“You’re Rachel?” Zoe asks, scanning Lynell up and down.

“Lynell, actually. I gave a fake name. Mrs. Raines?”

“Zoe. How did you get our address?”

“They’re saying Anna is in danger.” Josh steps around Zoe so he’s strategically placed between his wife and the strangers in his home. “They were just about to explain.”

“Please do.”

Zoe picks a stuffed bear off the couch and sits down, holding it against her chest. Lynell notices the left eye is missing and the ear seems chewed, the fake fur sticking together in weird ways. She guesses the dog in the photo is to blame.

Lynell turns to Daniel, who gestures for her to continue. Josh stands next to his wife, arms still crossed and the rifle resting behind him but within reach. He leans against the couch, glaring at them. Zoe seems to be absentmindedly petting the fur of the bear with one finger. She offers Lynell a soft smile, which causes tears to fill her eyes. She rubs them and pushes out a breath.

“Please know that I would never put Anna in danger. And that we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important. We just want Anna to be safe and happy.”

“She is,” Josh says.

“Let them finish,” Zoe replies. She reaches up and touches Josh’s shoulder. He looks back at her and they exchange a look before he visibly relaxes, arms uncrossing and shoulders falling.

“Right. Continue.”

“Last Registration Day—” Instantly Zoe sits up and Josh turns to grab his rifle. Lynell cringes when she realizes they think Lynell and Daniel have Registered them, probably coming to take Anna back. Lynell quickly continues to put them at ease, even though she knows the truth is much worse than that. None of the tension leaves Zoe’s body, but Josh lets go of the rifle, letting it rest against the wall again.

“Someone Registered me,” she begins, and tells them in as few words as possible why Anna is at risk. “The problem is, they don’t want anyone related to my father, or me, alive.”

The silence stretches between them until it’s snapped when Zoe gasps.

“I thought Anna’s existence was a secret. Even Daniel didn’t know about her for a while. But last night we learned that Eric is looking for her. I know none of this makes much sense, but you can’t let Eric Elysian find her.”

As Lynell speaks, Zoe’s shoulders gradually hang forward, and she starts fidgeting with her hands, popping her knuckles and rolling her wrists until they crack.

Meanwhile, Josh grows eerily still, not even blinking as he glares at Lynell. His words are steady, carrying an anger that is more terrifying than if he shouted. “What do you think you’re doing, coming to my house in the middle of the night and threatening my daughter?”

Lynell shakes her head and steps forward, freezing when Josh reaches for his gun.

“I’m not threatening her,” Lynell says, aware that she sounds like she’s begging.

“Of course, you’re not,” Zoe says. “I’m Anna’s mother, yes. But so are you. It’s not a simple thing to give birth to a child. You don’t just forget them. You don’t stop loving them.” Her words are filled with tangible emotion. Lynell wonders if Zoe is speaking from experience. Perhaps she tried to have her own child before turning to adoption. Not for the first time, Lynell wishes she could direct all danger away from the couple in front of her.