or from the garage, the smell of Brittany' s perfume hit me. It was the same fl

ere sh

my silk robes. A half-empty glass of wine sat on my coffee table next to her

ed, as if she belonged there. "

o him, placing a hand on his c

He put his arm around her waist and gave her a gentle squeez

he murmured to Brittany, com

I thought was mine, was a physical blow. They had been doing this

my voice flat. "What

f innocence. "What do you mean? I came to see you and

, my voice rising despite

t of Brittany as if to protect her. "Your sister is ju

out the car. The sheer depth

irs. She' d been staying with us for t

ng to my side. Then she saw Brittany, wrapped in Mark' s arms, looking like t

n, Mom. I get so anxious when I think something might have happened to Chloe." She looked

us cloud. She wasn't just my sister; she w

started to spin. I grabbed the

sway, she suddenly gasped, clutching her own stomach. "Oh!" she cried

uine shock and sickness were instantly

ays seen through her younger daughter' s manipulations. "Stop this

ask of fury directed entirely at me. "Can't you see Brittany is in pain? You'r

ion, that I could only stare at him in stunned silence. This was th

ered, leaning heavily against him

dropped into the ten

the last bit of str

en to dazed joy. He scooped Brittany up i

ant?" he whispered, his

ittany said, burying

"I'm taking you to the hospital right now. We need to get you checked out immediately." He threw

tairs, his heavy footstep

rushed to my side, her arms wrapp

shut, a new voice cut through the silence. It was Brittany, speaking to

d probably know. That marriage certificate Chloe is so proud of? It'