No.That would be Darren and Lindsay’s worst nightmare for their babies. “But at least they’d stay together, right?”
“That I can’t answer. I can only tell you that statistically around seventy percent of siblings are separated.”
“You’re killing me here.” She looked at her mom and mouthedWhat do I do?But she didn’t wait for an answer. Because she knew.
These are Lindsay’s daughters.
“I’ll be on the next flight.”
ChapterThree
This can’t beLindsay’s neighbor.After several miles of driving up a mountain road, Hailey reached a fancy gate. She checked her phone for the code, rolled down her window, and punched it in. Icy air rushed into the heated car.
Holy moly, the mountains were a whole other level of cold. She’d forgotten about that.
Once it opened, she drove through. The driveway rounded a bend before exposing a huge stone, wood, and glass home. One so stunning that it could easily be featured inArchitectural Digest.
Unless her friends had won the lottery, this couldn’t be right.She cut the engine and grabbed her phone.
Hailey: I’m at 41802 Skyline Drive. Is this the right address?
When she’d come here for the christening three years ago, the Leesons had lived in a neighborhood behind a strip mall that consisted of one-story homes and small, neat lots. Nothing like this. Also, she didn’t see the social worker’s car. He’d said to look for a white Ford F-150. No way would he want her to pick up the girls by herself.
They don’t even know me.
Chase: Yes, sorry. I had other appointments today, so I couldn’t wait any longer.
Crap.After all her travel issues—a delayed flight, snowy roads on her two-and-a-half-hour drive from Idaho Falls to Calamity—she couldn’t blame the man. Fortunately, she’d talked to him over the phone, plus she’d done a lot of reading on the plane, to get a handle on how to help these little girls process the loss of their parents.
God, this is going to be hard.
Hailey: So sorry about that.
Chase: Not your fault. But there’s been a change of plans. The co-guardian picked the kids up. He can only stay in town a few days, but he’s going to let you use his home for as long as you need it. I’ve already done the home inspection, and we’ve begun your background check, so everything’s looking good. I’m here if you have any questions.
Wait, seriously? He’s just going to let me have these two little girls? He hasn’t even met me.
How is this okay?
But she kept her thoughts to herself. She didn’t want to say anything that would cast doubt on her. Not for anything would she let them become wards of the state.
Hailey: Okay, thank you.
Well, here we go.She got out, grabbed her suitcase, and turned to take in the view.Holy wowza. The lowering sunlight reflected off the plate glass windows of the massive house that was tucked into the Teton Mountain Range. Several feet of snow covered what she imagined would be bright green, neatly mowed grass in the summer.
She’d lived in a lot of places in her life but never anywhere like this.Since the co-guardian had opted out, she hadn’t asked for any details, but now she was curious. Maybe it was the owner of the construction company where Darren worked?
Her immediate thought would’ve been Cole since the guys had been best friends. But he hadn’t been at Everly’s christening, and when she’d asked about it, Lindsay had said they’d fallen out of touch. So, thank goodness for that.
Lifting her wool scarf to cover her mouth and nose, she headed up the stone walkway. After ringing the doorbell, she tipped her head back and took in the gray sky. She might never see her friend again, but she would always feel her in her heart.
I’m here, Lindsay. And I swear I’ll do whatever I can to make sure your babies wind up in a safe and loving home.
When no one answered, she turned the knob and let herself in. The eerily quiet house was a showcase with soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a hearth meant for a fancy resort. The whole place was spotless and looked like it could be featured in a magazine shoot.
The only things that didn’t fit were the two black garbage bags. Hailey had a sickening feeling about what she’d find inside them. Kneeling, she opened one to find sneakers so tiny her hand wouldn’t fit inside, a flannel nightgown similar to what she designed for Abbott’s of London, a blanket that smelled of laundry detergent, and a stuffed animal.
Sorrow crashed over her as she held the well-loved bear against her chest. Discolored from endless hugs and a torn arm, it surely held every memory of the life the girls had just lost.