Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

real, then you were real, so I figure my dad couldn’t have been
a total lunatic.”
Once more the screen door opened but this time the cook
called out to Amelia that they would be closing. She called
back her thanks and told him they wanted nothing. After that,
no one at the table spoke and no one contemplated Ian Francis’
insane legacy more solemnly than Josie. She was thinking
about Ambrose Patriota’s contention that a portion of the
citizenry lived in their own reality, causing harm, creating
turmoil, living in shadows, and communing with spooks and
ghouls who walked among us.
“I don’t know what you expect me to do,” Josie murmured.
“You owe him something.” Amelia’s words came out on a
wistful sigh. “Without him, you never would have known
about Emily.”
“Amelia, your dad was a troubled man.” Josie picked up the
papers and tapped them on the table until they were neat and
even again. She put them in front of Amelia. “I will always be
grateful that he led me here. I will always be sad that your dad
died without knowing I found Emily. Above all, I understand
your dedication to him but you are going to waste your life
chasing his demons.”
“The way you wasted yours looking for Emily?” Amelia
asked. “I mean, she could have been dead for all you knew.
Were you ever going to give up?”
Josie shook her head. “I would have wondered about her
until my dying day, but my life had moved on. Yours should,
too.”
“So my dad is gone like those other people? Is that okay
with you? I mean what if it was Emily?”
“The girl has a point.” Stephen looked at Josie and then
gave Amelia a sympathetic smile.
“If something is wrong at Ha Kuna House wouldn’t you
want someone to save Emily if they could?” Amelia pressed.