Chapter 32:
The woman holding my daughter was not Sierra.
She was taller. Thinner. Dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. A hoodie, but not the gray one from the photos. Black. New.
And she was holding Lily like she'd done it before.
"Put her down," I said.
The woman looked at me.
"Put her down right now."
"Mama—" Lily said.
"It's okay, baby. Mama's here."
The woman shifted Lily to her other hip. Calm. Like I hadn't said anything at all.
"Ella Rae," Silas said from the doorway. "Let's not do anything dramatic."
I turned my head just enough to see him. He was standing on the back steps with his hands in his pockets.
"I said put her down," I said to the woman.
The woman looked at Silas.
Silas nodded.
She set Lily on the floor.
Lily ran.
She hit my leg at full speed and I caugh
