Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter

6

"I was so scared I could hardly think straight on the way here to the hospital. I have told you numerous times Aunt that have got to quit going out on your own!" The lady's voice was trembling with fear and frustration as the words tumbled rapidly from her lips and her legs hurrying toward Mrs. Walker's bedside.

you

Still pale from her ordeal, but with her eyes twinkling with gratitude, Mrs. Walker cast a faint smile. "You should be thanking this young lady instead," she said softly, gesturing toward Emma She's the reason I'm still alive."

The woman's eyes followed Mrs. Walker's, and her face went pale as they fell on Emma. She caught her breath, her lips parting in disbelief. She swayed slightly upon her feet, as though the sight of Emma had knocked the wind out of her. "Wha... Who..." The woman's voice faltered, her hand going up to her mouth staring at Emma wide-eyed.

"I thought the same thing when I first saw her," Mrs. Walker said evenly enough, though there was a deep sorrow underlying her words. "For a moment, I thought that it was a ghost I was seeing."

The woman, who later introduced herself as Marina, seemed to fight for composure, her hands shaking as she extended one toward Emma for a handshake. Emma took it with caution, her heart racing with questions. Why had this woman looked at her as though she'd seen an ghost?

"Hello," Marina'said, her voice still trembling, but she forced a smile. "I'm Marina Banks, Mrs. Walker's niece. Thank you. for saving my aunt's life."

"You're welcome," Emma replied in a low voice, still clearly trying to put together what was happening. "I'm Veronica Moore."

Marina's hand wrapped a little tighter around Emma's before letting go, and with her free hand, she wiped away the few tears that has began rolling down the corner of her eyes. "You, you look exactly like my late cousin. Diana. May her soul rest in peace." Her voice cracked at this, and she immediately blinked back the moisture threatening to spill over from her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," Emma murmured, not knowing what else to say. A strange sense of unease filling her chest.

"It's alright," Marina whispered, though her voice shook. She sat down beside Mrs. Walker, hugging her arm protectively about her aunt's frail shoulders. "Aunt, don't cry. I'm here now." She stroked Mrs. Walker's hand softly, trying to comfort her, though she looked pretty shaken herself.

Emma felt like she was intruding on a deeply personal moment, an emotional undercurrent she didn't fully understand. She gave a small nod and quietly excused herself from the room, her mind still reeling from the encounter.

Her coworkers greeted her as a heroine back at the flower shop, their adoration a sharp contrast to the whirlwind of emotions Emma had just experienced. They offered her the rest of the day off, but Emma politely declined, needing the distraction of work to calm her mind.

face played in her mind. The way she had stared at Emma as if she was staring at a long-dead person sent a cold

protective over her tummy as she awaited the update. She had been feeling a bit more tired lately, and she believed the growth of her baby bump was going a

have a surprise for you today," the doctor said, smiling at the chart. "You're not going to be just having one baby. You're

dropped in surprise and shock as the doctor's words rang in her head and

"That's right.

and the room spun just a little with the weight

Chapter 6

Twins!

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excitement, love, and above all, gratitude. For all the pain her ex-husband has caused her in the

hand instinctively went to her belly. With two babies growing inside her, overwhelming love and responsibility suffocated her. She whispered out soft promise to them: "I'll give you the best I can.

Emma threw herself into her routine, finding solace

window, the doorbell above the shop entrance caught her attention. There was a tall man at the door, in one of those

me," he said with a deep, commanding voice. "I'm looking for Miss

for a moment. Veronica wasn't her real name, and hardly anyone asked for her

"That's me. How can

cold which reminded Emma of Alexander. "I'm here on behalf of Mrs. Walker. She asked me to deliver a message to you." Emma's eyes shot wide with shock and

she echoed. "Is she all right?"

coldly. "But she

Emma stood there, staring at the envelope in

opened the envelope carefully. Inside, there was no long message, no

69, 9 o'clock,

note again, her mind

House? Her breath caught in