“I cleaned his warm blood when he split his forehead wide open as a young child.

I carried him through terrifying late-night fevers, and I closed his father’s eyes when he passed away.

A real mother always knows her son.”

Valerie’s trembling mouth twitched for a brief fraction of a second, revealing her hidden panic.

Martha caught the subtle slip immediately.

“Open the lid right now,” Martha commanded.

“No,” Valerie answered firmly.

“Open it immediately, Valerie!”