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Chapter One

“Well, I think it’s a brilliant idea,” I say, squatting on the floor and sh the words are meant for Abby, my business partner “And so does Anne, don’t you, irl?”

“Ma to my heart Her chubby arerly cuddle her close as she yawns and rubs her eyes, then snuggles against h she’s peaceful now, I know that crankiness is iet her down pronto

Carefully, I settle her into the white crib that takes up a large chunk of the space beside ive her forehead a kiss “Tio sleepy-bye and dream of Miss Abby’s awesome idea”

As her lids flutter closed, she reaches for me But I know it’s not Morab the striped hospital blanket that caing stuffed aniiraffe But no animal wins out over her blankie

Her lips curve into a sers curl around the blanket I feel a hitch in ht of my love for this tiny little person is too much to bear Then I draw in a breath and try to shift hter and back to the world of smartphone apps

When I turn, Abby flashes a wide grin, her eyes shining with hu ot to be the weirdest develop ever”

I lift a shoulder in a casual shrug “What can I say?” I whisper back “I like to be different” I grab the baby monitor, then nod toward the back door and the patio beyond where we can talk without the risk of waking irl “Come on”

Anne’s always been a good sleeper But like her namesake, Ashley Anne Fairchild Price, she’s a cranky little h

My sister Ashley wasup, the reason I survived the horror of a childhood with our mother at the helm I relied on Ashley Looked up to her And loved her unconditionall

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