The midnight call that shattered the silence.
All at once, the telephone rang at half past eleven. Emily had just dozed off to the steady rhythm of her husbands breathing when the sudden ring jolted her awake. Her heart poundednothing good ever came from a call at such an hour.
“Thomas,” she whispered, gently shaking him. “Thomas, wake up! The telephone.”
He sat up abruptly, grabbing the receiver. Emily watched his face shift, growing paler with every passing second.
“How… when?” he muttered hoarsely. “Yes… yes, I understand. I’ll be there at once.”
He set the phone down slowly, his fingers trembling.
“Whats happened?” Emily breathed, already sensing something irreparable.
“William and Charlotte,” he swallowed hard. “A crash. Both of them. Gone in an instant.”
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the ticking of the clock. Emily stared at her husband, unable to grasp it.
Just two days ago, they had all been in the kitchen, sipping tea, Charlotte sharing her new scone recipe while WilliamThomass oldest friend since universityspun fishing tales.
“And Alice?” Emily suddenly remembered. “Good Lord, what about Alice?”
“She was at home,” Thomas said, hastily pulling on his trousers. “I have to go, Emily. Theres… an identification. And then”
“Ill come with you.”
“No!” He turned sharply. “Margaret would be alone. No need to frighten her in the dead of night.”
Emily nodded. He was rightdragging their twelve-year-old into this tragedy would do no good. Not yet.
She didnt sleep a wink the rest of the night. Pacing the flat, she checked the clock again and again. She peeked in on Margaret, fast asleepbreathing softly, her cheek resting on her hand, auburn hair splayed across the pillow. So peaceful. So fragile.
Thomas returned at dawn, exhaustion etched into his face, eyes red-rimmed.
“Its confirmed,” he said wearily, collapsing into an armchair. “Head-on collision with a lorry. They never stood a chance.”
“What will become of Alice now?” Emily asked softly, setting a strong cup of tea before him.
“I dont know. Only her grandmothers leftup in Yorkshire. Shes ancient, barely able to care for herself.”
They sat in silence. Emily gazed out the window where the dawn was grey and dull. Alice, Thomass goddaughter, was Margarets agea quiet blonde girl who always lingered on the edges.
“You know,” Thomas said slowly, “Ive been thinking… What if we took her in?”
Emily turned sharply.
“You cant be serious.”
“Why not? Weve the spacea spare room. Im her godfather. I wont see her shipped off to some orphanage!”
“Thomas, its… its a tremendous decision. We must think it through. Speak with Margaret.”
“Whats there to think about?” He slammed his fist on the table. “That girls lost everything! My own goddaughter! I wont live with myself if I abandon her now!”
Emily bit her lip. Of course he was right. But it all felt so sudden.
“Mum? Dad?” Margarets sleepy voice made them both jump. “Why are you up so early?”
They exchanged a glance. The moment of truth had come sooner than expected.
“Darling,” Emily began, “sit down. Weve… had terrible news.”
Margaret listened in silence, her eyes widening with every word. And when her father mentioned Alice living with them, she shot to her feet.
“No!” she shrieked. “I wont have it! Send her to her grandmother!”
“Margaret!” Thomas scolded. “How can you be so heartless? After all shes been through”
“And what about me?” Margarets eyes flashed. “Its not my fault! I wont share my home with her! Or you!”
She stormed out, slamming the kitchen door. Emily turned to Thomas, stricken.
“Perhaps we shouldnt rush this?”
“No,” he said firmly. “Its decided. Alice stays. Margaret will adjust.”
A week later, Alice moved in. Silent, pale, her eyes dull. She barely spoke, answering questions with nods or shakes of her head.
Emily tried her bestcooking her favorite meals, buying new bed linen patterned with daisies.
Margaret ignored her completely. She locked herself in her room, and if they crossed paths in the hall, she averted her eyes.
“Stop this at once!” Thomas chided. “Have some compassion!”
