Page 14 of The Forgotten
Emma, who was sitting on the floor, carefully set down the piece of Lego she was holding and looked up at the two strangers who were staring at her in silent awe. She seemed a bit frightened, her eyes huge in her face as she regarded them solemnly. Shelooked just as she did in the picture, only more vulnerable somehow.
“Won’t you say hello, love?” Mrs. Lennox prompted.
“Hello,” Emma whispered.
“Hello, Emma. My name is Quinn, and this is Gabe,” Quinn said since Gabe remained mute. “We came all the way from London to see you.”
“Do you know the Queen?” Emma asked.
“Not personally, but I hear she’s quite nice,” Quinn replied. She elbowed Gabe in the ribs, in an effort to get him to speak.
“What are you building?” Gabe asked. His voice sounded shaky, but he managed a quivering smile.
“It’s a castle with a tower,” Emma replied proudly.
“Is the tower to watch for the enemy?” Gabe asked, taking a step closer.
“No, it’s for the princess. It’s got the best view,” Emma explained, pointing to something just in front of the castle. It was hard to tell what it was since there was a pile of small pieces of different colors littering the carpet.
“Right. Of course. Great view,” Gabe mumbled, making Mrs. Lennox guffaw with laughter.
“Is there a prince?” Gabe tried again.
“Well, of course there is. Who else is going to rescue the princess?” Emma asked matter-of-factly. She held up the plastic prince in one hand and the princess in the other. “They are going tokiss,” she announced and demonstrated, making a loudmwahsound.
“Are they in love then?” Gabe asked, warming up to the subject.
“Yes, but they haven’t met yet. The prince has to kiss the princess to wake her from a sleeping spell.”
“Right, silly me,” Gabe replied with a smile. Emma was talking to him, which was a step in the right direction.
“Mari made shepherd’s pie,” she announced. “My grandma used to make it sometimes. She died,” Emma whispered. Her mood changed dramatically, her eyes filling with tears at the mention of her grandmother. “I miss my mum,” she said.
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Quinn said, stepping in. “Gabe used to know your mum.”
“Did you?” Emma asked, looking at Gabe with new interest. “Did you love her?”
“Yes,” Gabe answered without a moment’s hesitation. “I loved her very much.”
“Did she tell you about me?”
“I’m sure she meant to, but we hadn’t spoken in a long time. She was very busy.”
Emma nodded wisely, as if she understood how busy grown-ups could be. “I’m hungry,” she said.
“Let’s wash your hands, pet. Quinn and Gabe will join us for tea. What do you think of that?” Mrs. Lennox asked, her tone jovial. Emma shrugged, as if she didn’t care one way or the other.
Quinn risked a peek at Gabe. His eyes followed Emma, and Quinn could see the beginnings of panic in his gaze. Emma had no idea that he was her father, nor would she simply go off with them without a second thought. She felt safe and comfortable with Mari Lennox, which was saying a lot of a child who’d just lost her two closest family members.
“Have you got a place to stay for the night?” Mrs. Lennox asked when she returned and settled Emma at the table. Mr. Lennox had mentioned that they could stay in Jenna McAllister’s house since it now belonged to Gabe, but they’d declined.
“Yes, we booked a room,” Quinn replied as she took a seat opposite Emma, who was watching her intently.
“I think Emma will need a few days,” Mari said quietly as she served Emma and poured her a glass of milk.
“A few days for what?” Emma asked as she lifted a fork to her mouth.
“A few days to make friends with Quinn and Gabe,” Alastair Lennox chimed in.
