Dr. Loo smiled, unable not to. Despite everything, this child was one of the lucky ones. She figured that Molly and Ramsey would love Emma so much she’d have no choice but to heal. “When are you all going to get married?”
“I heard Mama say that we couldn’t leave for another day or so.” She lowered her voice. “I think we’re going to elope.” Dr. Loo nearly laughed aloud this time, restraining herself when Emma sighed again, that too-adult sigh that made Dr. Loo wish for a tantrum, or at least the threat of one. She remembered Ramsey saying the same thing. What was going on here?
“Do you want to elope, Emma?”
“Oh yes, Dr. Loo. I’d get to be Ramsey’s best man and Mama’s maid of honor. I’d get to be the flower girl, too.”
“Then what bothers you?”
“My grandfather wants us to be married in his house. Miles said that he wants to give my mama away. But Eve wants us to leave. I think Eve will win.” “Why do you think that?”
“Because Grandfather is sick. He has to be standing to win.” She lowered her head. “I heard Mama say that to Ramsey. They were talking really quiet so I snuck close so I could hear them.”
“Well, you tell me tomorrow how everything is going, all right? Have you had any more nightmares, Emma?”
Emma shook her head. She scooted off the chair, her piano clutched close. “I think about him though, Dr. Loo.” “And what do you think, Emma?” “That he’s going to come back. I know when we go back to San Francisco there will be police officers close to make sure he doesn’t get near us. I heard Ramsey talking to Officer Virginia on the phone yesterday. Ramsey told me his name is Sonny Dickerson. He showed me a photo of him. He’s the man. I described him really well.”
Dr. Loo had also seen the photograph. “Yes, you certainly did. Now, Emma, do you believe, deep down in your heart, and up higher, in your brain, that your mama and Ramsey will keep you safe?”
Emma thought about that. She looked hard at her Nike sneakers. She was wearing her favorite plaid socks that Ramsey had bought her in Ireland.
Dr. Loo patted her lightly on her arm. The child was still too thin, but that was all right, for now. She imagined that it worried her parents, though. Emma finally said, “My heart’s sure, but my brain isn’t.”
Dr. Loo nodded. “That’s smart. Until this Sonny Dicker-son is caught, Emma, it’s really important for you to pay attention as well as your mama and Ramsey. Since there will be police nearby if he does come back, that should make you feel safer.”
“I asked Ramsey to teach me to read more. Maybe I’ll read about that man in a book.”
“Yes, an excellent idea.”
“Mama said I was so smart that I’d be reading about crime and punishment before I went to school this fall.”
MOLLY looked at her father, who was slightly elevated in his hospital bed, a newspaper on his lap, his reading glasses on. He wasn’t happy, but she wasn’t about to back down. She wanted Emma out of here, as quickly as possible. He said in that particular mildly contemptuous way he always spoke to her, “You will marry here.”
She just shook her head. She wasn’t going to argue with him. She said mildly, “You’ve already seen me get married once. You don’t need to do it a second time.”
Ramsey said, “We’d like to get Emma out of here and safe.”
“She’s so safe in San Francisco?” Mason said, his sarcasm biting. “That bastard took her from right under your goddamned nose, Ramsey.”
Eve said, “Mason, there are Ramsey’s parents. It isn’t fair to them.”
He didn’t even look over at her. “Keep out of it, Eve. This doesn’t concern you.”
She merely smiled down at him, seemingly untroubled. She said, “I think I’ll go get some tea. Oh yes, Ramsey, the car’s coming for you at three o’clock, if that’s what you decide.” She looked down at her Cartier watch, smiling a small but quite amused smile.