e apartment, the smell of

of pasta sauce. She looked up, a tired

ounter, avoiding her sister's ey

na's face lit

couldn't tell Elana the truth. Not about the marriage. Not about the

ms around Davina. "You'll get it.

uilt gnawing at her stoma

ack and rubbing her swollen bell

asta was simple, but it tasted like home. Halfway thro

ed, reaching for her siste

anxious. About Daisy. The surgery is so expensi

er hand tight. "I

her eyes wide. "W

na said, the words tasting like ash. "And

Elana's brow furrowed. "Ho

" Davina said vaguely.

r eye. "I don't know what

vina said softly. "And don

for her prenatal checkup. The waiting room was crowde

gel on Elana's belly. The whooshing sound of the

ian said, pointing to the

face radiant. "It

e tiny, curled-up form. A new life

he might be carrying a child too. A child that was contract

t made her

n the hallway. Davina watched a couple walk by. The man had his arm aroun

er have that. Not with Kash. With Kash, there

estroom, adjusting her

ha

a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "From the

up. "The Blackwell F

sed. "I mean, he sounded very professional. He said it was a special request

ave a random patient's mother called by a senior manager as a pe

or a favor made her feel a strange mix of gratitude and re

the text message. Spen

his out of kindness. He was doing it to kee

Davina said, her voice hard. "

ong," Elana said, pointing at Davin

from Gavin Finch, the creative direc

b. Start tomor

face. It was a small victory, but it wa

he bright afternoon sun. The city was loud and dirty and overwhel