“What am I doing wrong?” Margaret retorted. “Im just pretending she doesnt exist. Its my home!”
The tension thickened daily. Emily played peacemaker, but the harder she tried, the worse it grew.
Then the earrings vanishedher favorite pair, gold with tiny diamonds, a gift from Thomas for their tenth anniversary.
“Its her!” Margaret declared when Emily noticed. “I saw her sneak into your room!”
“Thats not true!” Alice spoke up for the first time, voice trembling. “I didnt take anything! Im not a thief!”
She burst into tears and fled. Thomas glowered at Margaret.
“Youre doing this on purpose, arent you? Trying to drive her out?”
“Im telling the truth!” Margaret stamped her foot. “Shes pretending to be sad when really”
“Enough!” Emily cut in. “Well find the earrings. I may have misplaced them myself.”
But three days later, a ring disappearedher mothers heirloom.
“So, that vanished too?” Margaret said coolly. “Or shall we pretend it didnt?”
She stood in the parlour, arms crosseda miniature fury. At the door, Alice trembled, fighting back tears.
Emily looked between them. And for the first time, she understood.
Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, she held a bottle of ink. A simple idea had struck herone that wouldnt wash away.
Late that night, she marked each piece of jewelry with a tiny dot.
The next morning, a pendant was missing. The breakfast table was heavy with silence. Alice listlessly stirred her porridge, Margaret stared pointedly out the window, Thomas drank his tea glumly.
“Girls,” Emily said calmly, “show me your hands.”
They blinked at her.
“Why?” Margaret frowned.
“Just do as I say.”
Alice went firsther hands clean. Margaret hesitated.
“I wont!” She stood to leave.
“Sit down!” Thomas roared. “Show your mother your hands this instant!”
Lips pressed tight, Margaret obeyed. Tiny ink stains dotted her fingertips.
The silence was deafening. The clock ticked. The pipes hummed. Thomass breath came heavy.
“You… you accused Alice while you”
Margaret shoved back her chair. Terror and shame warred in her eyes.
“I hate you!” she screamed. “I hate all of you!”
Before anyone could stop her, she bolted. The front door slammed.
“Margaret!” Emily ran after her, but Thomas held her back.
“Let her cool off,” he said grimly.
Hours passed. Dusk fell. No call came.
“We must phone the police,” Emily whispered.
Then Alice spokesoft but certain.
“I think I know where she is.”
“How?” Emily asked.
“Ive… seen her there. The old gazebo by the pond in the park.”
“Why didnt you say sooner?” Thomas demanded.
“You didnt ask,” Alice shrugged. “Let me go. Alone. Please.”
There was something new in her voicestrength. Emily nodded.
An hour passed. Then another. At last, the doorbell rang.
There stood both girlswindblown, cheeks flushed. Margarets eyes were swollen, but the anger was gone. And Alice… Alice was smiling.
“Mum,” Margaret choked out. “Im sorry. Ill give it all back.”
“I know, darling,” Emily pulled her close. “I know.”
“I just thought…” Margaret sobbed. “Youd love her more. Shes so sad. And I”
“Dont be daft,” Alice said suddenly. “You cant steal love. Its either there or it isnt.”
Emily stared. How could a twelve-year-old be so wise?
“We talked,” Alice explained. “About everything.”
“And guess what?” Margaret smiled through tears. “Shes brilliant. Our Alice. She loves ‘Harry Potter’ too! And chess! Mum, can she stay in my room? Please?”
Emilys throat tightened. She hugged them both. Somewhere behind her, Thomas blew his nose loudly.
Later, tucking them in, she caught their whispers:
“Can I call you ‘sis’?” Margaret asked.
“Alright,” Alice said, warmth in her voice. “On one condition.”
“What?”
“Teach me to make those bracelets. Yours are lovely.”
Emily gently shut the door. In the kitchen, Thomas waitedAnd as the firelight flickered in the hearth, casting long shadows across the room, Emily knew that the cracks in their family had not just mended, but had grown stronger in the healing.
