Page 19 (2/2)

"Thank you," I said, watching as he excused hi down the crib as I turned to place Stella on the thin blanket I unfolded her crib sheet and smelled it to confirm it had been laundered inhow much Thomas loved this s

I made Stella’s bed and then picked her off the thin blanket to place her tiny body in the center of the crib She flailed and cried while I changed her diaper and then settled down as I dabbed her shrinking umbilical cord with alcohol and buttoned her PJs back up from ankle to chest I placed a pacifier in her mouth, and she suckled on it until she stilled and fell asleep She looked so small in that filthynursery at hoerhtened, and the tears flowed again

Hyde held out a tissue, her expression e my eyes

"No My sister’s had kids It doesn’t last forever"

"I didn’t know you were an aunt Nieces or nephews?"

"Both," Hyde said She was trying to hide a sht ent Hyde’s expression softened "You’ve been through a lot, Lindy Cut yourself soht I would never be so harsh to anyone else inthe tip ofent I once was "Any new information on Maddox?"

"He’s alive," she said

I sed down an urge to cry "And the Carlisis?"

"In custody One dead"

"Which one?" I asked

"Vito," Hyde reported

I rubbed the tension fro a toll, and I could barely keepto hit them all hard"

"Don’t discount Giada She’s unstable"