Finding Emma (23 page)

BOOK: Finding Emma

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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Jack shuffled down the drivewa
y and kicked some of the large rocks out of his way. He needed to lay fresh gravel before the snow. Hard to believe it was already fall.

He shielded his eyes against the glare that glistened off his mailbox. The red arm was up which meant only two things. He prayed it wasn’t more condolences. He had nowhere else to place the cards.

Without glancing through the stack of mail he pulled out of the box, Jack tucked the bundle beneath his arm and headed back towards the house. He cut across his front lawn and grimaced as his tread left an imprint in the overgrown grass. Maybe he’d cut the grass today. Something he should have done weeks ago. If Dottie were here, she’d bite his head off for neglecting the yard.

If Dottie were here, things would be different.

Jack rested against the porch railing and gasped for breath. It wasn’t too long ago he had enough energy for a man half his age. Now he felt his age, plus some. One leg at a time Jack climbed the stairs and sank down in his wicker chair. He dropped the bundle of mail on the little table beside him, leaned back and closed his eyes.

The stillness around him suffocated him. The birds didn’t even chirp. Since the funeral the death song of silence had draped his property like a heavy farmer’s coat.

He missed Dottie. Some days he didn’t think he could go on. Most days he couldn’t. The only thing that kept him going were the little pink envelopes he received in the mail.

Three weeks after his little girl left him they arrived in his mailbox. The first one was covered with flowers and rainbows. One after the other they would arrive. For a while he’d get one every day.

The first one made him cry like a baby. He kept it in his pocket; its creases were stained with his tears.

She still called him Papa. He hadn’t been sure if she would. Each card that arrived was a gift. One he wasn’t sure he would have given if the shoes were reversed.

A week had passed since the last envelope. Walking to the mailbox to return empty handed was hard. The condolences were thoughtful and caring, but meant nothing compared to Emma’s letters.

Jack reached for the mail and fingered through the envelopes. No pink ones. He rubbed his whiskered jaw and cleared his clogged throat. The echo of Emma’s giggles whenever Jack had given her a whisker rub tickled his memory. He’d give anything to hear her laughter again.

Anything.

What Dottie had done, there were no words. No excuses. But he would never trade the days he had with Emma. Never. Jack swiped at his face and sniffed. He’d change how though. No parent should have to go through that nightmare. Poor Dottie. She had no idea the horror she escaped while in her coma. Jack was thankful she slipped away, silently without having to say goodbye. It was easier that way. For her.

Not for him. He would relive that day for the rest of his short life.

Writing on one of the envelopes stood out. Childish letters carefully drawn.

Jack ignored the tears that ran down his face. No one was around to see him wear his foolish heart on his sleeve. He carefully slit open the envelope and took out the folded paper within.

Pink and purple flowers covered the edges of the paper.

Dear Papa,

I lubs you Papa. I have a new dress for school. It’s yellow. Like Daisy. Daisy says hi. She misses you. So do I.

Did you fall in love
with Jack and Dottie as much as I did? Want to know more about their story? You’re not the only one! Sign up for my
newsletter
over at
www.steenaholmes.com
and be one of the firsts to receive updates on their story and when it will be ready. Who knows - you might also get it for free just for subscribing!

Emma’s story doesn’t end now that she’s reunited with her family. Visit
www.steenaholmes.com
to find out more information about “Bringing Emma Home”.

Proceeds from every book sold of Finding Emma will be donated to Missing Children’s Society of Canada -
www.mcsc.ca
.
Thank you for helping to reunite families back together!

~~~~

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