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“What are you sorry for?” the mom asked, confused.
“I gave the bag of food to Mona.” The girl burst out in tears. “She and her brother were hungry and had nothing to eat. I’m sorry you had to go back and get more food for Andy.”
“Who’s Mona?” the mom asked, as she exchanged baffled looks with Amanda and Gene. “Stella, what are you talking about?”
The girl was now in full panic mode, worried about her mother’s reaction. She was gasping in breath.
“Ma’am,” Gene quickly took charge. “I’m sorry. What’s your name?”
“Trudy.”
“Trudy, I’m a doctor. May I help Stella catch her breath?” he asked for consent.
“Yes, yes!” the mom said anxiously.
Gene gestured for the mom to help her daughter sit on the folding chair. He crouched next to Stella and spoke gently to her.
“Stella, can you focus on my voice? Let’s take a deep breath together on my count, okay? Slowly, we inhale for four counts, then exhale for four. Can you do that with me?”
The girl’s eyes were bewildered, but she nodded.
“Is she allergic to dogs?” Gene asked Trudy. When the mom shook her head, he called Loki to sit by the girl. “Stella, you can pet Loki if you want. He’s a good boy.”
Amanda and Trudy watched as Gene guided Stella into a slow, deep breathing exercise, while the girl had an arm around Loki. After a few counts, the girl calmed. Trudy enfolded Stella into a hug, looking relieved.
“Thank you,” Trudy said to Gene.
Amanda blew an audible sigh as she threw a grateful look at Gene. The girl’s reaction was unexpected, but now she knew Stella was going to be fine, the girl’s revelation was a bombshell.
After giving Stella a few minutes to collect herself, Amanda tried again.
“Stella, can you tell us who Mona is? You won’t get into trouble, I promise.”
“I’m not mad at you, honey,” Trudy assured her. “But if you know about the missing girl, you should say something.”
“She said not to tell anyone,” Stella started speaking while still hugging Loki. “She doesn’t want him to find them.”
“Them?” Amanda asked.
“She and her little brother.”
Amanda gasped.
She’s not alone.
“Is this Mona?” Gene showed Stella the sketch again.
The girl nodded. “They’re camping in the woods. I don’t know which part, but away from the campground.”
Amanda locked gazes with Gene.
She’s real. And she has a name and a brother.
“Who’s him?” Trudy asked. “Who are they hiding from?”
The girl shook her head. “I don’t know. I saw her when I came back up here to get my book that first day we got to the park.”
“That’s Monday. We went shopping the next day.”
