After all, she had called Jackson and told him that she would be out for business. They seemed to have taken her lie in a stride.

“You’re back just in time, Eveline. Your dad suggested going on a family trip yesterday, thinking that we could forget about the depressing past.” She sighed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know it hurts, Eveline, but we can’t change the fact that Lily’s gone.”

Eloise reached out to hold Madeline’s hand affectionately as the latter remained quiet.

“We