I cuddled next to Papa and Ma as they read books on the couch. My head rested on Ma’s lap and my feet rested on Papa’s lap. They turned their book pages at the same. A yawn escaped my lips as I curled more into a ball. Ma glanced down at me from the top of her book. 

“Hun, if you are tired go to bed.” I shook my head in response, comfy where I was. I loved being with them, even in those moments of silence. Their mere presence was comforting to me.

“Well, it’s about to be your bedtime anyway so off to bed you go,” Ma added as she shook her legs to get me off. I groaned as I rolled off the couch.

“Nora, surely it’s okay for Suki to stay up a little long,” Pa said closing his book, “It’s not like she is doing anything dangerous!” Ma looked down at me and pinched the bridge of her nose. 

“Children need their sleep. She needs to sleep,” she said. Papa sighed.

“Surely one night won’t hurt.”

Ma shook her head, “Fine, but you will be the one responsible for taking care of her if she gets cranky or if someone needs to carry her to bed.”

Papa smiled and looked down at Suki, “See you get too….” When he looked down Suki was already asleep. Her body was tiny for someone her age. Her hair long and knotted from the times she didn’t brush her hair. Ma crossed her arms and gave Papa a knowing look.

“Right on time. She always falls asleep right on time,” Ma said wrapping on arm around Papa. He smiled.

“She’s such a good kid,” he said bending down to pick up Suki.

“All kids are, technically.”

“Well, Suki’s different!”

“Every parent says the same about their kid.”

Papa nodded in agreement, “What did we do to deserve her?”

They stayed silent. They were unable to conceive children of their own, despite the many treatments. The Queen, while she was alive, helped pay for them. She often went with Nora on these trips. But, the problems were never with Nora.

Nora smiled and kissed him on the cheek, “Nothing and everything.”

Papa’s nose scrunched up, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Nora laughed with a shrug. The two planted a kiss on each other's lips, unbeknownst to them, Suki opened one eye and smiled. Happy that her parents were happy.

~~~~~

Papa was awoken by Nora shaking him. “What is it,” he said groggily.

“Fire,” she shouted. He shot up just like that and jumped out of bed. The room smelled like smoke and an unbearable heat filled the room. The bedroom door was wide open. He could see the mixture of orange and red.

Nora was shaking, her eyes red and her face wet with a mixture of tears and sweat. “We need to get out of here,” he mumbled grabbing Nora’s hand.

“But what about Suki?! She-she–”

Papa cut her off, “First, we need to get to safety. There isn’t much we can do if we are trapped in here too.” Nora's face dropped, and her lips narrowed down into a frown. Her head shook, “No, no it’s alright.”

He grabbed her hand and gingerly walked their way toward the entrance of the cabin.

“Margo! Margo! Where are you?!”

Papa turned his head. His heart halted, hearing the desperate cries. Cries he never thought he would hear. 

“Margo,” it continued. Nora’s grip tightened,

“Get out,” she shouted, “It’s too dangerous!”

“Charles?! Where’s Suki?!” Papa yelled before moving on.

There was no response.  The two made their way out of the cabin, coughing as they exited. The King stood in the driveway, frozen as if he were a statue. Other maids and butlers held each other. Another cried. 

Papa’s eyes darted across the yard. Where is she? Where is she? Where is she?

She wasn’t there. His heart stopped for real this time. The pain and anguish in his chest, this must be what a heart attack feels like. Nora dropped to her knees and let out a wail. Drawing the attention of other maids and butlers. 

A good friend ran over, Dylan. He joined the service at the same time as Papa. Dylan huffed, “She’s. She’s okay,” he said. Nora couldn’t stop crying. Papa looked around.

“Where is she then?”

Dylan stiffened, “Prince Charles. Prince Charles was angry at her. She. She left right as soon as she realized there was a fire. She was making sure we all were okay, but. But the prince was so angry.”

Dylan looked at Papa in the eyes, “He thought Suki abandoned Margo. He slapped her. Hard. Hard enough to cause her to fall. He. Ran back in and Suki. Suki ran off towards the lake.”

Papa looked back at the cabin, which now was red with fire. There was no way anything inside was still alive. He could hear the faint sound of fire trucks coming. He bit the bottom of his lip, he only knew briefly how the King felt. But if Margo was truly inside the cabin still…

He didn’t want to think about it. He already knew by the silence and the roaring of the flames. Whoever was in there was dead by now.

“Keep an eye on Nora. I’m going to find Suki.”

He ran before Dylan could say anything. He ran to look for his child. His fists tightened hoping and praying to anything that Suki was alright. That he would find Suki crying by the lake and everything would be okay or as okay as it could be.

He huffed and puffed, as he looked out at the lake. His eyes squinted as they scanned the horizon. His heart beat fast. He wasn’t sure if it was just from the running or the fear. 

Then he saw it. Two figures standing on the lake. One frozen solid, and the other gingerly walking towards the other frozen figure. The gingerly one held a stick, holding it out and its leg shook like a baby deer’s. 

His eyes widened, recognizing the figures. Margo stood frozen, shaking too, but still frozen. Tears in her eyes and her hair a knotted mess. She was barefoot and her nightgown was damp with snow. The complete opposite from her usual demeanor.

Suki stood in front of her, holding the stick. More put together than Margo. It was only then Papa remembered putting Suki to bed without changing her clothes. He noticed it now when looking closer. Seeing the socks Suki wore. The ones that had bunnies on them. That was when he noticed that his worst dreams may become a reality and how he really should have forced Suki to confront her fears of swimming.

The ice was cracking.