Chapter 1 - The Sentence That Stopped My Heart
The front door slammed against the wall before Nathan had both feet inside.
"Lily! Noah!"
A child screamed from the living room.
Nathan dropped his briefcase and ran.
Five-year-old Noah was wedged behind the couch, crying so hard he could barely breathe. Eight-year-old Lily stood in front of him with both arms spread, as if her small body could protect her brother from the woman across the room.
Victoria Crane stood beside the coffee table.
Her face was pale. One hand gripped Lily's school backpack. The other hovered near the fireplace poker.
"Nathan," she said quickly. "Thank God you're home. Lily had some kind of episode. She attacked me."
"Put the bag down."
Victoria blinked. "What?"
"Put. The bag. Down."
Something in his voice made her obey.
Nathan crossed the room and dropped to his knees in front of his children.
"I'm here. Nobody is touching either of you. Look at me, sweetheart. Breathe with me."
Lily's lips shook.
"Daddy..."
"I'm right here."
She grabbed his shirt with both hands.
Then she looked past him at Victoria.
"She was there."
Nathan frowned. "Where?"
Lily swallowed.
"When Mommy died."
The room went silent.
Victoria stopped breathing for half a second.
Nathan felt it. Saw it.
Lily pointed at her with a trembling finger.
"Daddy... she was there when Mommy died. She was yelling at Mommy before Mommy left."
Victoria gave a thin laugh. "She's confused. Emma died eleven months ago. Lily was asleep that night."
"No," Lily whispered. "I wasn't."
Nathan turned toward Victoria.
That was when he noticed her eyes flick to the coffee table.
Not to the phone. Not to the keys.
To a small red leather notebook Nathan had never seen before.
May you like
Victoria looked at it for one second.
Then she lunged for it.
