…RILEY…
*****
>>TWO DAYS LATER...
Whitney sat propped against her pillows, sunlight spilling over her pale hair and the stuffed fox tucked beside her. The morning light made her look almost angelic, soft and far away, and for a second I forgot how unfair it all was — how wrong it was that a kid like her had to learn about pain so early.
She had so much in store for her.
“Okay, sweetheart,” I murmured, scooping another spoonful of mashed potatoes from the bowl. “Open up for me. Come on — I know you’re faking that full face.”
Her lips twitched, the faintest ghost of a smile tugging there. I grinned back. “Aha. There it is. You look really pretty when you smile, you know that?”
Whitney blinked slowly, lashes brushing against her cheeks. Then her eyes drifted, landing on my sleeve
