Emily braced her hands shoulder-width apart on the porch railing and inhaled slowly. The night stilled, save for the occasional whir of bat wings flashing past or the desultory sound of the night watchman calling out the hour. Alone. In all things. She sighed, angling her head to examine the sky above. At one time she'd have been grateful for solitude. But not now. She hoped Elizabeth watched her from the heavens. If so, she probably wasn't any happier with Emily than Frank was at the moment. Emily trusted Samantha to know the best way to treat wounds. Samantha always came through for her. Until today, anyway. Frank's words echoed in her head, gouging the emotional wound deeper into her soul. What had he meant about Samantha following in her mother's footsteps? Perhaps Amy could answer that question. It seemed as though her cousin had been away for months. So much had occurred during her absence. Wait until Emily told her about Benjamin's return and his promise to dine with them. Which raised other questions in her mind about the availability of appropriate fare for the festive meal.
