42
8:01 a.m.
“She was scared when she arrived—very much so. But…she was a good kid, easygoing, nothing like me.” Laetitia let out a half sob, half laugh. “As time passed by…she…forgot and adapted. I’m sorry, Mrs. Galen, Mr. Galen, I didn’t know you were looking for her.”
They had moved into Alistair’s private office. The Galens sat huddled together on a sofa in front of Tavish, Laetitia, and Sophia, with Alistair in an armchair between them.
Sophia had provided water, tea, coffee, and cookies, which remained untouched.
“There were other children—women who shared the motherhood. She…it was not that bad there, you know?” She took a trembling, aching breath into her chest, which didn’t seem to be working properly anymore. “If you obeyed the rules.”
“And what were the rules?”
Laetitia f
