Tears streamed down Emma's face. She must have looked a mess, but right now she didn't care. All she wanted were her parents.
Emma knew her father would be at the doctor's practice. Her mother wasn't at Nonnatus House, so it's likely she will be there too. Emma nodded. Yes, that's where she will go.
She walked the short distance to the doctor's office, her head bend to the floor. She didn't want anyone seeing her like this. She pushed through the door in a hurry, almost toppling over in her haste
Miss Higgins looked at her crossly. "What's the meaning of this? Calm yourself, girl."
Emma blushed. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. "I need to speak to my dad."
"You need to, huh?" Miss Higgins asked, raising her eyebrows.
Emma blushed even brighter, aware of the interested patients listening to their conversation. She swallowed. "Would it be possible to speak to my dad?"
Miss Higgins nodded her head. "That's better." She slowly got up. "I will go and see if he is available."
Emma smiled her thanks.
Emma shifted on her feet, throwing a polite smile to the patients waiting for their turn.
Miss Higgins came back, shaking her head. "Your father doesn't have time for you." The secretary said. She sat back down behind the desk. "Now, if you don't mind, I have better things to do than talk to you."
Emma swallowed. Her face was heating up. She left the practice, not looking at the patients sitting on the chairs. The patients' whispers follow her through the door.
Outside the doctor's office Emma stood still. Her heart was beating fast in her chest. She didn't know where to go. She knew where she wanted to go, home. Emma shook her head. There was no reason why she couldn't go home. So she started to walk the familiar road back home.
She arrived at the house, and Emma smiled. The light was on. Her mother was home. She let out a breath of relief. Everything would be fine, now.
Emma opened the door and was met with an angry Shelagh.
"Where have you been?" Her mother demanded. "There is laundry to iron, dinner to make, and the garden needs to be weeded."
Emma was too shocked to reply.
The woman in front of her wasn't her mother. It couldn't be. Her mother was kind, and loving. This woman in front of her was mean.
Shelagh advanced on the teenage girl. "Do your jobs." She said. The woman picked up the iron and held it out to Emma.
Emma looked between the woman and the iron board. Sweat started to pour down her back. As Shelagh raised the hand holding the iron, Emma bolted and ran.