doors, and the thick, soupy heat of a New York summer envel
this city in pieces. She was returning with two small lives depending on her. The weight of
a few extra weeks, but in the end, Catherine Byers had slipped away quietly in her sleep, a month after that terrible night at the St. Regis
uldn't fail again. Not h
ar, Lily tugged at her sleeve. "
uggling two children and a mountain of luggage, and her friend was waiting
. "Okay, Mom. Come on, Lily." He took his sister's hand with the practi
ely latched onto a vendor selling brightly colored Mylar balloons. Specifically, a
ons to stay close, she let go of his han
alled, already movi
impact sent her stumbling backward, but a man's hand caught her arm, steadying her before she fell. Lily mumbled
, slightly flushed. "Wh
ly. "Lily just bumped into som
't see the tall man who had crouched down to look at her daughter, didn't notice the stran
d to a halt directly in front of
vealing a woman with a fiery red bob and
arrillo whistled, her bright
You're still as subtle as a foghorn." She leaned in through the o
ch," Jessie mumbled
Kailee whispered bac
er gaze landed on the two small figures perc
inger at them. "Kailee...
ned woman and offered a polite, seriou
Kailee's leg. "Hi, Auntie," she said
comical blend of shock and disbelief. She looked from one to the o
ed her a few feet away from the car, lower
ter's program, did you? You went to a
g, though her eyes were suspiciously bright. "
her tiny car. It was a tight squeeze. She watched, dumbfounded, as Leo climbed into his boo
" Jessie muttered
two small passengers. She noticed the way Leo's brow furrowed in concentration as he watched the traffic, the
at, her soft, melodic voice a stark contras
arefully casual. "How old are
he passing blur of buildings. "They're almost six," she said
instantly. She understood. This was serious. She pressed her foot on the
t building in Brooklyn. Jessie's apartment was small, but i
rtoon-themed sheets. Two stuffed animals-a fluffy bear
riend had made for her and her children without a moment's hesitation. Words failed her
hick as she patted Kailee's back. "We
from the long journey, the two women finally sat down on the living room sof
ured a generous amount of whiskey into a glass fo
ith a soft thud. "Now you can tell me. Wha
e. The glass felt frigid against her skin. She was silent f
rden herself, to share the secret she had carried alone for so long. The secret of a d
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