For several seconds he couldn’t speak.
Then he pulled her into a hug.
This time, she hugged him back.
A year after the girls arrived, the ranch looked completely different.
Colorful drawings covered the refrigerator.
Tiny shoes sat beside the front door.
Laughter echoed through hallways that had once felt haunted.
Emma started school and quickly became one of the best students in her class.
Lily made friends with everyone she met.
Neither girl hid food anymore.
Neither woke up crying from nightmares every night.
Neither looked afraid when someone knocked on the door.
On the anniversary of Grace’s death, Ethan took both girls to the cemetery.
Emma carried white roses.
Lily carried a picture she had drawn.
The drawing showed four people holding hands beneath a bright yellow sun.
