Talking to Libby these days took more diplomacy than the Middle East peace talks. It was a constant battle to steer the conversation toward reason without risking Libby getting upset. As Alice was currently persona non grata with her twin, Karen was desperately trying to effect change without upsetting Libby.

“I’m worried you’re making things harder for yourself.” I’m worried you’re pushing everyone who loves you away.

“Harder? I’m taking back control of my life.” Once, it had been rare to see such a look of granite on her elder daughter’s happy face, but now it appeared whenever Libby talked about Jess and Leo. This raging hatred stole Libby’s humanity and looked worryingly familiar. It was reminiscent of everything in Karen’s childhood she’d kept hidden from the twins. She’d been determined to shelter them from the uglier parts of life and she’d fought hard to shower them with unconditional love—something she’d had to learn from Peter and his family. But for the first time as a mother, she was questioning if she’d made the right choice. Perhaps if she’d carefully chosen one or two stories to use as examples when the twins were growing up instead of hiding everything, it might have prevented Libby changing into this controlling and vindictive woman.

She tried again. “Don’t you think that by choosing not to be involved with Leo, you’re opening up an opportunity for Jess to gate crash a visit?”

“If she does that, all visits are off.”

“And Nick agreed to that?”

But Libby was called to an emergency and Karen had left the clinic.

Now she squinted into the weak winter sunshine and finally picked out Leo standing at the bottom of the slide on the opposite side of the park.

Halfway over Karen called out, “Hello, Jess.”

The younger woman turned and for a split second Karen didn’t recognize her. Jess’s usually well made-up face was puffy and devoid of makeup and her shiny chestnut curls hung dull and limp around her pale face. Her trim waist had thickened and instead of wearing tailored pants or her signature tight jeans, she was clad in cheap and shapeless track pants.

The hairs on Karen’s arms raised in a jolt of sensation. Jess looked exactly like Linda the first time Karen had met her. Was Jess drinking like Linda? Karen’s heart ached at the thought.

“Hi, Leo.”

The little boy’s big brown eyes, so much like Nick’s, gave her a long and solemn stare. Then he suddenly got shy and hid his face against his mother’s legs.

Not the best start. Karen bobbed down so she was at his level. “Would you like a swing?”

He tilted his head, considering the offer.

“I can push you and Mommy can watch.”