Tristan was Kate and Simon’s godson and had practically been born with a lacrosse stick in his hand. She was grateful to Simon for remembering to get him a gift for Christmas—at least he was good to the children in their lives. Kate tousled Tristan’s blond mop. “You’re very welcome. Can’t wait to come watch you use it.”

Selby, right behind Tristan, gave Kate a hug. “You doing okay?”

Kate nodded.

“Hello, Selby,” Blaire said.

“Blaire.” Selby gave a curt nod. “Well, I’m going to go say hi to the birthday girl. Where are you putting the gifts?”

Kate pointed to a table. “You already gave Annabelle such a generous Christmas gift, the Pikeur riding habit. You’re a doll, but you’ve gone overboard again.”

Selby smiled. “Well, you can’t blame me for spoiling my girl.” She looked at Blaire. “She’s my goddaughter, after all.”

Carter had slunk into the room and now stood next to Selby, looking nervous and jittery. He said a quick hello to everyone and then walked over to the bar.

Annabelle’s friend Morgan arrived, and Kate introduced her parents around. The next few hours went by in a blur of chatter and laughter. Kate watched from the periphery, feeling disconnected, as if she were hovering over the festivities, taking it all in from afar. Georgina and Harrison sat huddled together, and though every now and then Selby or one of the boys would invade the duo’s secret society, they seemed to remain completely indifferent to what was going on around them.

Her gaze moved to Simon, sitting with Annabelle, the big picture book on horses he’d chosen for her on her lap as they turned the pages together. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, only saw his mouth moving and Annabelle exclaiming, her finger pointing at the images on the page. Was he trying to prove that he was enough for her? That she’d be fine without a mother? A few weeks ago, she’d been worried about breaking up her family by getting a separation. Now she was terrified she would leave Annabelle motherless. She felt like she’d lost her entire family—she couldn’t trust any of them.

Kate watched them all, her eyes moving from one to the next, imagining what they might be guilty of, what secrets they were keeping. She wanted them out of her house. Blaire was the only person she could talk to anymore.

Suddenly feeling sweaty, she decided to run upstairs and change. As she left the room, she stopped a moment to speak to the guard, who was standing just outside the room in the hallway. “I’ll be right back. Make sure Annabelle doesn’t leave this room. With anyone.”

“Yes, ma’am.”