arper's soft whining filled the apartment,to notify that she needed some fresh air and

sed, taking a s

ng it open. "I'm heading out for some erran

ward, her voice a desperate

y turned, his expression darkening with sudden compr

inging Harper a gift. She'll be here any minute. Yo

...

ay out there a

y to zero in on secrets. If she found him here, cohabiting with her best friend, she'd go crazy about it

ned th

lway wa

M

vis

sil

en, her

cal

lurched. She an

ar

of breath. "Jade! I'm so annoyed. I was already halfway to your place

t gave out. "Oh my

chanic is done. I'll come tomorrow instead. I bou

okay. Just

iss!" Mara added

the phone and

at the door, arms folded

sure you stop her on

h caught. "I

ay is temporarily, so I really do not want conversations, questions, in

y. "I'll handle it

oo

m the room. pulling both

His jaw tightened. He wasn't

loud," h

a look. "She's

sed to babies,

a word, she went to her room to go feed b

ut leaving just Jade

job is already on a break... she was in the kitchen w

Jade thought. Then she smacked her head hard

re Harper sat on her blanket surrounded by toys. The apartment was f

pped through the air

a

hed into the living room and saw Harper c

hing the baby up. In one quick motion, she carried

ned to the living roo

small, unmistakabl

d hurried to clean it before

la

nto every sharp line of his face. "Are you kidding me?"

shot back, breathless. "

e continued, voice low with frustration. "Keep

I'm hand

ugh. "Make sure it d

, Jace. Children make messes. If you don't li

tting. "The father of the child should be t

split second. Her jaw c

ly. "But life doesn't always g

sharp air, staring at each other wi

n her promise as she made sure to keep Har

orked in the room. Sang

nt became almost ghostlike...

t exactly what

n't know what to do or say as he was

k Lat

linds. Jade stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast,

e laughed, kissing her cheek

, smacking Jade's che

ly. "Ah! Assault! Harp

ight, open mouthed lau

t exact moment, headin

ped hal

ene fr

ng like she hadn't in weeks. Harper giggling wi

n... he

r's s

ide of her cheek... that tiny,

t dimple

ess before him, Jade and Harper l

s nearly

her eyes sparkling with the same warmth

unfamiliar twist s

ther of them

escaped him as smoke coi

oughed again.

es widene

was overflowing with black smoke. She rushed to

, lifting her out of the smoke fi

indows!" Ja

coughing, holding Harper pro

oke th

the stove... and a sound shar

e f

eyes

then

OM

e apartme

sile

tense as he shouted, "how can you be so carel

snapped, waving the sm

r face in his sh

" Jade b

on the door, fol

e you in

oor... widened as they s

wasn't

per.