a solid thunk. She buried her face in her hands, her breath coming in short, ragged

cabbie asked, glancing

ddress of the private elementary school

f the taxi-stale cigarettes and pine air freshener-was suffocating. She rolled down the window a crack, letting the chaotic noise of

grabbed a crumpled tissue from her coat pocket and scrubbed at her face, trying to erase the evid

d by a wrought-iron fence. A swarm of children in neat uniforms poured out the front doors, their joyful shouts fillin

umn air was crisp, carrying the scent of fallen leaves. She smoothed

ide her teacher, her arms wrapped around a large red rubber ball. Her dark hair was p

nnemarie through the gate. She dropped

t embrace. She buried her face in Clementine's neck, inhaling the sweet, familiar scent

arie murmured, sq

me," Clementine giggled

he cupped her daughter's face in her hands, intending

e, illuminating her features with startling clarity. Annemar

of molten gold that caught the light in a way that was entirely unique. Annemarie had seen that exa

. It was delicate, yes, but there was a stubborn, sharp angularity to it that contradi

g the passing resemblance, convincing herself that babies looked like everyone. But today, after seeing Carlis

tilting her head. "Are you

so clearly, anyone else could too. If Carlisle ever got close enough to look-really look-at this c

e said, her voice tight. She stood up

tested, pointing to the red r

her arm and practically dragged her daughter down the sidewalk, away from

!" Clementine whined, her littl

e pulled out her phone and dialed the only person in

peaking," the cri

o hold it in any longer. "I need

"My apartment. Twenty min

e. She clutched her daughter's hand the entire ride downtown, stari