The room froze. Margaret actually laughed. “You have no idea what you’re involving yourself in.”

“I know exactly what I’m seeing.”

He climbed the stairs himself. A few minutes later he came back down carrying Lily, with Olivia holding his hand and Grace pressed against my side.

Outside, rain was coming down hard across the circular driveway. Richard took off his suit jacket, wrapped it around all three girls, and walked us to his SUV without looking back.

Margaret screamed after us. “She’s a thief! Those are my son’s granddaughters! You’ll regret this!”

Richard didn’t answer her. He opened the car door and said, quietly, “You’re safe now.”