“Why?” Hannah screamed at him, her voice cracking with sheer agony.

“Lucas, why are you saying we cannot take our daughter home?

Tell me right now!”

My brother refused to meet her eyes, staring down at the polished floor while his face flushed bright red.

“Look at her back,” Lucas muttered in a choked voice.

“We simply cannot do this.”

I had not examined the baby closely yet because I was focused entirely on his bizarre behavior.

With trembling hands, I gently unwrapped the swaddling cloth and turned the baby slightly on her side.