Chapter 11

18 Years Later….

"Emily! Breakfast! Now!"

Dorothy's voice rang throughout the quiet house, echoing off the walls.

"Just a minute…jeez!"

A younger voice replied, followed by a thump, and then the sound of footsteps running towards the kitchen.

"Good morning"

Dorothy said, but there was no response.

"Ahem.. Good Morning Emily"

Emily was sitting at the table, busy staring off into space. Dorothy slowly walked over and stood in front of her.
"Emily, Good morning"

Emily blinked and seemed to come back to reality.

"Oh, um, good morning Mom"

Dorothy went back to the stove and shook her head.

"How late were you up for this time?"

"Oh, well, you know how I get caught up in my books"

Emily smiled innocently, Dorothy just sighed as she handed Emily a plate of eggs and toast.

"I really don't know where you get that from"

"What?"

"Your non-stop studying"

"Well, it certainly wasn't from you"

Dorothy smiled as she sat across from Emily with her food.

"Very funny"

Dorothy then looked at Emily, with a stern face. "You're still having nightmares, aren't you?"

Emily took another bite of food before answering. "Maybe"

"I swear Emily, I wish you would just tell me, I could help…"

A knock at the door then interrupted their meal.

"Mom, just don't worry about me"

Emily quickly got up and sprinted towards the door.

"Who is it?"

Dorothy asked from the kitchen.

"Brian"

Dorothy sighed

"Tell him I'm..oh I don't know..sleeping or something...just get him straight to work"

Emily gave a mischievous smile and went back to the door.

"Emily! You better not...Oh"

Dorothy walked into Brian in the hallway.

"Well, g'mornin Miss Gale"

Dorothy quickly pushed herself away from Brain and brushed herself off.

"Good Morning Brian, now, I need the horses fed, cows milked.."
"The usual of course, I know, but I want to know if you could pay me in advance, just plant one right here" He pointed to his cheek.

Dorothy leaned towards him, and at the last moment slapped him. Brian just smiled.

"One day Miss Gale"
"And you'll keep trying until then?"

"Yep"

"Very well, get to work"

Brian tipped his hat and went out the door towards the back.

"Well played"

Emily said and giggled

"Never mind that..now we have some things to get at the market, so get ready"

Dorothy began to walk towards her room to get ready. Emily stared out the back, looking at Brian beginning his work.

"Is he my father?"

Dorothy stopped abruptly.

"Is he?"

Dorothy slowly turned around.

"No"

Emily sighed

"Will you ever tell me who my father is?"

Dorothy looked at Emily, her jet black hair, her burning green eyes. She looked nothing like Dorothy, not even close. No one had ever mentioned Emily's coming of to Kansas, and Dorothy had kept Emily's true origin to herself. But not even she knew her real family.

"Mom?...Mom?"

Dorothy smiled softly.

"I have until your 18th birthday"

"Tomorrow..but still, you can't just tell me now?"

"No"

And with that Dorothy went into her room and closed the door.

Dorothy leaned against the door, then walked over to her closet. She rummaged through some clothing, and then some boxes. She pulled out a small wooden box and held it close to her chest. She then walked to her bed and placed the box on it and knelt beside her bed, staring at it.

"I cant bear keeping it from her, but I.."

Dorothy looked over at a picture of Auntie Em.

"oh Auntie Em..I don't know what to do, I know I should tell her. I'm afraid I'll lose her. I don't want to Auntie Em. I don't want to lose her, I've already lost you"

Dorothy never told Auntie Em where Emily was from, and Auntie Em never asked. They cared for Emily together. That was until Auntie Em fell terribly ill and passed away only 3 years later, leaving Dorothy alone, with Emily.

"I just feel if I tell her she's not my child, let alone from this world, that she will cast me aside. All would be lost for me. What would you do?"

Dorothy fell silent and looked at the floor. Tears fell from her face, one by one.

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

"You were once my one companion , you were all that mattered. You were once
a friend and mother, then my world was shattered. Wishing you were somehow here again wishing you were somehow near. Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed, somehow you would be here. Wishing I could hear your voice again knowing that I never would. Dreaming of you won't help me to do all that you dreamed I could. Passing bells and sculpted angels, cold and monumental, seem, for you, the wrong companions, you were warm and gentle."

"Mom?"

Dorothy compiled herself and stood up

"I'll be right out"

"Oh, I'll just wait outside then"

Dorothy walked over to her window and gazed out, waiting to hear the front door shut.

"Too many years fighting back tears. Why can't the past just die? Wishing you were somehow here again, knowing we must say goodbye. Try to forgive, teach me to live give me the strength to try. No more memories, no more silent tears. No more gazing across the wasted years . . .Help me say goodbye."

Dorothy walked to her bed and put the box under her pillow. She wiped away her tears and opened the door.

"Help me say goodbye."

Dorothy shut the door behind her, sighed with relief, and walked out the front door to meet with Emily.