I’m glad to find that I’m not the only one who has pondered on this. I didn’t think it was nefarious or sinister by any means, but I did think it was a little unusual for the first one awake to be at 8:00. Mainly because the cottage was so open, and light and sounds would definitely have me awake earlier, even without kids excited in a new place.
I didn’t see it as a sign of anything bad, I just thought they must be much heavier sleepers than I am, and lucky to have kids who sleep so late! Maybe jet lag or some type of allergy medication, etc. could have affected the heaviness of their sleep. I have travelled internationally, and jet lag doesn’t affect me in that way, but I’m sure everyone is different.
Has anyone read or heard anything about the events of that morning — were mom and other kids still sleeping at 8:00? Had dad been awake for awhile before discovering her missing? Do we know what time the children were last checked up on, the night before? I have followed this pretty closely and haven’t heard any details on that, but could have missed something. In the US, details like this usually seem to come out.
I have wondered if her leaving in the morning, after sunrise, was even an actual possibility? If other family members were awake before sunrise, then she must have left (however it happened) in the dark of night. It would be helpful to know how early the first family member woke up that morning. Just because dad discovered her missing at 8:00 doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have been awake sooner, and just didn’t go upstairs until 8:00.
