Kate blinked, holding back tears, pain spreading through her chest. When all of this was over, she was still going to have to grieve. “I miss her too. I wish nothing more than that she could be here. But she’s in heaven. She’ll be watching. I promise.”

Annabelle jumped from the bed and stood in front of her. “I don’t want her in heaven. It’s not fair. She promised she would take me to a big-girl lunch in New York for my birthday. Why did she leave?”

“Oh, sweetie. It’s not her fault. She didn’t want to leave. Sometimes things just happen.” Kate struggled to find the right words. She’d foolishly thought that Annabelle had accepted her explanation that it was time for Grammy to go to heaven, but of course the little girl didn’t understand. She was far too young to grasp the finality of death. Kate had been so caught up in everything else that she hadn’t focused enough on Annabelle’s emotional well-being.

“Hilda said that a bad person hurt her.”

Kate froze. “What else did she say?”

“I don’t know,” Annabelle said. “I want to watch Beauty and the Beast.”

Kate didn’t want to press Annabelle now, but she wouldn’t forget to follow up. Hilda should not be telling Annabelle about Lily’s murder, no matter how vague she thought she was being. “Okay, sweetie. I’ll watch with you.”

She streamed the movie, and the two of them snuggled on the bed, Kate dozing on and off while the movie played.

“It’s over, Mommy.”

Kate rubbed her eyes and looked at her watch. “Oh. It’s time to get dressed.”

She chose a cheerful pink sweater and navy slacks for herself, and made her voice bright.

“Okay, birthday girl, ready to put on your party dress?”

“Is it time for my party?”

“Almost.”

When they entered Annabelle’s room, her dress was already laid on the bed, along with her shoes, socks, and a bow for her hair. Kate got angry again. She’d told Hilda that she’d get Annabelle dressed. Did the woman think she couldn’t pick out clothes for her own daughter?

“Let’s find a different dress,” she said to Annabelle.

“No, Mommy, I like this one.”

Kate was not about to let Hilda win. “But you have so many other, prettier dresses. Come on.”

Annabelle stomped her foot, her lips in a pout. “Grammy gave me that dress. I want to wear it. I picked it out this morning.”

Kate was suddenly filled with shame. “Oh, honey, Mommy’s sorry. Of course you can wear it. It’s a beautiful dress.”

Annabelle was still pouting, but Kate managed to get her dressed and downstairs without any more fuss.