TWO YEARS LATER

I seat the kids at the table in the dining room, flicking through channels on our new TV until I find something I know they'll sit and watch quietly. Not that it actually works, but it's always worth a shot. 

I grab the bread from the cupboard and I root through the fridge, grabbing a few containers at once. They've all requested sandwiches for lunch, and they begin bickering as I spread butter over many slices of bread.

"Dad!" Jessie starts. "He's kicking me!"

"No I'm not." Jamie responds.

"Can you all just sit still for five minutes?" I demand. 

They fall quiet and I take a breath of relief. 

"Dad!" Jessie yells. "He's changing the channel!"

I wipe my forehead, spinning around. "Jade, can you come help me with these plates please?"

She nods, gently getting out of her seat and she walks over with a smile. I make Jamie his lettuce and cheese sandwich first and I pass it her to take to him. 

"Can we have chocolate?" Jessie asks.

"No." I say.

"After lunch?"

"No."

"What about ice cream?" Jamie says.

"Maybe."

"Dad," Jade says from below me. "I don't want cheese."

"It's for Jessie." I say, handing her the plate. 

Suddenly, there is a small knock on the door and I wipe my hands on a towel. "Jade, finish yours."

She takes over my place adding her tomatoes as I walk through the house to answer the door. As soon as I'm out of sight, their voices grow louder and I thump my hand against the wall beside the door, before slowly opening it. 

I look ahead at blank air, watching the cars drive past the end of my driveway. I start to close the door, but then I look down, and I flinch as a small child with brown-haired pigtails grins up at me. 

"Hi." I say, confused. 

"Hi," she says back. "Can I come in?"

I crouch down to her level, looking aimlessly around for her parents. "Where is your mummy and daddy?"

"They don't know I'm here. I came to see you."

"To see me?"

She flutters her bright, blue eyes at me in a strange way, like she's remembering something in my face. "You still live here," she says. "I knew you wouldn't leave."

"Sorry. What is your name?"

"Isla," she says. "You're in my house."

"I think you're confused. Where do you live? I'll take you home."

Her smile drops and she breathes angrily. "You don't understand, I live here."

I keep my eyes above her head, still searching for her parents that must be frantically looking for her. "Wait here a moment."

I leave her at my door as I pace down my driveway, stepping out onto the sidewalk and glancing in every direction for any sign of panic. It's quiet. There's only cars and my neighbor Mrs Terrell, whom is mowing her lawn. 

I turn around, only to find her gone. "Isla?" I call. 

I dash back up the driveway, looking around as I enter the house, she must be inside. I close the door behind me and I pick up the landline phone as I follow the laughter coming from the kitchen. 

Isla sits at the table, making herself at home with my children. They all exchange names and then Isla focuses on Jamie, reaching over to take a sandwich from his plate.

"Dad, where did she come from?" Jessie giggles.

"Isla," I say. "Do you know your home number?"

She nods and tells me it confidently. 

"Are you hungry?" I ask her.

"Yes, please."

"Jade," I say. "Make her a sandwich."

Jade glares at me from the other side of the table and I motion my head towards the counter angrily, she sighs and drops her sandwich.

"Come on Isla. Tell me what you want," she says to the girl.

I step out of the kitchen into the doorway and I keep my eyes on them as I dial the number she gave me. I press the phone tightly to my ear and a frantic voice picks up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, sorry to bother you but I have a young girl here and she's gave me this number to-"

"Oh thank God!" the woman shouts. "Is she safe? We've been going out of our minds."

"She's safe," I say. "She just turned up at my door literally minutes ago. She's with my kids at the moment, don't worry, she's fine."

"I've found her! Call the police!" she yells to someone at the other end. "Where are you? We'll be there as soon as possible. I'm so sorry about this."

"It's fine," I say, but secretly I want to give her some harsh words about parenting. "I'm at ten Beacon Drive."

"Beacon Drive?" she gasps. "East side?"

"Yeah. Why? Where do you live?"

"Across town. I can't believe she's walked so far. She's never gone that far before."

I look at Isla as I say this. "She's done this before?"

"I'll explain when we get there. Would you be able to keep an eye on her, please?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, so much. We won't be long."

She disconnects the call and I place the phone onto a side cabinet, aimlessly glaring into the kitchen. If she's wandered off before then why the hell aren't they keeping an eye on her? I look after three which is hard work, but I make sure the doors are always locked when I leave them alone to do paperwork in my office, and they've never tried to unlock them. 

Isla follows Jade back to the table and she picks up a sandwich and begins eating it. I follow over to it, pulling out a spare chair. 

"Are you thirsty?" I ask her. "Would you like a drink?"

She nods her head. "Yes, please. Juice, please."

I meet Jade's eyes and she sighs again, getting up from the table. 

"How long have you been walking for?"

She shrugs. "Since this morning."

"That's a long way to walk," I say, ignoring the looks from the kids, who are slowly catching on. "Why did you leave your house?"

"My parents don't believe me," she says, wiping her mouth. "That I lived here."

"Lived?"

She nods.

"You said, live, before. So, do you think this was once your house?"

She chews her sandwich, watching the TV. "Yes."

"We've lived here since we were babies, you didn't live here." Jessie says. 

"How old are you?" I ask her.

"Seven," she replies, looking at me. "I was born on January fourth."

I hold my breath for a moment, letting the significance of that date wash over me with dread.

"That's my birthday!" Jamie squeals. "We have the same birthday."

"Cool," Isla smiles to him. "We should have a joint party."

"Yes! Can we, Dad?"

"What?" I whisper. "No."

Jade returns with a glass of orange juice and passes it to Isla, who gulps it down quickly. "How long is she staying?" Jade asks.

"Until her parents come get her," I tell her. "So, be nice."

"Isla do you want to see my Lego collection?" Jamie asks politely. "I'm building a Ferris wheel."

"Sure."

"Eat your lunch first," I say. "Then you can show her."

They all sit quietly, and I want to pinch myself to confirm that this is real. There is no arguing, no squabbling, no tactless insults being hurled back and forth, it's as though Isla's presence has aged them by five years. 

Probably because they're observing her calm behavior and don't want to show off in front of her. She's three years younger than them and has the intellect of a child their age. I'm hoping it rubs off on them, maybe Isla was what I needed all along. 

I get up from the table and descend for the lounge, pausing in the hallway to listen to any noise. But it's still calm, quiet.

It's bliss.