Chapter 4 - The Child Who Knew Too MuchEmma Whitmore had never been afraid of the stable before.
Now she could not close her eyes without seeing Mason's face.
She sat on the edge of her enormous bed, holding a stuffed rabbit against her chest. The bedroom was decorated in pale pink and cream, with lace curtains and shelves crowded with books.
Everything looked the same.
Nothing felt the same.
Through the open door, she could hear her father talking downstairs.
His voice was low and angry.
Claire answered him gently.
Emma knew that voice.
It was the voice Claire used when grown-ups were watching.
A soft knock came at the door.
Emma tightened her grip on the rabbit.
Claire entered carrying a silver tray with warm milk and two oatmeal cookies.
"Sweetheart, you hardly touched dinner."
Emma looked at the floor.
"I'm not hungry."
Claire placed the tray on the nightstand.
"You've had a frightening day."
Emma swallowed.
"Mason didn't hurt me."
Claire's smile remained.
"Of course he didn't mean to."
"He was helping."
"Emma."
The softness in Claire's voice changed.
It was a small change, barely noticeable.
But Emma noticed everything when Claire sounded like that.
"Your father is very upset," Claire continued. "He thinks Mason behaved dangerously. We mustn't make things more difficult for him."
Emma rubbed the rabbit's ears.
"But you opened the—"
Claire sat beside her.
"Sometimes children remember frightening things incorrectly."
"I saw you."
Claire's fingers tightened around the edge of the mattress.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Claire brushed a strand of blonde hair away from Emma's face.
"Do you remember what happened to your daddy when your mother died?"
Emma looked up.
"He cried."
"Yes. He was terribly unhappy. And things at Briar Glen were very difficult."
Emma nodded.
Claire leaned closer.
"Your daddy has worked so hard to keep this house for you. He needs us to help him, not upset him."
"I don't want him upset."
"I know you don't."
Claire's smile returned.
"Then you must trust me."
Emma stared at her milk.
"Will Mason come back?"
Claire hesitated.
"Probably not."
Emma's lower lip trembled.
"Because of me?"
"Because grown-ups sometimes make mistakes."
Claire stood.
At the doorway, she paused.
"And Emma? Don't keep asking your father about the stable. He has enough worries."
When the door closed, Emma waited until Claire's footsteps disappeared.
Then she climbed out of bed and opened the bottom drawer of her desk.
Inside was a small blue notebook decorated with silver stars.
Her mother had given it to her shortly before she died.
Evelyn had told Emma that whenever something made her unhappy, she could write it down or draw it.
Emma turned to a blank page.
She drew a horse.
Beside it, she drew a rectangle representing the stall gate.
Then she drew a woman standing next to the gate, and a little girl approaching it.
The woman's hand rested on the latch.
Underneath, in careful block letters, Emma wrote:
CLAIRE OPENED IT.
She stared at the words.
Then she added:
MASON SAVED ME.
She closed the notebook and hid it beneath her pillow.
Downstairs, Daniel stood in the drawing room with an untouched glass of whiskey.
Claire sat on the sofa.
"You did the right thing," she told him.
Daniel looked toward the windows.
"I hit him."
Claire was silent.
"I've never struck an employee before."
"He frightened your daughter."
"I know."
"You saw Emma crying."
Daniel closed his eyes.
He remembered Mason holding the child.
He remembered Claire's accusation.
And he remembered the expression on Mason's face afterward.
That expression was becoming difficult to forget.
"I should have listened," Daniel said quietly.
Claire's posture stiffened.
"To whom?"
"Mason. I should have heard him out."
Claire lowered her eyes.
"Are you saying you don't believe me?"
"No."
"Because that's what it sounds like."
Daniel turned.
"Claire, that's not what I said."
She stood slowly.
"I've done everything I can to make this family whole again. I know I'll never replace Evelyn, and I would never try. But sometimes I feel as if I'll always be the outsider."
Daniel immediately softened.
"You're my wife."
"And Emma is my daughter in every way that matters to me."
He walked over and embraced her.
Claire rested her cheek against his shoulder.
Her eyes remained open.
She could feel his resistance weakening.
Then Daniel said something she wasn't expecting.
"I'm going to speak with Emma tomorrow. Alone."
Claire pulled back.
"Why?"
"Because I haven't asked her what happened."
"Daniel, she's traumatized."
"She's my daughter."
Claire forced a reassuring smile.
"Then give her another day. Please."
He considered it.
Finally, he nodded.
Claire kissed his cheek.
But later, when Daniel went upstairs, she remained in the drawing room and checked her phone.
Martin Voss had sent three messages.
The first concerned a scheduled transfer.
The second mentioned an appraisal.
The third read:
The bank is asking questions. Keep Daniel away from the east meadow documents until I call.
Claire deleted the notification from her lock screen.
Then she walked toward Emma's bedroom.
She opened the door quietly.
The little girl was asleep.
One small hand rested beneath her pillow.
Claire approached the bed and noticed the corner of a blue notebook protruding from the pillowcase.
She stopped.
Her eyes narrowed.
Slowly, she reached for it.
But before her fingers touched the cover, Emma shifted in her sleep.
"Mommy?" the little girl murmured.
May you like
Claire froze.
For the first time that evening, she had no ready answer.
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