The Mother Who Waited

on shattered

awn, near the wrought-iron gates

ation. Ricky, her husband, shambled behind her, his eyes darting around, already loo

l for his age, his clothes ragged, his hair matted. He stumbled,

carefully manicured lawn, a stark, un

voice, raw and loud, cut

t a cold knot tighten in my stomach, th

d, her voice thick with emotion, gesturing wildly.

finger at Sam, who loo

d, "Samuel Ainsworth, he'

he guests. I kept my fac

he disheveled boy for

is Daniel Ainsworth! Your real son, Eleanor! I swapped th

. "I did it to give my boy, my Sam, a better life! T

. Crystal' s phone panned across the shoc

d composure, honed over years of practice, held