Sabrina wiped her tears. “I needed them to know Ava survived because of you.”

Chapter 9 — The Blanket, Again

A few minutes later, Officer Martinez carried Ava into the room. The moment the baby saw me, she reached toward me with both tiny hands, and I lifted her into my arms.

Then Ava leaned toward Sabrina too. Mother and daughter wrapped their arms around each other while I held them both. Ava curled one tiny hand around the edge of the yellow blanket as Sabrina and I embraced her together.

Sabrina looked up. “I owe you an apology.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“I left without explaining.”