“She told Aunt Vanessa not to leave a mark where people could see it.”

A hard tightness closed my throat, but I kept my voice completely flat and calm for Emma’s sake.

“You never have to go back to that house again if you don’t want to,” I said.

Emma shut her eyes and pulled Barnaby all the way up under her chin.

“Can we just stay home with you?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Only you and me.”

The little consultation room across from the nurses’ station had bare white walls and two vinyl armchairs.