She turned at the sound of running footsteps behind her.A young girl bounded past her, curls bouncing, and her eyes wide with excitement.“Uncle Ash!”
Ash laughed with the girl as he lifted her into the air.“Did you have fun with your aunt Gwen?“
She nodded animatedly.“She gave me a net for catching butterflies!”
Suddenly, Ash didn’t look nearly as terrifying as he always had.His eyes sparkled with joy, and his smile was filled with adoration.He set the young girl back on the floor and bent down to talk to her.“There’s someone special I want you to meet.”
Her eyes grew wide, and she nodded, taking his hand.He led the little girl straight to her.“Maggie, this is Samantha.”
“Nice to meet you, Mantha!”She beamed up at her, a smile stretching across her face.
Samantha crouched.For some reason, tears filled her eyes.Perhaps because she didn’t feel deserving of this beautiful girl’s light.What if the darkness that filled her was contagious?“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maggie.”
“It’s my birthday!”
“Happy birthday!”As Maggie’s happiness washed over her, it seemed to summon a whisper of her own.Was that possible?Samantha brushed the tears away as they streamed down her cheeks.
Maggie’s smile fell just a bit.“Sometimes I need a hug when I’m sad.Do you need a hug?”
A sob burst from her as she nodded.Maggie reached for her.She wrapped her arms around the little girl, holding onto her like a lifeline.Emotions she’d been holding back for years surged through her.After a moment, she forced them back down and got her crying under control.Everyone undoubtedly thought she was being hysterical.
“Thank you, Maggie.That was the best hug I’ve ever had.”
Her smile was back.“Maybe tonight my brother will read you a story.That always helps me feel better.”
Samantha nodded.Simon had read her stories when she was little, too.It was sometimes hard to believe that life was the same as this.
As she stood, Ash gave her an encouraging smile.The other man walked up beside him and picked Maggie up.
“Samantha, this is my brother Trent,” Ash said.
“It’s nice to meet you, Trent.”He was younger than Ash, and neither as dark nor as intimidating.But he was still a man.
Gwen put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.“Are you alright?”she whispered.
Samantha nodded.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”
“You didn’t cause a scene.”
She looked at Ash.“Are you sending me away?”
He tipped his head and thought for a moment before answering.“Yes.But not in the way you think.Not because you didn’t do a good enough job or because you have been somehow inadequate.I believe Woodburn Hall will be a better place for you to heal.”
Maggie’s eyes lit.“She’s coming to stay with us?”
Trent smiled at her.“If she wants to.”
“You can help me catch butterflies!”
She smiled at Maggie but looked back to Ash.“You’re giving me a choice?”
Ash inclined his head.“Of course.And you’ll always be welcome back.”
“What is Woodburn Hall?”
“It’s my estate.”
At least it wasn’t an asylum.“What would I do there?”
