room for you here? The truth is, there's no space for you in this family." Demi Miller's mouth
led backward into the sparkling wate
er arms and kicked wildly, as if s
out!" Her screams rang out
n as cold as stone. There was not a flicker of warmth or c
ration that Luke and Ivy Miller had thr
nished at birth. Even after endless searching, the
resurface as an adult, suddenly making Gra
la. She burst outside, Luke close behi
ughter thrashing in the water and Grace, who stood at the edge.
ol, leaving Ivy jabbing her finger at Grace
th a calm indifference, her voice steady and a
hy would she jump in herself? We opened our home
managed to lift De
y tears and murmured, "Please don't blame Grace. This happe
le bird caught in a sto
mi close and whispered, "Demi, you
Grace. "Go pack your belongings
tried to reason. "When we took Grace in, we made a promise to the orpha
isunderstand? It was our own daughter who nearly drowned. No one w
feated sigh. He nodded and gave in. "Alr
d Ella Fowler, the woman
hanks to the adoption, they received financial support of three hundred
fit into the family's plans. Perhaps it wa
rom a distance, her expre
t aloof. Yet, not a flicker of pain or resentment shone
race, Ms. Fowler will be here soon. Take ever
t," Grace inter
with innocence, she chimed in, "Grace, do you still feel bad that I've come hom
logy. She's the one who took your spot all thes
at both Ivy and Luke. "You both know
but blood ties always took precedence. It
iscuss. What's done is don
d time to speak before voices ec
speaking with careful respect. "Mr. M
a second. He managed a nod. "Go on, Gr
th. "Come, sweetheart. None of this is your fault, and
Julia Holden from your last visit to the orphanage? She's very fond of y
d Grace's eyes. Wasn't Julia the
"Julia's family is already on their way. If
iet hope, "I believe you'l
ace find a place where she belonged. This was the l
quietly. Then, with a nod
Ella's face, her smil