CHAPTER 26
Steadman forced himself to swallow past the bitter lump in his throat as he stared down at the sleeping child, her cheek cushioned against one curled fist. Seeing her there like that, so vulnerable, her face shadowed by copper-colored lashes against pale, smooth skin, the tip of her nose tinged pink, brought a stab of memory too painful to face in that moment. He slapped it away.
The late afternoon had finally warmed to something above sixty, and the fetid odor of fish-stained mud wafted across the churning water, doing unkind things to his stomach. Shimmers of rage and sorrow clashed within him as he thought about Maddie’s situation—and about Nan’s—making matters worse. He squeezed his eyes shut and massaged the bridge of his nose. Time to button down the emotional conflict a
