Sunday afternoon, Dorothy heard the knock at exactly 2 PM. Patricia was nothing if not punctual.
She took a breath, adjusted her shirt—still loose-fitting, meant to look like someone who’d recently giving birth—and opened the door with Kylee in her arms.
“Oh my God!” Patricia’s hands flew to her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears immediately. “Oh, Dorothy. She’s perfect. She’s absolutely perfect.”
Behind Patricia, Marcus grinned and held up a gift bag. “Can we come in, or are you just going to stand there crying, Ma?”
Dorothy stepped aside, and they entered. Patricia was already reaching for Kylee before Dorothy had fully closed the door.
“Can I hold her? Please tell me I can hold her.”
“Of course.” Dorothy transferred Kylee carefully into Patricia’s arms, watching as Jake’s mother lo
