‘I understand,’ Emily said. ‘What time are you going to be home tomorrow?’
Her father sighed. ‘Late, I’m afraid. It’s another double shift. I won’t be home until supper tomorrow night. But you’ve still got plenty of food and there’s lots of water left. You shouldn’t have to go out anywhere. Now remember, if you need me—’
‘I know, I’ll call.’ Emily smiled and gently started to shove her father towards the front door. ‘Go to work, Dad. The city needs you.’
‘I hope you need me too,’ he said as he put on his cap.
‘I’ll always need you,’ Emily assured him as she rose on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. ‘Please be careful and come home safe.’
‘I will,’ he promised as he turned on his police flashlight and entered the dark hall. Turning back to her a final time, he said, ‘Lock the door after me and keep the bat handy.’
‘Will you please go?’ Emily said, laughing.
After he had gone, Emily waited awhile before heading for the stairs. Stepping out on the open roof, she was once again struck by the beautiful star-studded night sky. ‘Wow!’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen so many stars!’
‘It’s amazing, isn’t it?’ Joel agreed, moving away from Pegasus. ‘You don’t even need your flashlight.’
After sunset, Pegasus could leave the garden shed to freely wander the roof without the fear of being seen by curious neighbours. Emily saw the stallion standing before her father’s strawberry plants. He was busily eating all the ripe berries he could find.
‘He hasn’t stopped eating since the sun went down,’ Joel said. ‘If it’s growing and sweet, he’s eating it. I’m afraid he’s ruined what was left of the tomato patch.’
‘Tomatoes?’ Emily repeated. ‘We didn’t plant tomatoes this year. With my mother so sick, we didn’t come up here at all.’
‘They must have grown back from last year,’ Joel suggested. ‘There’s lots of stuff growing. But all Pegasus wanted from them were the tomatoes.’
Emily approached Pegasus as he stood before the strawberries. ‘Hi boy,’ she said as she stroked his folded wing.
Pegasus reached out and dropped a single ripe strawberry in Emily’s hand.
‘Thanks Pegs!’ Emily said in shock. She ate the berry and savoured the sweet flavour.
‘I can’t believe you just ate that,’ Joel said in horror. ‘It’s been in his mouth.’
‘So?’
‘So, it’s disgusting. It’s got to be full of germs.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Emily said. ‘I bet we’ve got loads more germs than him.’ She turned her attention to Pegasus. ‘So, how are you feeling tonight?’
‘He’s getting better,’ Joel answered. ‘He’s even been stretching out his wing to test it. I don’t think it’ll be too long before he’s ready to go.’
Emily suddenly felt a deep pang of sorrow. Pegasus couldn’t be with her for ever, she knew that. But after the recent loss of her mother, losing him as well seemed too much to bear.
As if the stallion knew what she was thinking, he offered her a second strawberry. The simple gesture brought tears to her eyes.
‘Thank you, Pegasus,’ she said softly.
‘Hey, are you crying?’ Joel asked. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing,’ Emily said, furiously wiping tears away. ‘I’m overtired. I didn’t sleep last night and we’ve been on the go ever since. I just need a bit of rest.’
‘Didn’t you say we were going to camp out up here tonight?’ When Emily nodded, Joel beamed. ‘Well, let’s go back down to your apartment and get the blankets. Then we can get some sleep.’
Emily nodded and sniffed back the last of her silent tears. ‘I promised Pegasus marshmallows. So I’ll grab them too.’
Soon, Emily and Joel were back on the roof with two sleeping bags, several blankets and two pillows.
One of the blankets was draped over Pegasus to keep the stallion warm. But as Emily and Joel settled down on two long lounge chairs, they were surprised when the stallion lowered himself to the ground and rested between them.
‘Why do you think he’s here?’ Joel asked as he lay back in the lounge chair, staring at the stars.
‘I don’t know,’ Emily said as she lay on her side and stroked Pegasus’s neck. ‘I know it’s really important, but I can’t see why.’
‘Maybe it has to do with that other Olympian, Paelen.’
‘From what I saw, Pegasus was already on his way here when Paelen stole his bridle. I think he was more of a nuisance than anything else.’
They settled into a comfortable silence. The evening was cool but not cold, and the stars above and silence of the city made them feel like they really were out camping.
‘Joel,’ Emily said tentatively, ‘what’s it like living in a foster home?’
She heard him take a deep breath and instantly regretted asking him.
‘Why do you want to know?’ he challenged, his voice growing hard.
‘Please don’t get angry again,’ she said. ‘It was just a question.’