Zoe lay on the sofa, looking up at Penelope’s face, which was now very close. His expression and voice were calm, but Zoe knew his emotions were anything but calm.

The sky outside was already lightening. She had said she was taking Christopher to the hospital, and she had been gone all night.

Because of the argument with the Rivers family, she had forgotten to call Penelope. She hadn’t checked her phone and didn’t know if he had called her.

Judging by his current demeanor, she guessed he probably had, or at least had wanted to, wondering why she hadn’t returned yet.

Zoe’s smile was tinged with stiffness. She was...