THE FATHER ARRIVES AND SEES HER HOLDING THEM
Tires screeched. Elijah jumped out before the car fully stopped.
“Boys!” His voice broke.
He ran toward them—then froze.
Ariel was kneeling, holding his sons like it was second nature. Crying over them as if they belonged to her.
Ariel snapped, fear and anger trembling in her voice: “Elijah, they could’ve been gone. Someone could’ve taken them.”
Elijah swallowed. “I know… I’m sorry.”
A brief accidental brush of hands sent a strange jolt through them both—recognition without explanation.
