They Echo Me

27. Emma

Another chapter from Emma's POV. Trying to help out anyone who's feeling anxious about Emma and Aria being back at Emma's old community. lol

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Aria left after she was sure I was ok and that I had a place to sleep. She told me over and over that she'd be back in a week, unless I called her by day 6 and told her not to come back for me. Her face betrayed her every emotion, and it was obvious that she was at least a little uncomfortable with me coming back here.

My nephew's lingering stares and very unsubtle questions about her marital status and fertility were creeping her out, but he was too stunned by her beauty to care. We were both still in our pajamas and robes, but her robe was much shorter than mine, showing off her knees and shins.

Also, the men in this community generally didn't have any experience with courting a woman, so it was likely that he couldn't read her body language. And even if he could, a woman's discomfort didn't hold a lot of weight around here...

But once my Mama opened her front door and welcomed me back with tear-rimmed eyes and wide open arms, Aria was finally able to relax enough to reluctantly leave.

Andrew was kind enough to escort her to the front gates. And Sebastian was kind enough to stick around until I was settled in, assuring Mama that he'd help smooth any problems out with Mr. Augustus, since Father was away on business again for a few more days.

I fell asleep peacefully snuggled next to my Mama for the first time in years. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so weightless. There was just something so beautiful about the warmth and safety of my parents' bed.

She let me sleep in while she woke up and started on chores and breakfast. I could hear people coming in and out as usual, which nearly made my heart burst, but after such a long night, all I could manage was a sleepy smile before my eyelids fluttered shut once again. When I woke up for good, it was nearly 11 AM.

Mama was already working on lunch, and several of my nieces and nephews were running around, playing with the animals, or helping Mama chop fruits and veggies. They all stopped what they were doing and ran over to me excitedly when I stepped out of my parents' bedroom.

"Aunt Emma, you look so different!"

"Where did all of your hair go?!"

"Wow your dress is so short! Where's the rest of it?"

"Where is your husband?"

"Your husband lets you leave home without him? Father doesn't let mommy do that."

"Do you have any babies yet?"

"Mr. Augustus was looking for you this morning!"

I was laughing, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt during their interrogation. I did have to kind of dodge a few of their questions, giving vague answers or changing the subject a bit, but nobody pressed too hard. I could hardly even get one answer out before someone else was cutting in.

I could feel Mama staring at me curiously. All she'd been told so far was that I needed a place to stay for a few days. I still needed to tell her everything, but she was patient, and I knew she'd give me time.

...But that last statement about Mr. Augustus stopped me in my tracks.

Sebastian had assured me he'd speak to Mr. Augustus—The New Prophet—but had he yet? I didn't even know him. Perhaps it was naive of me to believe a stranger would take something like that upon himself. People didn't believe in separations or divorce here (unless a woman was sent away to be punished by The Prophet), so there was no telling how Mr. Augustus would feel about me hiding from Daniel.