In a few minutes, the ball rolled toward her, and Emmie turned to fetch it. When she did, she spotted Anna there at the end of the walkway. Stopping in her tracks, she broke into a genuine smile.

“Hullo, Emmie,” Anna said, slowly walking toward her. “Looks like you’re having fun.” She glanced over at Gabe, who motioned for her to join them, eyes alight.

“Would ya like to play three-corner catch with us?” he asked, waiting for Emmie to return to her spot on the lawn with the ball.

“Okay!” Anna set her purse on the back porch step beside his hat and hurried to join them.

———

After playing for a while, Emmie went to the back porch to get her faceless dolly from one of the chairs and proceeded to walk across the yard to the modest tree house. Gabe suggested that she wanted Anna to go with her.

“How can you tell?” Anna asked as she stood near the porch with him. “I mean, how does she communicate with you?”

“It wasn’t easy at first, but now I can understand her pretty well.”

“And she’s never spoken?” Anna finally ventured forward with the question she’d had since meeting the girl.

“She was slow to walk and talk, but she had been trying to put words together before Emily passed.” Gabe paused and sighed. “I think she just quit tryin’ after the person closest to her was gone.”

“I am so sorry.” Anna shook her head.

Gabe nodded. “I know she’s still stingin’ from the pain of loss, even though I don’t see how she remembers Emily well. Not anymore.” He drew a breath. “She was so young when Emily died; I doubt she could comprehend what was happening, really.”

Listening to Gabe, Anna continued to watch Emmie, who had climbed up the ladder and was now sitting on one of the wooden benches in the tree house with her white cat and her doll, just staring down at them.

“There,” Gabe said. “See that look in her eyes?”

Anna nodded. “She telling you something?”

“She wants me to leave so you can join her in the tree house.”

“You’re getting that from one stare?”

“I’ve had a little experience.” He grinned. “And if I’m right, she’ll smile once you’re up there with her.” Turning, he headed across the yard to his shop.

Anna took along the picture book she’d picked up at the library and walked over to the ladder. “Lookee what I have,” she said when she reached the top of the ladder.

Emmie’s stare evolved into a smile.

Chapter 36

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1948