Chapter 3
Leo and I leaned on each other walking into the neighborhood when I noticed Ethan was gone. He had already left.
I sighed as if I'd just reached shore after nearly drowning.
As Leo and I appeared more, Ethan grew quieter.
That day, I took Lily to the amusement park.
We just happened to bump into Ethan and Ben.
By a food stall, the two kids saw each other, smiled, held hands, and ran off to play.
Ethan eyed a cat plushie, then turned to me.
He asked, "Ms. Clark, do you like cats?"
I froze, unsure how to answer.
Ethan smiled and said, "I used to dislike cats, but my wife loves them, so now I do too.
"You might not know, but she took in a cat at home. It's this big."
Ethan grinned, holding his hands apart to show its size.
My smile stiffened, and my fingers trembled.
I knew what he meant.
In college, I found a stray cat and thought raising it would bond us.
Later, he got rid of the cat. I was heartbroken and asked where it went, but he never answered.
He said he dislikes cats and told me not to bring them anymore.
Looking back, it wasn't the cats he disliked but it was me.
By noon, Ethan checked his watch and suggested lunch with the kids.
Seeing Lily practically starving, I nodded in agreement.
We sat in the amusement park restaurant, but the food felt bland and tasteless.
We were almost done, and I couldn't wait to leave.
A deafening blast ripped through the kitchen. My body jolted, then went completely still.
Thick smoke surrounded me, choking and panicking me.
The rushing crowd swept me off my feet.
"Run, it's burning!" someone shouted.
I couldn't tell who spoke. Lily sounded like she was crying, but every voice was distant, like underwater.
The scar on my face felt like it was tearing open, the pain deep in my bones.
"Emma Shaw!"
Through thick smoke, a strong hand gripped my wrist firmly.
"Go!"
The explosion was quickly handled, and Ethan gently touched my shoulder, speaking softly.
"It's alright. Did you get hurt?" He asked, concerned.
Everything felt unreal, like a dream. I was dazed until his words snapped me back. I turned to him, stunned.
Ethan had just called me "Emma."
Wait, did he recognize me?
I didn't dwell on it and quickly lowered my head, using Lily's fear to excuse myself from Ethan.
I told Ethan I needed a few days off to avoid him.
[Sorry, Mr. Hayes. Lily is unwell and can't tutor Ben for a few days.]
Ethan frowned at the message.
He couldn't understand why he always saw Emma in this stranger.
Emma had been gone five years, and he searched all of Harbor City without finding her.
Nothing about her resembled Emma. She couldn't be her.
He laughed, dismissed the thought, and started the car to leave.
But his hand suddenly froze.
He saw the tutor's supposed husband leave and immediately take another man's hand.
His face showed shyness and joy.
Ethan felt a chill, then sudden, unexplained anger.
Ethan was stunned. Cecilia's husband likes men?
How dare he?