The package of noodles was open on the table, its contents scattered across the scratched wood.
A glass of water stood beside her.
There was no broth.
No fruit.
No medicine.
No proper meal.
“Claire?”
Her head snapped up.
For one beautiful second, relief transformed her face.
“Ethan?”
Then she began to cry.
He dropped his suitcase and hurried toward her.
“What happened? Are you hurt? Where is everyone?”
Claire tried to stand, but pain crossed her face.
“Don’t move,” Ethan said, kneeling beside her. “Please, just stay there.”
He looked toward the bassinet.
Baby Lily was breathing peacefully, but she wore only a thin cotton onesie beneath the light blanket.
Ethan removed his coat and laid it gently over the side of the bassinet to block the draft.
“Where’s my mother?” he asked.
Claire wiped her cheeks.
“They went out.”
“All of them?”
She nodded.
