Elise's voice came through the phone speaker, steady despite the tremor of emotion underneath. "Put me on speaker, sweetheart. I want everyone to hear this."
Luna pressed the button, and they gathered closer—Grayson's arm around her waist, Helena and Grace on either side.
"We're all here, Mom," Luna said.
"Good." Elise took a shaky breath. "I've had fifteen years to think about Eleanor Vaughn. Fifteen years of darkness where all I could do was remember—the fire, the pain, watching her drag me away while my baby girl stood on those stairs screaming." Her voice caught. "I've hated her with everything in me."
Grace wiped tears from her cheeks, and Helena's jaw tightened.
"But I've also had these past few days awake," Elise continued. "The nurses have been wonderful. They've told me about
