hild was whimpering softly, his big, dark eyes wide with confusion and fear. He looked t

a con man who thinks his mark is completely fooled. "The orphanage director loved us. She said it was

ive. I walked over and looked at the child. My heart ached for

soft. I reached out and gently touched

leanor. She had a habit of dropping by unannounced, a ha

then stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes fixed on

d. "Mom! What a surprise. This is Leo

e for a grandchild, pressuring us for years. I expected her to be thril

as your eyes, David. And that hair... he lo

s sound. "What a coincidence, Mom! I

long, hard look before turning to me. "Chloe,

one rang. He glanced at the scree

o go, right now. It'll probably be for a couple of days. I am so sorry, honey." He leaned in and gave me

acked duffel bag I hadn't noticed by the entrance

ompted me to open my laptop. I l

almos

eft me with less than five hundred dollars. The financial statement was a stark, black-and-white co

ng to coax a crying Leo to take a bo

gnancy test from the night before. My

or," I

ed with worry. "What is it,

or her to see. "David doesn't know. I was going to

saw the two pink lines. A flicker of joy cro

're pregnant?"

nant with your grandchil

The television was on in the background, murmuring a local news report.

l boat ca

squall off t

are missing, p

ture of David from our wedding. Beside it was a phot

David Miller and his companion, Sarah Jenkins," the repor

dead." And I was left with their baby, our empty