Emma first met Riley while the girl was hiding in a closet. Instead of coaxing too hard, she sat on the floor outside the door and told a story about a cat named Milo who used to fear the dark until he learned he was no longer alone. Silence lingered. Then the closet door cracked open.
Riley asked, “Did the cat stop being afraid?” Emma smiled and said yes, because he realized he did not have to face the night by himself. Riley came out.
That afternoon Emma read to her in the sitting room, and when the book closed, Riley asked softly, “Will you stay a long time?” Emma answered, “As long as you want me to.” Vanessa passed by with a glacial stare and said nothing, which was somehow worse.
That first night Riley woke in terror, convinced her “mom” had come into the room to tell her she still had to study. Emma gathered her into her arms, soothed her, and sang a lullaby so gently that even the wind outside seemed to quiet down.
Michael stood unseen in the doorway, watching his daughter rest against someone with more peace than he had given her in months. The next morning Vanessa found Emma in the kitchen making warm milk and snapped that no one had asked her to step beyond her limits.