The midnight call shattered the silence.
At half past eleven, the phone rang out of nowhere. Emma had just dozed off, lulled by her husbands steady breathing, when the sudden sound jolted her awake. Her heart poundednothing good ever came from calls this late.
“Thomas,” she whispered, shaking him gently. “Thomas, wake up! The phone.”
He sat bolt upright, grabbing the receiver. Emma watched his face grow paler with each passing second.
“How… when?” he muttered hoarsely. “Right. Ill be there soon.”
He set the phone down slowly, fingers trembling.
“Whats happened?” Emma asked, already dreading the answer.
“James and Alice,” he swallowed. “A car crash. Both of them. Gone.”
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the ticking clock. Emma stared at him, unable to process it.
Just two days ago, theyd all been in the kitchen, sipping tea while Alice shared her new apple crumble recipe. James, Thomass best mate since uni, had been recounting fishing tales.
“And Lily?” Emma suddenly remembered. “Good Lord, what about Lily?”
“She was at home,” Thomas said, yanking on his trousers. “Ive got to go, Emma. Theres… paperwork. Identifications. And then”
“Im coming with you.”
“No!” He spun around. “Charlottes asleep. No need to frighten her in the middle of the night.”
Emma nodded. He was righttheir twelve-year-old daughter didnt need to be dragged into this tragedy. Not yet.
She didnt sleep a wink. Pacing the flat, she checked the clock constantly. She peeked into Charlottes roomher daughter lay peacefully, red hair splayed across the pillow, cheek resting on her hand. So vulnerable.
Thomas returned at dawn, exhausted, eyes bloodshot.
“Its confirmed,” he slumped into the armchair. “Head-on collision with a lorry. No chance.”
“What happens to Lily now?” Emma asked softly, setting a strong cup of coffee before him.
“Dunno. Only kin is her gran up in Yorkshire. Shes frail, barely gets by.”
They sat in silence. Outside, the dawn was grey and dull. Lily, Thomass goddaughter, was Charlottes agea quiet blonde who always hung back.
“You know,” Thomas said slowly, “Ive been thinking… what if we took her in?”
Emma whirled around.
“Are you serious?”
“Why not? Weve the spacespare room. Im her godfather, Emma. I wont let her go into care!”
“Thomas, its… its a huge decision. Wed need to talk to Charlotte.”
“Whats there to discuss?” He slammed his fist on the table. “The girls orphaned! My goddaughter! I couldnt live with myself if I abandoned her!”
Emma bit her lip. He wasnt wrong. But it all felt too sudden.
“Mum? Dad? Whats going on?” Charlottes sleepy voice made them jump. “Why are you up so early?”
They exchanged a glance. The moment of truth had come sooner than expected.
“Sweetheart,” Emma began, “sit down. Weve had… awful news.”
Charlotte listened silently, eyes widening with each word. When her father mentioned Lily moving in, she shot up:
“No!” she shrieked. “I wont let her! Send her to her grans!”
“Charlotte!” Thomas barked. “How can you be so heartless? After all shes been through”
“And what about me?” Charlottes eyes flashed. “Its not my problem! I wont share my homeor you!”
She stormed out, slamming the door. Emma turned to Thomas, helpless.
“Maybe were rushing this?”
“No,” he said firmly. “Its decided. Lily stays. Charlotte will adjust.”
A week later, Lily arrived. Pale, silent, her eyes hollow. She barely spoke, answering questions with nods.
Emma tried everythingcooking her favourite meals, buying her new bedding with butterflies.
Charlotte ignored her outright. She locked herself in her room, glaring if they crossed paths.
“Stop this!” Thomas scolded. “Have some decency!”
“Whats wrong?” Charlotte shot back. “Im pretending shes not here. Its my house!”
Tension grew daily. Emma played peacemaker, but her efforts only made things worse.
Then the earrings vanishedEmmas favourite pair, gold with tiny diamonds, a tenth-anniversary gift from Thomas.
“She took them!” Charlotte declared when Emma noticed. “I saw her sneaking into your room!”
“I didnt!” Lily spoke up for the first time, voice shaking. “Id never steal!”
She fled in tears. Thomas glowered at Charlotte.
“You planted this, didnt you? Trying to get rid of her?”
“Its the truth!” Charlotte stamped her foot. “Shes faking being sad”
“Enough!” Emma cut in. “No more fighting. The earringsll turn up.”
But three days later, a ring disappearedEmmas mums heirloom.
“So, this vanished too?” Charlotte sneered. “Or shall we pretend otherwise?”
She stood arms akimbo, a tiny fury. Lily quivered by the door, biting her lip.
Emma looked between themand finally understood.
That night, she sat on the edge of the bathtub, clutching a bottle of antiseptic. An idea struck as she treated Lilys paper cut.
The antiseptic. As stubborn as lies, as revealing as truth.
After everyone slept, she marked each ring, each earring with a tiny dot.
“God, what am I doing?” she whispered into the dark.
The next morning, a pendant went missing. The breakfast table was tense. Lily stirred her cereal listlessly. Charlotte stared pointedly out the window.
“Girls,” Emma said calmly. “Show me your hands.”
“Why?” Charlotte frowned.
“Just do it.”
Lily went firsther hands clean. Charlotte hesitated.
“I wont!” She tried to bolt.
“Sit down!” Thomas roared. “Show your mothernow!”
Charlotte reluctantly held out her hands. Green dots gleamed on her fingertips.
Silence. Only the clocks ticking filled the kitchen.
“You…” Thomas choked on his rage. “You blamed Lily when you”
Charlotte shoved her chair back. Fear and shame twisted her face.
“I hate you all!” she screamed before dashing out. The front door slammed.
“Charlotte!” Emma ran after her, but Thomas stopped her.
“Let her cool off,” he said tightly.
But hours passed. Dusk fell. Emma grew frantic.
“We must call the police”
Then Lily spoke up: “I think I know where she is.”
“How?” Emma gasped.
“Ive… seen her there. The old pavilion by the park pond.”
“Why didnt you say sooner?” Thomas demanded.
“You didnt ask,” Lily shrugged. “Let me go. Alone.”
There was something new in her voiceassurance. Resolve.
Emma nodded.
Two hours later, the doorbell rang.
The girls stood there, windswept and tear-stained. Charlottes anger had melted into something softer.
“Mum,” she croaked. “Im sorry. Ill give everything back.”
“I know, love,” Emma pulled her close.
“I just thought…” Charlotte sobbed. “Youd love her more. Shes so sad, and I”
“Dont be daft,” Lily said suddenly. “Love isnt something you steal, Charlotte. Its either there or its not.”
Emma stared. How could a twelve-year-old be so wise?
“We talked,” Lily explained. “Properly.”
“And guess what?” Charlotte grinned through tears. “Shes brilliant! Loves Harry Potter too! And chess! Mum, can she share my room? Please?”
Emma hugged them tight. Down the hall, Thomas blew his nose loudly.
Later, tucking them in, she overheard whispers:
“Can I call you sis?” Charlotte asked.
“Only if you teach me those bracelets,” Lily teased. “Yours are gorgeous.”
Emma smiled, closing the door softly.
In the kitchen, Thomas poured two glasses of whiskey.
“You know,” he mused, “I reckon James and Alice would be chuffed.”
“How so?”
“Their girls home. With family. And nowshes got a sister.”
Outside, stars glittered. Somewhere, dogs barked. And in the bedroom, two girlsonce strangerswhispered secrets, weaving the threads of sisterhood.
