ive lilies and lemon polish. It w

her steps uneven. Martha, the housekee

ike a ghost," Martha ex

hand. A sharp, cu

ill lingered in her belly. She went into the master bedroom. In her bag

trash bin, and poured half a bottle of bleach over them. The chem

r chimed in

or f

his sleeves rolled up. But underneath the fatigue, ther

pital antiseptic.

ding by the bathro

yesterday," Julius said. No hel

oom, sitting on the edge of

irt. "Chanelle nearly hemorrhaged during the delivery. Tw

is shirt on

he asked, almost as an aftertho

phone. Her thumbs hov

t our

he words. Then

most

ksp

th

ed him t

r. Stop the drama. I'm exhausted. Can't you just be normal for once

too fast. A sharp pain shot thro

out instinctive

touched

t iron. She slapped his hand away,

t the hell is wrong with you? Are you jealous? Of a w

nel

e was a

stal vase there, a heavy, intricate thing filled

the neck o

him. She hurled i

as

allpaper. Shards skittered across the hardwood f

hat followed

nd?" Julius shouted, s

haking, but not from fear. From a

er hand and

Her palm connected with his cheekb

eyes wide with disbelief. He opened his m

rembling finger at

oat burned. It felt like swallowing glass. Instead of a word, she rais

voice filled the room

ut

py, broken, ugly

just come to life and drawn a sword. The fear in h

"Cool off. You're

ut, slamming the door s

he waited until she hea

hards. She opened the bottom drawer of the

ssolution o

the date field, she

uzzed. A te

n unknown number, but

olding two swaddled bundles. Chanelle was leaning her

ion read

oto. Her eyes were dry.