Aris lit me a cigarette, then one for himself.  “So, what is going on?” Lia asked.  “Jason thinks that he is Emma's father,” Ripley started.  “They want to take her,” I interjected, a tear escaping my eye.  “What?” Lia asked, shocked, “Yaris, you will not let them, will you?”  “I have to hear them out.  If they can prove it, I do not have much choice,” Aris answered.  “How will they prove it?” I asked.  “I will read them,” Yaris answered, “Read their minds.”  “All three of them?”  “Yes,” he answered, “and you will too, Jade.”  “Me?” I asked, surprised, “Why me?  I don't even know how.”  “Yes you do.  You do it all of the time, with me and Ripley.”  “I do?” I was perplexed.  I didn't even realize that I was doing it.  “Yes,” Ripley answered.

“You read for truth and lies.  It is speed reading,” Aris explained, “I read more in depth.  It will go faster and be more accurate if you are with me, helping me.”  “Okay,” I agreed, not wanting to leave his side anyway.  “You will just hold my hand and squeeze it if there is something you need me to look at,” He explained, “It will be automatic.  You may not be aware that you are even doing it.”  “I will sit on your other side,” Ripley offered, “You can squeeze my hand if you get upset.”  “Not your hand.  I do not want her to get confused,” Aris stopped him.  “My leg then.  You can keep your hand on my leg,” Ripley corrected.  “Okay,” I agreed quietly , still unsure of myself.  “It will be fine.  You will do great,” Aris reassured me.

We finished our cigarettes and went in.  We went to the living room to wait while the others changed out of their winter attire.  Aris and I, again, changed into something more formal.  In the living room, the Christmas tree stood tall in the far corner.  Some furnishings were moved to accommodate it.  It was bare, waiting to be decorated.  Next to it, on the floor stood Emma's little tree, also bare.  A tear escaped again at the sight of it.  Would she even get to decorate it?  “Jade.”  I turned to look at Aris.  “She will get to decorate it.”  I nodded my head yes, sniffed and wiped the tear from my eye.  We sat down on the sofa to wait.  He put his arm around me and held me tight.  We sat in silence until the others emerged from their rooms.

We made our way to the library, where our visitors awaited us.  Aris pulled my chair out and I sat.  He took his seat at the head of the table, to my left.  Ripley sat to my right and scooted his chair close so that I could easily reach his leg.  We had agreed with the others that we just needed to keep them talking so that I can do what is requested of me.  The others came in and took seats, some at the table, some along the walls.  Jason, Craig and Steven sat in the middle of the table across from us.  Aris waited while everyone got settled, then directed his attention to Jason, “We have gathered to discuss placement of the minor child, Emma.  Please state your full names.”  “Jason Mills, Craig Mills, Steven Mills,” Jason answered.  “Do you believe that you are related to Emma?” Aris asked.  “I believe that she is my daughter, their sister,” Jason answered.  Aris went on to explain how the proceedings would be conducted.  It would mostly be question and answer.  He advised them to be honest because we would know if they are lying.

“Jade ask a question,” Aris ordered.  “How did you find out that Emma is here?” I asked.  “My sons, Steven and Craig, came to fight for you a few days ago.  They saw her and noticed a resemblance.  They told me of her when they returned home.  We came as soon as we could,” Jason answered.  “Why did your wife not come with you?” I asked.  “I am trying to save her some heartbreak,” he answered, “there have been a lot of sightings.  She does not know that we are here.  I wanted to see first.”

“How did you lose your child?” I asked.  “She was stolen from her crib, in her room, in the middle of the night,” he answered.  “Are you to blame, in any way, for the loss of your child?” I asked.  “I had forgotten to change the batteries in one of the baby monitors,” he answered.  “Who did you suspect of taking her?” I asked.  “We never knew."  “Did you know Tobias Drake?”  “I knew of him, but I did not have any personal dealings with him.”  “Would you have suspected him if you had known him?”  “I am not sure.”

“He is being honest Jade,” Aris stopped me, “Mr. Mills, would you be willing to submit to a blood test to verify one way or the other?”  “Yes.  Of course,” Jason agreed.  “Please follow Antony.  He will show you the way.”  They left the room.

“So, Steven, Craig, are you looking forward to having your little sister back?” I asked.  “Half-sister,” Steven answered, “I am looking forward to Dad and Lizzie being happy again.”  “What is her name?” I asked.  “Desi,” Craig answered, “or, Desiree.”  “How do you feel about it, Craig?” I asked.  “I hope that things will go back to how they used to be,” Craig answered, “You know, Lizzie singing as she cooks and cleans, Dad playing catch with us, asking us how we are.”

“How are things with them now?” I asked.  “Some days Lizzie does not even get out of bed and Dad works all of the time,” Steven answered.   “I’m sorry to hear that,” I told them.  They both just looked down.  “Are either of you to blame for your sister going missing?”  “I do not know,” Steven answered, “I do not think so.”  “No,” Craig stated.  There was deception with his answer.  I felt my hand squeeze Aris' hand.  “You don't feel to blame at all, Craig?” I pushed.  “No,” he denied it again.  I squeezed Aris' hand again.  “I advise you to be truthful.  We know you are lying,” Aris interrupted.  Craig looked down, “I heard noises coming from her room that night.  I should have checked on her, but I was just so tired.”  I watched a tear slide down his cheek.  I stayed silent.  I was finished.

