“…what happens to Grandma Martha? I’m not leaving her.”
The fierce loyalty in her statement brought a fresh wave of emotion to Martha’s face. Edward reached across the table, including both of them in his response.
“If you are Emma, nothing changes about your relationship with Martha,” he promised. “She saved your life. She cared for you when I couldn’t. She’s your family now, just as much as I am.”
“We’ll find a way to be a family together,” Martha added, squeezing Lily’s hand. “All of us.”
Lily considered this, her young mind working through the implications. “Can we… can we find out for sure if I’m really Emma?”
“There are tests we can do,” Edward explained. “A simple DNA test would tell us for certain. But only if you want to know. It has to be your decision, Lily.”
She nodded slowly. “I think I want to know. But…” She hesitated, looking anxiously at Martha. “What if I start remembering my old life and forget everything with Grandma Martha? I don’t want to forget her.”
Martha pulled her into a hug. “Oh, my dear, memory doesn’t work like that. Remembering your past won’t erase the years we’ve had together. I promise.”
“Can we go to your house?” Lily suddenly asked Edward. “Maybe if I see it, I’ll remember more things.”
Edward exchanged a look with Martha, who gave a small nod of approval. “Of course. We can go tomorrow after school, if that works for both of you.”
Later that evening, after Lily had finally fallen asleep, Edward and Martha sat in the small living room, talking in low voices.
“She’s taking it remarkably well,” Edward observed. “Better than many adults would.”
“Children are resilient,” Martha replied. “And Lily—or Emma—has always had an old soul. Sometimes I forget she’s only ten.”
Edward nodded, remembering how people had said similar things about Emma. “Martha, I want to be completely upfront with you about what comes next. Legally speaking…”
Martha stiffened visibly. “Are you planning to sue me?”
“Absolutely not,” Edward assured her quickly. “You saved her life. Everything you did was in her best interest. What I meant was, if the DNA test confirms she’s Emma, we’ll need to legally ‘resurrect’ her. She’s currently listed as presumed deceased. There will be paperwork, maybe court appearances. I want you to know that throughout this process, I will ensure your relationship with her is legally protected.”
Martha’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “I appreciate that. I’ve lived in fear for two years that someone would take her away. I truly did try to find her family, you know. In those first few weeks, I checked missing children reports at the library, but there were so many… and not knowing her real name or where she was from…”
“You did what you thought was right,” Edward said sincerely. “And you gave her a stable, loving home despite incredibly difficult circumstances. I could never blame you for that.”
The next day, Edward’s car pulled up the long driveway of a large, modern home overlooking the lake. Through the rearview mirror, he watched Lily’s eyes widen as the house came into view—glass and cedar nestled among tall evergreens with the shimmering lake behind it.
“You live here?” she breathed, her face pressed against the window.
“It’s just a house,” Edward said, suddenly self-conscious of the property’s obvious luxury. “A bit too big for one person, honestly.”
Martha said nothing, but her expression as they entered the soaring foyer spoke volumes. The vast gulf between Edward’s world and the one she and Lily had inhabited was stark. Mrs. Winters, the housekeeper, greeted them warmly, clearly briefed by Edward beforehand. She showed no surprise at the guests, instead offering refreshments with practiced hospitality.
“Would you like a tour?”
