Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

Answer the woman.
“When I was a girl I swam with my mother in Hawaii,”
Josie said. “I got caught in a wave. My mother laughed.”
“I’m sorry.” Emily’s hands were trembling. Josie didn’t
hesitate. She took them in her own hoping this breath of a
memory and her touch would bring Emily back to her.
“Why are you sorry?” Josie asked.
“Your mother shouldn’t laugh.”
“It’s okay,” Josie whispered.
“Were you afraid?”
“Yes.” Josie admitted. “But my mother wouldn’t have let
anything happen to me.”
Josie wanted to say so much more. She wanted Emily to
know that she was stronger for that day; it meant everything if
Emily truly remembered it. If she had, the memory was now
gone. She was looking at the front door.
“May I go for a walk?”
Pilipa shook off his surprise. He cleared his throat. “That’s
fine. That would be good if you want to take her, Ms. Bates.”
“Me? Alone?”
“Yes, I need Ms. Francis for a few more minutes.”
Josie was about to decline but changed her mind. If she
couldn’t take Emily for a simple walk, what was she going to
do once they got back to Hermosa?
“Sure. Why not.”
Amelia stood up, too. “Go out the front door and take the
path to your right. She always went the other way with us.”
Josie understood. They all tried so hard to get Emily to
remember Josie and it was Ian who was granted that privilege.
“Okay. Let’s go, mom.” Emily didn’t move.