ater, Lily w

e took the keys to the Range Rover an

line of luxury SUVs sn

led up to

e was alre

anora was leaning against it, wearing oversized sunglasses, chatting

the heat ris

round, jumped the curb slightly, and parked d

he engine an

ite blazer and stilettos.

d. The other mothe

es. Her smile faltered. "Emel

her, towering over E

carried over the quiet street. "The real question is, what a

cing at the other mothers. "I wa

our dignity. Stay away from my child, Eleanora. If I see you here again, I will fil

This was Upper East Side

d a deep, ugly red. "Y

" Emelie smiled. It

s opened. Child

. She scanned the crowd. She saw El

he saw

ed. She lo

t down on the sidewalk, ignoring

de chocolate chip cookies. The kind with th

ened her mo

venomous it could have kil

e promise of sugar and the sight of her mot

an to

urying her face in L

and walked back to her car without

thouse, the atm

ed the staff.

istine kitchen that was rarely use

a mess," Eme

threw a handful of

r and daughter. No sickness. No m

"Auntie El said you were busy. She s

e gripped the ed

She turned to Lily and wiped

ut here is the truth: You only have one mommy. An

pting the truth as children do

es

r opened. Cli

ned. The air smelled of vanilla and bak

omestic warmth he h

o him with a cookie

ing at Emelie with a strange

now you bak

melie said. She washed her hands

said, looking around. "I

et. She dried her hands on

he said coldly. "I did th

pron and threw i

her bath. Dinner is in t

ding alone in the warm, sweet-smellin