Page 45 of The Lost and Found Girl

Dahlia’s stomach burned with satisfaction. She had known there was something here. The validation from her boss was just...it was so good. What she’d always prided herself on was seeing those in Pear Blossom who were otherwise unseen, or seen as different, or bad in some way. Like Dana. Her friend group at school had been made up of misfits—people she still kept in touch with.

Dahlia might not be accepted in the way Ruby was—with open arms and total enthusiasm. But Dahlia had her place here. And the fact her perspective could be shown to people in this way really mattered to her.

“In my opinion, it’s why people moved here,” Dahlia said. “For that sense of community. I want to bring them in. To the good and bad parts of our history. Make everyone who’s here feel like a local. And remind the locals of what makes us unique.”

“I’m interested. When can you get started?”

“Right away. The pieces on the pear industry... And the other historical pieces, those will be easier. And my sister is going to work on doing some corresponding displays at the museum. Which I can include information on in the paper. But it’ll probably take me some time to get into Ruby’s and Caitlin’s stories. And the war stories. I want to talk to people who remember. It’s not just about relaying the events, but the way that it changed things. The way that people felt.”

Dale nodded. “Get started as soon as possible. God knows we have the room.”

“I mean, I guess it’s not a bad thing that we tend to traffic in slow news days. Dogs playing in sprinklers means nothing bad has happened, I guess.”

Dale smiled. “I’ve always thought so.”

“Can I start with you?”

“Sure,” he said. He sighed. “I’ve covered... I covered Ruby being found and... And Caitlin Groves’ disappearance. I remember both. Vividly.” His gaze took on a faraway look.

It was interesting to Dahlia, because of course she’d found Ruby. But she’d been a child. And everyone assumed Dahlia, Lydia, Marianne and Ruby would know all about Ruby and her origins, so they never spoke to them about it.

It was the same with Caitlin Groves. Dahlia couldn’t even remember her disappearance, but it was something everyone in town justknew. Which meant they didn’t speak of it, not really.

“What can you tell me about Caitlin Groves’ disappearance? About the ripple that went through the community?”

“It was like a deep fracture,” he said. “It’s the best way I can describe it. As if a crack ran down the middle of the town. For a while, everyone banded together. They searched for her. They exhaustively combed the woods, the orchards. But once that faded, that was when the real despair set in.”

“What about Dana Groves?” Dahlia asked. “When did the town turn on her?”

Dale frowned. “I don’t feel the town turned on her. But she wanted answers no one could give, and... I expect people couldn’t handle being reminded of tragedy constantly. I think there was hope when Nathan Brewer was arrested. But then he was released from prison after only a few years and never convicted... There was a hopelessness, a distrust that seemed to color everything. I never thought we would find our way back from that.”

“But that’s where Ruby comes in,” Dahlia said, feeling slightly uncomfortable. And yet, she could see. She could see the way that these lines were drawn between these events.

It had entered Dahlia’s mind that it was possible Ruby belonged to Caitlin. She’d considered it more than once. The only thing was the timing. She’d disappeared a tiny bit more than a year before Ruby appeared, which would mean she’d gone off, gotten pregnant and returned, and that didn’t really make any sense.

“Yes,” he said. “I remember that night vividly. The actual night. I got called down to the police station. And there she was. This tiny little bundle. Healthy. In spite of how freezing cold it was. I work a lot with the police and the mood down at the station had been... It had been poor. To be no closer to solving the disappearance of Caitlin Groves, to bring her mother closure... It had taken its toll on them. Tom Swenson is a dear friend of mine, and he was never the same. But that night, the night that Ruby was found... He was sitting at his desk holding her, and it was like some of the good in the world was visible again. Like some of the hope had returned. You never forget that. I never will.”

“Thank you. Can I quote you?”

“Sure. Make sure you talk to Tom, though, too. I know what I saw, but he’ll be able to tell you.”

“I will.”

She left her boss’s office feeling renewed. Feeling... Enthusiastic. She went back into the archive room, and she hunted around for the papers that would’ve come out in the days following Caitlin’s disappearance. And then she went back to the 1940s, gathering pieces from World War II. And when she had it all, she walked next door to the museum and into the building.

“Hi, Dana,” she said upon entry.

Dana looked up at her, her expression unreadable. “Dahlia.”

And Dahlia could remember clearly that day she’d walked by Dana’s house to see that pack of football players throwing rocks at the windows. And Dahlia had been all righteous fury at fifteen.

Stop that, you pack of pricks!

They’d ignored her.

I said stop! What the hell is wrong with you? She’s not a witch, and you’re not tough.

Are you going to make me stop?