Later that night, Esme sat at the desk in her room, reading over the letter she had just written to Aaron. Lillian had told her she could send it the next morning, by messenger bird. Her dad would be back from his honeymoon in just a few days. She had planned to be home by then, but she couldn’t leave now. Not until she knew more.
Dear Dad,
You’ll probably be back from your honeymoon by now, and worrying about me, so I’m writing to let you know that I’m perfectly safe. I can’t say much more now, except to let you know I’m spending the summer with some people who knew Mum. Don’t go looking. You won’t find me. But if you’d like to write, send a reply back in the same envelope, and give your letter to the messenger bird that delivered this one.
Don’t blame yourself for my leaving—I’ll be b
