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And now to see what has happened.
Sarah sat in the principal's office, her legs dangling from the high chair, quiet.
She didn't understand why she was there. She didn't think she'd done anything wrong. Miss Jacobs had just been about to start the class when she looked at Sarah and went suddenly pale. And then she'd left the class to look after themselves for a while, and come back with Mr Nicholas, who'd had a free period. Mr Nicholas took over the class, and Sarah was told to come with Miss Jacobs.
She'd come.
And now she was waiting in the empty office, her bag by her feet, listening to muffled voices emit from the office in front of her.
Sarah frowned, and reached down for her book.
Just then, Miss Jacobs came back out of the principal's office. Her face was flushed and slightly indignant, but she had a victorious air about her nonetheless. Behind her, the principal looked irritated, but it was difficult to tell whether that had anything to do with Miss Jacobs. He was on the phone, and clearly the person at the other end was not being helpful.
"No, I need to talk to somebody immediately – " Mr Anderson signalled at Miss Jacobs, and she shut the door behind her, cutting off the rest of the conversation.
Sarah looked up at Miss Jacobs, her hand still hovering above her bag, ready to retrieve her book.
"Come along, Sarah!" said Miss Jacobs in a perky voice. "Let's go to the staff room."
Sarah frowned again. Why wasn't she being taken back to class?
Miss Jacobs waited for Sarah to stand up and put on her backpack, and then she took the small girl by her hand. Sarah followed as her teacher led the way to the staff room, and sat, even as the teacher began rooting through the old magazines lying on the coffee tables. She seemed to be looking for something.
Sarah sat silently. She didn't understand what was happening.
Miss Jacobs seemed to find something. She came over to Sarah, carrying one of the magazines – People – and smiling at her nervously.
"You're a good girl, Sarah. A clever girl."
Sarah's brow wrinkled.
Miss Jacobs started flicking through the magazine. First slowly, then faster, then she stopped. She paused, her hand resting on the page, taking a big breath.
Miss Jacobs knelt down in front of her pupil, eying the picture, and then Sarah.
Then she stood up. She closed the magazine, and sat down next to Sarah.
"Sarah, is your father good to you?"
This was unexpected. Sarah nodded uncertainly.
"Do you know anything about your mother?"
Sarah shook her head.
"Has your father ever mentioned her?"
Sarah shook her head again. No.
"Okay." Miss Jacobs let out a heavy breath, and changed the subject. "Why don't you sit there and read your book, honey."
Sarah nodded.
"Yes, Miss Jacobs."
What was going on?
An hour later, there was a sudden burst of noise from the corridor, and Sarah looked up in interest as the door opened. A pretty brunette lady and a tall fair-haired man came in with Principal Anderson, who gestured for Miss Jacobs to come over and talk to them.
They went outside and closed the door. Sarah could see them through the glass panel in the door.
They were talking, and it seemed to be about something important. Miss Jacobs talked, and talked, and the others listened to her, seeming to ask questions that she answered without hesitation. The conversation continued, and then there was a pause. Miss Jacobs looked into the staffroom, and Sarah, still observing, smiled at her nervously. Miss Jacobs spoke again. She gestured at Sarah.
The others all turned to look at her.
The brunette lady gave a decisive nod, and said something to the blond.
The door opened.
Sarah had been taken to a doctor for some tests – nobody told her what they were for – and then to a strange place, with lots of other children. She had asked about her father, but was told that she wasn't going to be seeing him for a while.
She wasn't supposed to know what was going on, but she knew what that meant.
Daddy had done something bad, and now Sarah was all alone.
So now she sat, huddled, on the bed she had been shown to. It was in a room with two other single beds, the inhabitants of which were elsewhere. They had looked at Sarah, and giggled, and run off to play.
She'd wanted things to change, but really. This was just like school, only now she didn't have a Daddy, either.
Sarah drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs.
She was tired of not knowing what was going on.
And even Daddy was better than nobody. Sarah didn't like being alone.
"Sarah?"
Sarah looked up in surprise. She hadn't even noticed the door open.
A beautiful lady was standing in the doorway, staring at Sarah strangely. She had long auburn hair, and deep brown eyes, and a tentative smile, which wavered under Sarah's scrutiny.
The lady looked vaguely familiar, but Sarah wasn't certain why.
And she was staring at Sarah, the smile gone and a strange look in her eyes. Sarah stared back.
Something happened. Sarah didn't know what, but she could tell it was something big. Something life-altering.
The woman knew it, too. Tears started to stream down her face, silently, as she closed her eyes, her joy, and longing, and relief, very clear on her expressive features.
Her eyes opened again, and she gave a watery giggle to see Sarah's attention still fully focused on her.
Sarah was more confused than ever.
A tall, blond man with close-cropped hair barged suddenly into the room, slightly out of breath.
"Hales! You shouldn't have – "
The woman, a clear, wide smile sitting strangely on her face, turned to the man.
"It's Faith."
That was all she said, but her voice was clear, and firm, and certain. And the man was silent.
Confused, Sarah's gaze shot between the man and woman, only to find the attention of both fully fixed on her. She flushed, and the woman gave a choking sob. The man reached out to her, rubbing her shoulder, and she fell into his arms, knocking him slightly off-balance as he staggered, balancing the unexpected weight.
"Hales – " the man said, his voice husky. "How can you be so certain?"
Another voice sounded, loud and strangely out of place, from the doorway.
"Look at her, Luke."
Sarah looked away from the couple embracing, and her intense blue gaze locked with that of a tall, dark haired man standing just behind them.
He smiled at her reassuringly, and pushed past the man and woman to crouch down in front of her.
"Sarah? Do you know why you're here?"
Next: a personal tragedy elicits a public response. The recovery of a kidnapped child, lost for five years, and recovered on the day she was taken.
Also – a few more friends are introduced.