to. Honestly, Megan, I’m starting to get really worried about you. You rarely leave the house, and when you do, it’s always with Emma by your side.”
    Megan crossed her arms. Emma was only five years old; it wasn’t like she could leave her home alone. Besides, Megan went grocery shopping last night alone while Peter was home with the kids.
    “Plus, you’ve canceled every girls’ night we’ve scheduled in the past month.”
    Megan frowned. She didn’t cancel every one. Just the last two, maybe three, times that Laurie had tried to plan one. Okay, so she had canceled every time. But it wasn’t all her fault.
    “Sorry. I have to work around Peter’s schedule. If Hannah was a year older, I’d feel more comfortable with her babysitting.” Megan shrugged, hoping Laurie would see past her weak excuse and accept her apology.
    From the frown on Laurie’s face, it didn’t look like she had.
    “She’s eleven years old, Megan. She’s old enough to stay at home alone for an hour with her sisters. And we’re only ever just down the block at the coffee shop. It’s not like we would be across town.”
    Megan shook her head. No way. “She’s not twelve yet, though. I won’t let her babysit any of the neighbors’ kids until she’s twelve, so why would I let her watch ours? I’m just not comfortable trusting her with…” She covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes widened. She did
not
just almost say that.
    “Not with Emma.”