“Oh my God,” I said. I turned to Weston. “I don’t know what this is about, but you have to go.”

He shook his head. “No way. We’re getting through everything together now, remember?”

Hot tears burned my eyes. “I appreciate that. I really do, but this is humiliating. I don’t want you to hear whatever they have to say.”

“What are they going to say?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t want you to hear it.”

Weston hesitated, and then grabbed my hand gently. “Does she hit you?” I shook my head, and Weston sighed with relief. “When are you going to learn that I don’t judge you, Erin? I love everything about you. I always have.” When I didn’t respond, he squeezed my hand. “Let me come with you. Please?”

I nodded and turned off the engine. We both walked to my house, hand in hand. When we walked in, Gina was sitting on the couch, her expression blank. Two police officers were standing to the side, and a woman from DHS was sitting next to her. She smiled at me.

“Hi, Erin. My name is Kay Rains. I’m from the Department of Human Services. We’ve come because of certain circumstances regarding the death of Erin Alderman.”

“Okay . . .” I said, completely confused. Did they think her death had something to do with me?

She smiled, noticing my nervousness. “It’s okay, Erin. You’re not in any trouble.”

“What’s with the cops, then?” Weston asked. His hand was still firmly holding mine.

Kay nodded. “We didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s just procedure. We need you to come to the hospital with us. There is some confusion.”

I frowned. “With the Erins? What does that have to do with me?”

Kay stood. “An autopsy was requested for Erin Alderman. The results were returned last night, and the parents have questions. If we could just get a blood sample from you, we can get all of this cleared up.”

“A blood sample? You still haven’t said what this has to do with Erin,” Weston said.

Kay sighed. “The results have shown that Erin Alderman is not the biological child of Sam and Julianne Alderman. Erin Masterson’s results are normal. You’re the only female baby that was born at Blackwell Hospital on September fourth. In fact, you’re the only baby that was born, besides the girls that passed away, within three days of your birthdays.”

“Are you saying that you think Erin Alderman is Gina Easter’s daughter, and Erin is . . . Sam and Julianne’s?” Weston said. We both gasped when he finished his last word.

Kay touched Gina’s knee, even though she wasn’t visibly upset. “Unfortunately, that is what we suspect.”

Weston and I looked at each other, both of our mouths hanging open.

“I’ll . . . uh . . . I’ll drive you.”

I nodded.

“We’ll return her shortly, Ms. Easter.”

Gina nodded, and we all left her alone in the living room.

My shoes crunched against the gravel as we walked to Weston’s truck. He opened the door and picked me up, sitting me in the passenger seat without effort. He looked straight into my eyes.