A New Beginning

Chapter 97: Sins of the Family

Sybil continues to keep Susan Hockley entertained with her antics as Emma sits next to them, watching cautiously and ensuring that her sister does not get overzealous as she sometimes does with people.

She knew she had no real reason to fear this woman, especially considering she'd nearly fainted several minutes before, but she couldn't help but be wary. Caledon had to get his aggression from somewhere. Maybe it was his father but one could never be sure.

Emma knows deep down that she can't hold too much animosity towards this woman, even though she's snobby, self-important, and judgemental like a lot of first-class people. She appeared to be a nice enough woman... nice enough to Sybil that is. And despite the woman's son and all the things that he's done to her and the people she loved...

That child that she was entertaining had been abducted by her precious son on a ship that was already sinking and threatened to shoot her if they did not cooperate. Her fiancé, even after all this time still had moments where he had to limp because her successful son decided that if he couldn't have his fiancée, no one could and took it out on him. She places a hand on her shoulder. Her arm had nerve damage because of her son's burning resentment caused him to shoot her and nearly cause her death on the Titanic. She then glances down at her left hand where her engagement ring sits, but the reason there's no wedding band is that he sabotaged the wedding and also ended up abducting her best friend. The whole reason that they were meeting here at this moment was because of her son. Almost everything that had haunted them since the ship went down was because of Caledon Hockley

It seemed obvious to the casual observer that Susan knew nothing about her son's crimes, how his desire for vengeance had caused all this, how there was a restraining order in place that he managed to get around and was why her husband was in the interrogation room at this moment, making life hell for one of Jack's friends. She sat there playing with Sybil, enjoying the distraction the child was providing and completely oblivious to all the pain he had caused for the young woman sitting next to her.

"What is a precious child like you doing in the police station?" Susan asks, mostly the toddler, but also her sister sitting next to them.

Emma bites her lip and comes up with something quickly. "My future husband is a lawyer and he's meeting with a client. We're just waiting for him to finish with them before going home."

A half-truth, but believable enough. Deep down she wished that she could shock this first-class woman by saying that she was also a lawyer, but decided against it.

Susan frowns for a moment, concerned that she is currently holding a bastard child born out of wedlock. If one of those photographers got through, that would be the end of it all. However, she inhales sharply and decides to venture the question.

"Is this your sister?"

"Yes," Emma replies.

Relief fills Susan with new feelings of happiness. It was simply a sister caring for a sister.

"Where are your parents? Surely, you both could have stayed at home with them. A police station is no place for a young child like her."

"My parents have passed away," Emma admits, deciding to hit this woman with some reality. "I am her legal guardian."

"Oh..." she says, staring at the blue-eyed toddler. "I am terribly sorry for your loss."

That's progress! Emma thinks to herself sarcastically. The first thing she did was acknowledge that I exist and the second was to show sympathy to another human being.

"It is all right," the young woman replies. "I miss them dearly, but I'm doing my best to give my sister the best life possible."

Susan nods, slightly impressed by the girl's strength, especially after losing both parents.