Chapter 15 - THE ANCHOR ON THE PORCH
Down on the front porch, the cool breeze rustled the leaves of the large maple tree standing in the front yard.
María pulled the thick yellow emergency blanket tighter around Emily’s shoulders, making sure the little girl was protected from the autumn night air. Emily sat silently, her small body resting against María’s side, watching the paramedics pack away their primary medical kits into the back of their ambulance.
"Your favorite color is yellow, right?" María asked gently, attempting to keep the conversation light and grounded.
Emily looked down at the bright blanket wrapping her frame, then shook her head slowly. "My favorite color is green. Like the grass in the park."
"The park down on Elm Street?" María smiled warmly. "The one with the big red swings?"
Emily nodded faintly. "I haven't been there in a really long time. My dad said the park wasn't safe anymore. He said we had to stay in the yard where he could see us."
María felt a tightening in her throat, but her expression remained calm, encouraging, and supportive. "Well, the park is very safe, Emily. And once everything is settled tonight, your Aunt Clara is going to take you there whenever you want."
Emily’s head snapped up slightly, her blue eyes widening with a mixture of hope and hesitation. "Aunt Clara is coming?"
"She’s on a flight right now," María reassured her, checking the secure messaging system on her handheld police radio. "She talked to Detective Cole half an hour ago. She’s landing at the airport in two hours, and she’s coming straight here to take care of you."
A tiny, almost imperceptible sigh escaped Emily’s lips. She looked down at her gray stuffed rabbit, her small thumb gently smoothing the plush fabric over its missing ear button.
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"Aunt Clara has a cat," Emily whispered softly. "His name is Barnaby. He sleeps on the windowsill."
"Barnaby sounds like a very smart cat," María said, wrapping her arm securely around the child as the front door opened once more.