I looked at Aris.  I am done for now.  I would like to meet their mother, though.  He nodded his head in acknowledgment.  Antony entered, carrying Emma, followed by Jason.  She was sniffling.  “She wants to tell on us,” Antony told Aris, handing her over.  “He stuck me,” she cried.  “Where at?” Aris asked.  She pointed to the inside of her elbow.  “Want me to kiss it?” he asked.  She nodded her head yes, rubbing her eyes with her fists.  He leaned his head down and brought her arm up and kissed it.  “Is that better?”  She nodded her head yes.  “Want me to do it again?” he asked.  She nodded her head, smiling.  He kissed it again, then acted like he was eating it.  “Mmmmm, tastes like sugar,” he did it again.  She squealed with laughter.  “That's better.  I missed you today.”  “I missed you too,” she replied.  “Would you like to go with Kale and make us a snack?”  “Yes,” she smiled, “Just not Anty, he stuck me.”  “That's why I said Kale.  Now, give me a big hug.”  She hugged him as tight as she could, then went to Kale.  “Craig, Steven, why don't you go too?”  They got up and followed Kale out of the room.

Antony just confirmed what we already knew, “Jason is her father.  I took enough blood so that we could test his wife without sticking Emma again.”  I squeezed Ripley's leg.  Jason didn't say anything.  A single tear slid down his cheek.  “How soon can you get your wife here Jason?” Aris asked, “We would like to test her too.  Then there are some things to discuss before you can take Emma with you.”  “Desi,” Jason said weakly.  “I am sorry.”  “Her name is Desiree,” he cried harder now.  “Jason, can you have your wife here tomorrow?”  “Yes,” he answered.  We waited for him to collect himself.  “Can I see her before we go?” he asked.  “Of course,” Aris answered.  We all stood up and filed out into the hallway.  I walked hand in hand with Aris, to the dining room.  Cookies, milk and tea were set out for everyone.  We all took seats around the table.

After a moment Emma, Kale, Craig and Steven came in to join us at the table.  We were one seat short, so Emma came to sit on my lap.  “What's your favorite kind of cookie?” I asked her.  “Chocolate chip,” she answered, “What is your favorite?”  “I like so many, it's hard to pick just one.”  I picked up a chocolate chip cookie from the plate and held it up to her mouth.  She promptly chomped it, “Mmmm.”  “That good huh?”  She picked up a sugar cookie and held it up for me.  I chomped it, “MmmHmm, very good.”  We finished our cookies, debating over what kind we should try next.

“Emma, Jason isn't feeling very good.  Do you think you could go and give him a big hug?  Your hugs are the best,” I requested.  She nodded her head yes, climbed down and went around the table to him.  She stretched her arms up to him, “hug?”  He looked at me, grateful, then picked her up.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged.  “Emma gives the best hugs,” I commented, “why don't you eat cookies with Jason?”  “Okay,” she picked up a cookie and put it up to his mouth.  He chomped it hard.  She jumped and giggled at the same time.  Aris took my hand under the table and drew small circles on my palm.  I didn't eat anymore, I just watched.  It was plain to see that they belong together.  I just wished it wasn't so, as selfish as that is.  I was going to miss her.

After a while, it was time for them to go.  I could tell that they didn't want to leave, but it was getting late.  “Please bring your wife tomorrow,” I requested, “we would really love to meet her.”  “Yes, come for lunch,” Aris invited, “We have much to discuss.”  “Thank you,” Jason shook Aris' hand, “Thank you so much.”  “You are very welcome,” Aris responded, “Antony, will you show our guests out?”  They followed Antony out.

I felt myself deflate, exhausted.  “Would you like a cigarette?” Aris asked me.  I nodded my head yes.  He took my hand and led me to the back porch.  We were alone.  He lit me a cigarette, then one for himself.  We smoked in silence, then went back in.  There was no sign of anyone, including Emma.  “Lia is watching Emma tonight.  They are having a girls night,” Aris explained.  Maybe that's for the best.  I don't know if I could look at her without crying tonight.  “I thought that we could relax in the bath before we go to bed,” he offered.  That's fine.

I followed him to our room.  He had me sit while he started the bath.  I just feel numb now.  I felt a tear trickle down my cheek.  I closed my eyes.  I felt another tear escape.  It was so hard trying to keep it together, trying to keep composure.  What am I going to do?  Let her go to her family.  That is what is best.  She belongs with them.  It was just going to be so hard to let her go.

“Jade,” Aris put his hand on my shoulder.  How long had I been sitting here?  “Not long.  The bath is ready.”  I stood up and followed him to the bathroom.  He was already in shorts.  I changed into a bikini and he helped me down into the bath.  We sat down and I leaned back against him.  “That is it, just lean on me and relax,” he told me.  I closed my eyes.  “Jade, you do not have to keep composure around me.  I want you to let loose. To lean on me for support.  I want you through the good and the bad.”  The tears really started flowing then.

“It hurts so much,” I told him, ugly crying now, “I don't want to let her go, but I know that I have to.”  He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me from behind.  “I do not want to either, but I have too,” he agreed.  “What are we going to do?” I asked.  “We are going to give her to them and consider it a win,” he whispered, “There are several other children that need us more than her.”  “What do you mean?” I asked.  “When you do story time with the kids, some of those children are rescues.”