The Problem Child (Emerson Pass Historicals 4)

A knock startled us. “Can we come in?” Delphia’s high-pitched voice came from behind the door.

“Yes, yes, enter,” I said.

Delphia, followed by Addie, came bursting into the room. Seeing them cheered me some. Addie’s appearance, while still gaunt, was no longer gray and sallow. She looked more like Delphia for the first time in ages.

“What are you two rascals doing?” Fiona held out her arms, and Delphia ran over and sat on her lap. I moved over so Addie could sit between us.

“I’ve eaten gobs of cheese and ham,” Addie said. “I don’t feel sick at all.”

“You look much better.” I placed my hands on the sides of her face. “Beautiful.”

“I’m sorry I scared everyone the night I walked outside,” Addie said.

“Never mind that,” Fiona said. “You’re better now, and that’s all we care about.”

“You’re not mad?” Addie asked.

“We could never be mad at you,” Fiona said.

“That’s right. We could never be mad at either one of you.” I tousled Delphia’s hair. “Even when you’re naughty.”

“What if I spilled something on your piano?” Delphia asked Fiona. “On purpose.”

“You would never do that,” I said. “Would you?”

“No, not on purpose.” Delphia sounded slightly disappointed with herself.

“Then it’s not a reasonable question,” Fiona said, “if you know you would never do that.”

“What if it was an accident?” Delphia asked.

“Wait a minute. You didn’t spill something on Fiona’s piano, did you?” If she had, Fi wouldn’t be able to play here or at the club.

“No, I didn’t really. This is pretend.” Delphia’s tone now suggested that I was slower than I should be to comprehend. “I’m trying to understand how deep this love goes with you two.”

I laughed. “It’s called unconditional love and it means just that. No matter what you did, we would still love you.”

“What about Flynn?” Addie asked softly. “Will you still love him if we find out he’s done something bad?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, alarmed. Had they heard our discussion downstairs?

“The question is, what did you hear?” Fiona asked.

“We could hear you all talking just now.” Delphia raised her tone an octave. “Mama’s voice got like this.”

“That’s because she was upset,” Addie said.

“I know that.” Delphia made a face at her sister. “Now that you’re better, you can’t start bossing me around again.”

“I’ve never bossed you around,” Addie said.

“We’re getting off subject here,” Fiona said. “Do either of you know anything about Flynn that you should tell us?”

“This morning, we heard Jasper and Papa talking,” Delphia said. “We don’t know exactly what it was, only that Jasper heard something bad about Flynn at the barbershop.”

“Old men clucking like hens,” I said as I took in this new information. “Did you get a feeling about what the bad thing was?”

“He has a secret business outside of town,” Addie said. “Where he makes something bad.”

“Which made me really want to go there,” Delphia said.

“God forbid,” Fiona said. “You’re to stay right where you are, little missy.”

“Trouble might still find her,” Addie said.

“No, it won’t,” I said. “You’re to be good and sweet like Fiona.”

“What about you?” Delphia asked. “What are you?”

“I’m the problem child. Everyone knows that.” I grinned to show them that it wasn’t any concern to me. “But there’s only room for one in every family, so you’ll have to figure out something else.”

“You’re no longer the problem child,” Fiona said. “I think someone’s taken your place. And the problems he’s causing are far greater than your sass and desire to trample most men in sports.”

We locked eyes for a moment. Our shared history was there between us. All the memories from our childhood. We’d all gravitated toward Flynn. He was the most fun of all of us. He’d been able to make a game out of anything. No one had had a bigger heart under all his bluster and rambunctious antics. If I recalled correctly, he’d been the one to first suggest that the then Miss Cooper should be our new mother.

“Listen, little ones,” I said. “Tonight, in your prayers, you make sure and say a big one for Flynn.”

They both nodded with great solemnity.

“Nothing bad will happen to Flynn, will it?” Addie asked. “He sent Shannon with a quarter to give to me when I was sick. I put it under my pillow for safekeeping. All night I dreamt of money.”

“You didn’t,” Fiona said.

“No, I’m just kidding.” Addie giggled.

I stared at her, my heart full. “I can’t remember the last time I heard you laugh, pet.”

“I like laughing,” Addie said.

“Me too,” Delphia said. “It’s like bubbles inside you that come out.”

“How perfectly perfect,” Fiona said. “I shall put it in a song.”

“Will you dedicate it to me?” Delphia asked.

“Yes, I think I will.” Fiona kissed the top of Delphia’s head. “For my little sister who always makes me laugh.”

Delphia sighed in a happy way and settled further into Fiona’s arms. “Sing to us, Fi.”

And so she did, a lullaby that Josephine had taught us long ago when we were innocent children without a mother. As her beautiful voice filled the room, I took it all in, knowing a moment as sweet as this should be savored.