“Carter, she keeps losing consciousness, and now she’s coming home with bruises.

What if something terrible is happening to her?”

Instead of becoming concerned, Carter laughed and accused me of exaggerating.

He insisted that Harper was simply clumsy and probably injured herself during recess.

“You’re acting like she’s dying, Melanie.

She’s a little girl who gets tired and occasionally bumps into things.”

When I continued questioning him, his expression hardened.

His voice became unusually cold as he demanded that I stop doubting his judgment.