Emily barely remembered leaving the store.
She remembered Alan's hand around hers, the noise of reporters dropping away, the car door closing.
The next clear moment was the car stopping.
“We're here," Alan said.
She looked out the window—and stared.
A long drive curved through trimmed hedges toward a white-stone house with wide steps, tall windows, and balconies. A fountain glimmered in front. Gardens stretched out on both sides.
“You live in a castle," she said.
“Technically it's a house," he replied. “My family likes drama."
“Your family being the Kingsleys," she said. “The Kingsleys."
“Afraid so," he said.
Suddenly, the pieces made painful sense. The hospital director who backed down. The new identity that had appeared for her. The way police and security listened when he spok
