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