Emily’s birthday was the Saturday of my first week. Joel pulled me aside the night beforehand and laid out how the next day would go. As he was explaining the folks coming in to put up the decorations, and the elaborate meal and cake that had been planned, I noticed no mention of other children showing up. 

It occurred to me not for the first time that week that I never saw Emily interact with anybody her own age. She never even mentioned having friends. I had also noticed that she oscillated between acting very mature for her age, and acting like a 4-year-old when it suited Joel and Sebastian. It was all very strange. I couldn’t help myself as Joel went on about the preparations.

“Will there be other kids there?” I asked. 

Joel paused, brow furrowing in perplexity.

“Ms. Emily has no wish to play with other children,” Joel stated.

“How do you know?” I asked. “I’ve never seen her around anyone her age. She doesn’t go to school or do any activities. That’s a little strange, you know.”

“I’m afraid I don’t agree. And Mr. Vascile would tell you the same. Emily has no need of peer interaction. Her life is perfectly fine without it.”

“Mr. Field, I just don’t think that’s true. All children need peer interaction to grow. Not having it will seriously hinder their socialization skills later on in life. There’s been study after study of this.”

Joel shifted uncomfortably, and I wondered if I had overstepped my bounds. But I also knew it was the right thing to do. It was clear that Sebastian and Joel loved and doted on Emily, and would do almost anything for her. Maybe they just didn’t understand how important this was. 

“There is a reason Ms. Emily does not attend school, and I feel I do not have to explain this reason to you. I understand that you wish to do things the best you can for her, but I can assure you that everything we do is to protect her and keep her happy. This girl has had a hard life, and she understands that she is different. That her family is different, and we love her dearly. She will be happy with what we do for her.”

I wanted to continue, but the perplexed look on Joel’s face made me genuinely nervous. I decided I would take it up with Sebastian later, if I had the opportunity. He seemed less strict. Joel was always so tightly wound.

“Back to the preparations then,” Joel said. I nodded and listened intently. 

****

I had the chance to catch up with Sebastian a little while later. He grinned as he saw me coming. 

“Good evening, Calista,” he said. 

I steeled myself for his potential rejection. 

“I never see Emily around any other children, especially those her age, and I think that is really hindering her,” I blurted. “She needs that peer interaction, especially at her age. I’m sorry to bring this to you when Mr. Field already shut me down, but, well, there it is.”

Sebastian nodded slowly, “I appreciate your concern. I’ll certainly look into it.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird?” I asked, “that she doesn’t have any friends? No one her age anyway.”

“It’s…tricky,” Sebastian said carefully. “Let me put it this way, there’s a reason we make everyone sign an NDA. Children are not capable of keeping the same secrets, and the last time too much information got out, and Emily was hurt. That’s why we had to move. She thought she could trust a friend, and that friend let someone know, and it got out. An abusive family member found her, it was a scary situation all around. We didn’t make it out unscathed.”

“Someone came after her?” I asked, shocked. 

“Yes. When she is older, she’ll be able to be more discreet and keep the secrets she needs to protect herself. But for now, her safety relies on discretion and keeping her whereabouts under wraps.”

The whole conversation shook me. I thought about Jeffrey, and how I had never even mentioned his stalking or our tumultuous past. I was terrified to wonder what would happen if he found out about Emily and Sebastian. If he found out about me. To know that Emily was in the same situation, that I might potentially have put her in more danger…

The thought made me sick.