“He’s a Kingsley.

He stays with the Kingsleys.”

The door handle turned.

I shut my eyes the rest of the way and made my face the face of a sleeping woman, and I heard them come in — Ivan first, then Renata behind him.

He crossed to the bed and stroked my forehead with two fingers, so tender it turned my stomach, and whispered, to no one, she’s still asleep. Renata bent over the bassinet and said Micah looked just like him. He’s my son, Ivan said, warm with pride.

I lay under his hand and did not let a muscle betray me, and I waited until their footsteps had gone all the way down the hall and the door had clicked, before I opened my eyes on the dark.