Morning sunlight spilled into the kitchen, bouncing off glass and wood as if determined to make the lake house look cheerful. But to Sierra, it only sharpened the edges of her nerves. She sat at the table with her hands curled around a steaming mug, staring at the ripples on the surface of her untouched coffee.
Vanessa was opposite her, robe tied neatly, hair smoothed into waves. Her mother’s eyes lingered too long on Sierra’s face, her silence heavier than any scolding. Normally, Vanessa filled the morning with chatter about work emails or plans for the day, but today her restraint was terrifying.
“You’re quiet,” Sierra said finally, her voice small.
Vanessa smiled, but it didn’t warm her features. “Just thinking.” She sipped her coffee. “People think they know others, even the ones th
