had been decli

s skin a pale, sallow c

aring special meals, remindi

ive and severe. Sarah had overhear

s were out, Sarah's burner phone, a c

nown n

el

s is Dr. Ev

eed was Mark's... friend. Th

sophisticated, beautiful woman who al

as confused. Why wo

's voice was smooth, sympathetic. "I've been helping your father

ath hitched

bout you, Sarah. I've seen how Br

eyes. Someone acknow

facility," Dr. Reed continued. "You could stay the

unexpected, bloome

mother of the girls her own mother d

oo good t

d you help me?"

cause... well, Mark cares about you, deep down. He named

ill? It was a smal

. this way of talking to people. She tells them something, a

ks to you, if she tells you th

se on the other

s voice, firm

s and rumors. Your mother will not speak to me about you in t

in her voice w

promise like a drown

sob escaping her. "O

tructions. A time, a

y, a w