The Problem Child (Emerson Pass Historicals 4)

“I wish it wasn’t so, but I’m afraid you’re right. Mama and Papa will be worried about how hard it would be for the two of you. However, I don’t think they would forbid it if he’s who you want.”

“I don’t think he cares for me anyway. He thinks of me like a little sister.”

Was that true? I’d never watched him closely enough to have an opinion either way. He’d always been protective and polite with her. That was Li, though. He was the epitome of well-mannered and caring.

“Fi, you’re still young. There’s a lot of time to choose who you want.”

“I won’t want anyone else. You know how I am. I find something I love and that’s it. Like music.”

“But romantic love is different. You’ve not met that many men. There’s probably someone out there for you that you don’t even know exists.”

“What about you and Viktor? You’ve known each other forever too.”

“Yes, but it took me a long time to understand how right we are for each other.”

“There’s Theo and Louisa too.”

They’re roughly the same age, I thought. And both of the same heritage.

“Why do people have to be so awful?” Fiona asked.

“I don’t know.” I closed my eyes and tried to control my erratic breathing. The idea of anyone harming Fiona made me sick to my stomach.

“Why does where your ancestors come from have anything to do with love?” Fiona asked. “It shouldn’t.”

“It’s ridiculous.”

“Not ridiculous. Cruel and mean. Terrible. The worst kind of terrible.”

“You’re right, Fi. But the world’s how it is.”

“Yes, but it’s up to people like us to try to change it for the better. You said so yourself.”

“Actually, I think you’re the one who said that to me.” I smiled in the dark. “No one is as good-hearted as you. Not anywhere. I don’t want anything to ever hurt you.”

“Well, that’s impossible. We’re all going to have trials that hurt us. The most important thing is not to let them change us for the worse.”

I hoped she could remain thus. However, if she and Li were to fall in love and marry, her life would be hard. But it’s love, a voice seemed to whisper to me. Maybe the angels? But this is a cruel world, I thought.

“I’ll be there for whatever it is,” I said. “You can always count on me.”

“Same goes for me.”

“Snuggle closer. I’ll keep you warm.” We scooted into the middle of the bed and put our backs together and fell asleep breathing almost as one.

We wokethe next morning to find that Fiona had worried for nothing. Li was fine. The party had run late, and he hadn’t wanted to disturb us. He’d shown first thing the next day to assure us all that he was safe and to apologize for not calling.

That same day, Addie was much improved. Color had returned to her cheeks. Life had returned to her eyes. She was eating, small amounts so as to train her poor, shriveled stomach how to once again hold food. Had the crisis passed? We all hoped so.