Zach blinks at Daniel and takes a step away from the car.

“Get in if you want, but we’re going to find our daughter,” Lynell says. He doesn’t move but opens his mouth to argue. Lynell slams the door shut and looks at Daniel. “Drive.”

Daniel doesn’t even hesitate. The car flies into reverse and Lynell keeps her eyes locked with Zach’s until Daniel shifts the car into drive and they turn. Lynell holds the handle of the door and focuses on pulling air in through her nose and blowing out through her mouth. The sun dips past the horizon, shielding itself with the curve of the earth as if sensing impending danger. Daniel flips on the headlights, two beams of light revealing the next three hundred feet.

Lynell feels blind. Even the moon seems dimmer than usual. She leans back and closes her eyes.

Lynell has to trust that Mother Adella won’t give anyone information about Anna’s whereabouts. She’ll be okay. She has to be. She just has to be, Lynell tells herself over and over again.

“We’ll find her first,” Daniel says, reaching over to grab Lynell’s wrist. He nods encouragement at her, but his complexion is growing paler, and his eyes are wild, betraying any calm he tries to force into his words.

She blinks and nods, skin starting to feel numb. “I’m sorry. If you’d married someone else—”

“Don’t.” He moves his hand to her face and looks between her and the road. “Don’t you dare apologize.” He rubs his thumb over her bottom lip and in her mind, she’s dropped back into their hotel bed in Chicago. “I don’t want someone else. I want you.”

With a smile that’s meant to reassure her, Daniel grabs the wheel tighter with both hands as he makes a quick exit.

Lynell pulls her knees up on the seat and wraps her arms around them. Daniel must see the sea of despair that threatens to engulf her and reaches over again, placing his hand on top of her knees.

“We’ll find her.”

She nods.

Lynell knocks loudly and only a few seconds pass before Mother Adella opens the door, looking at them without surprise. Her wrinkled face gives Lynell a sympathetic look and before anyone can speak, she pulls Lynell into a hug. The encompassing, soft embrace is instantly familiar. Despite being a few inches taller than Mother Adella, Lynell still feels smaller in the older woman’s arms. She leans forward, closing her eyes. She could be three years younger, pregnant, scared, and hiding out in this halfway house while the nuns care for her without asking any questions.

When she’s released, Lynell looks down at the nun. Her glasses are different, now so large they reach over her eyebrows and rest on her cheekbones. Mother Adella steps back, gesturing for Lynell and Daniel to walk inside. As they cross the threshold, Lynell says, “Mother Adella, you have to tell us where Anna is.”