She immediately looked over her shoulder.
“Don’t tell Kevin I’m here.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“Please.”
“You disappear for a YEAR and come back holding a baby, and the first thing you tell me is not to tell my husband?”
Sarah flinched.
Then her expression hardened.
“You don’t know your husband.”
Everything inside me stopped.
“What does that mean?”
“Let me inside.”
I stepped aside.
Sarah carried the baby into the living room and carefully sat down.
I couldn’t stop staring.
“Who… whose baby is that?”
Sarah looked at the child.
“Her name is Pauline.”
I instinctively reached toward her.
Sarah hesitated before gently placing the baby in my arms.
She was tiny.
Warm.
Perfect.
“Sarah, where have you been?”
“I’ve been safe.”
“For a year?”
“I couldn’t contact you.”
“Why?”
She looked directly at me.
“Because Kevin threatened to destroy your life if I did.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
