Chosen to Carry

t noticed

g to tie his shoelace twice in the same hour. The same c

stress of the pregnancy. Ivy's return. The em

heavier. Not constant - just enough to make her pause before

aid n

pencer.

grandfather's health, the pressure of proving hi

oatmeal at the stove, her p

ned and

th

breat

l never be sa

ic

pped th

lattered to

er chest, but she didn't

ed the door, and went stra

ll buttoning his shirt

k someone's

oze.

worse. I just got a call. No name. Just... breathing.

"Why didn't you

ed. "And I didn't want to seem like

tly and closed the door. "You

him - scared, v

he said. "Or better yet - come stay here. At

hesi

" he added. "But you're

lowly

-

ng she'd lived in, Maya finally exhaled. The sheets smelle

rst time in da

snapped a photo of the penthou

el, Ivy smiled

house now?"

"It's time to shake her a lit

dded si

Ivy added. "Not touched. No

k a sip of wine, and

how long

hone buzzed again. Another update from Rick. Another message confir

cer's bed, walking barefoot on his marble fl

de he

n't drink it. Her thoughts were sharper now, les

, "we need to raise the heat. I

s the

vy said. "Just... intimid

"I'll need h

I'll pay double if it g

before he co

hy. And she couldn

ted her. Rejected h

dn't go u

t enough to learn the rhythm of her errands - the small g

them to Ivy. Annotate

planted

ose on her doo

n her wi

watchi

a baby pacifier with

nd each item alone, w

t want he

d her *un

-

atal care basket and had it delivered to Maya's name

ill all be ove

ed as she

looked sweet - neat

aya trying to figure ou

ould probably believe it

ya wou

uld fe

bt, the

-

opened in years. Photos of her and Spencer - smiling at galas,

her sitting on his lap, h

ispered. "We

half and dropped the p

n't tak

r phone again an

coming soon

legs curled under her, and whi

the wife, let's see