Daphne had gone to a fundraiser at Carlton. When she pulled up opposite, she thought she saw Emmett riding off on his motorbike. Her jaw dropped, but she was too confused to do anything. She convinced herself that, had Emmett returned, someone else would have seen him – everyone knew he had gone missing, albeit optionally.
Melody was standing by a cupcake stall, run by Natalie, nodding along to three people in suits. They were holding clipboards, writing sporadic notes, whilst listening to Principal Rose as the interpreter. When Melody spotted Daphne, she apologised profusely to the Suits then ran over to her, hastily checking left and right whilst crossing the road.
"Have you heard from Emmett?" she signed frantically. Daphne pulled her lips in and shook her head. "Nothing? He left me a note, but I'm getting worried. I want to call the police."
"I'm sorry he's done this, but I don't think it's the right time to call the police. I know you're worried, but he's a smart guy and he has some money, so I think we should wait another few days for him to contact one of us."
"Few days?!" Melody exclaimed, with worry lines spreading across her forehead.
"If he doesn't contact us by then, I'll go to the station with you to file a report. It may help if one of us sends him a text explaining that, so he knows he's being given space, but that we need to know he's safe, or we'll have no choice but to report him as a missing person."
"Do I do it? What would I say?" They paused. "Actually, I think it's best coming from you, so that he doesn't see it as an overprotective mum thing. Please just tell him what we've decided and let him know that I love and miss him. Please can you do that?" Daphne nodded and got out her phone. "Well, I need to get back over there. I think Toby is helping Travis with car washing, since John gave him the day off, but Natalie could use a hand with the cupcakes?"
Daphne signed "okay" back and started texting Emmett, whilst Melody went back over to join Principal Rose and the Suits, who had moved on to the arts stall, which was selling some of the students' artwork – including Bay's.