Prologue
1996
Emmaline stood on the lawn of the house next door to her own, staring up at the second story window. The blonde boy who stared down at her from the other side of the glass smiled; it didn't seem to be a menacing one, more… genuine. Warm. Gentle, even. The two-year-old held her small hand up to wave at him, and he waved back, the smile never leaving his features. She fixed her eyes on the front door, and started moving her tiny feet forward. When she got to the stairs, she paused for a moment. She hadn't quite mastered the stairs yet; Mama always carried her up and down them so she wouldn't hurt herself. Placing her hands down on the bricks, she picked one foot up and put it on the step. Before she could pull herself up, she felt hands on her waist, and she was being lifted off the ground.
"Emmaline, what have I told you about wandering off? You nearly gave mama a heart attack." Constance Langdon put the toddler on her hip, glanced up at the window once, locking eyes with her son. Tate grimaced at his mother, and she turned on her heel, walking back toward her own house.
"Sorry, mama." Emmaline apologized, burying her head in the crook of her mother's neck. She looked back at the boy in the window, and was filled with sadness. She wasn't sure why she wanted to go in that house and see him. Mama always taught her never to talk to strangers. But something with him felt different. He was a mystery, and the curious two year old longed to solve it.