Riley sat on the couch, staring blankly at the small crib in the corner of the room. It was empty now. No soft coos, no tiny fingers grasping at the air, no sleepy murmurs that used to melt her heart. The pain of it was unbearable.
Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the sight of the nursery they had so lovingly prepared. Everything was still in place—the little stuffed animals, the blankets, the mobile above the crib, gently swaying as if mocking her grief. Baby Sam was gone. And they hadn’t been chosen.
Her body trembled as the weight of the loss crashed down on her. A strangled sob escaped her lips, and before she knew it, she was breaking apart.
Ali was by her side in an instant. He knelt before her, taking her hands in his. His grip was warm, steady, reassuring—but it wasn’t enou
