“I just wish I knew why Dr. Prescott wants me to come to his office.” The call came from Dr. Prescott at about 9:00 a.m., but he wouldn’t say what we needed to discuss. All I want to know is if he can use my blood or not, but all he’d say is that he’d like to talk to me.

“I’m sure it’s all good.”

Alex is only trying to reassure me, I get that, but he can’t know any more than I do, and my nerves have been mounting since we left the brownstone and made our way to the hospital.

Others are waiting for the elevator when we reach it, and I’m not paying attention until we step in and glance up into the eyes of Mrs. Cross. She doesn’t look much older than she did six years ago, but there are lines around her eyes and shadows beneath, as if she’d been strained with worry.

Of course she is. Brandy is sick. Very sick and has been.

“Hello, Mrs. Cross.”

Her light eyes go wide, as if in panic, upon recognizing me, and I glance down to the little girl beside her. Dark, curly hair, skin far too pale to be healthy and the widest grey eyes look up at me.

This is my daughter. Brandy!

Alex clutches my hand, and I’m so glad he’s holding onto me because all I want to do is grab this beautiful little girl close and hold her tight. An ache, so deep in my chest spreads to my throat, and pulls me to her.

But, I can’t hug her. It’s a violation, and to this little girl, I am a complete stranger. I can’t scare her like that.

“Kelsey,” Mrs. Cross says, her voice tight.

“You have a beautiful daughter.”

“Thank you.” If the woman was any colder she’d be ice.

I don’t give a damn. This is my daughter and it might be the only time I ever get to meet her, or talk to her, and I squat down so that I’m at eye level with Brandy. “Hi. I’m Kelsey, what is your name?”

“Do you know my mommy?”

The question is a stab to my heart. Better than you realize. “Yes. We met a little before you were born.”

“Miss Fry,” Mrs. Cross warns.

I can feel the tension practically rolling off of Mrs. Cross. I’m not going to out her, or me, to my child.

“Your hair is like mine,” Brandy says as she fingers the loose curls.

“It can be a pain, can’t it?” I laugh and swallow back tears. She has my hair and Brandon’s eyes.

“Tangles.” She nods with a frown. “But Mommy will braid it when I get to my room.”

“I like to braid mine before I sleep too.”

The elevator dings and the doors open.

“It was very nice meeting you,” I tell her, clutching Alex’s hand to keep myself from following her.

“Come along, Maddie.” Mrs. Cross hurries my daughter out of the elevator as if I’m a monster that wants to make off with her.

We follow them out, but walk slower. It’s as if Mrs. Cross would run if she could.

“Are you okay?” Alex asks quietly.

And with those words, a dam breaks loose. He pulls me to a corner and wraps his arms around me as I sob into his shoulder. A world of emotion, and it’s impossible to settle on one. Sadness that she’s not mine. A love I hadn’t experienced since the first time I held her, pain at her being taken away, worry because she’s so ill, and anger that she can’t be mine.