snappe

edroom window, the same sunligh

t yest

the morning I received the email about Aun

hammere

reath catching in my throat.

n my phone. Beneficiary Confirm

llion d

sharp and fierce, warred with a terr

ad to get

bedroom, down the

ajar. I pus

t my sleeping daughter. Her expression wasn' t loving, not the

' d had in that o

od ran

her little f

urprisingly steady. "What a

self into a bland smile. "Oh, Sarah dear. Mark had an ear

he' d "help

rib, placing myself between Karen and Lily. "But actu

eyes narrowed slightly. "Ma

ecialist. For her, um, her allergies. They had a cancellation." I

l of her small body in my arms

but I blinked them back

ed, her gaze sharp. "She

lready moving towards the door. "I need

ried Lily out of the room, my heart po

That was all

om this house,

llars could wait. M

afety was