Chapter 1 - SWALLOW
Rachel heard Rosie scream from upstairs.
Not the ordinary birthday-party cry.
Not frustration.
Not tiredness.
Fear.
“ROSIE?!”
She dropped the stack of paper plates and ran.
The suburban house was full of noise:
children,
music,
balloons,
adults laughing over cake.
Rachel opened the downstairs bathroom.
Empty.
Guest room.
Empty.
Then another scream came from the second floor.
“MAMA!”
Rachel sprinted upstairs.
The bedroom door was half closed.
She hit it with her shoulder.
Inside, Natalie sat on the edge of the bed.
Thirty-two.
Patterned blouse.
White shorts.
Her left hand clamped around Rosie’s chin.
Her right held a spoon.
Rosie was two.
Yellow dress.
Wet cheeks.
Body twisting away.
Natalie forced the spoon toward her mouth.
“SWALLOW!”
Rachel stopped for half a second.
Then rage took over.
“GET OFF HER!”
Natalie froze.
Rachel charged.
Ripped Rosie free.
Locked the toddler against one hip.
Then turned and slapped Natalie across the face.
“DON’T TOUCH MY CHILD!”
Natalie staggered.
Shock lasted one second.
Then fury.
She grabbed the green wine bottle from the dresser.
“SHUT UP!”
Rachel backed away.
“STAY BACK!”
Natalie raised the bottle high.
Stepped forward.
Started bringing it down.
Rachel turned.
Covered Rosie with both arms.
Ducked.
The bottle stopped inches above her.
Not because Natalie changed her mind.
Because someone in the doorway grabbed her wrist.
Their mother’s old friend, Susan Hale, stood there.
And behind Susan was a woman Rachel had never seen.
Gray suit.
Badge clipped to handbag.
The stranger looked at Natalie.
Then at the medicine spoon.
Then at Rosie.
“My name is Erin Walsh,” she said.
May you like
“I’m here about the Little Steps accident.”
Natalie’s face went white.
